August 26, 2010
Red Carpet ready, put
your best face forward with Dr. Rivkin
Dr. Alexander Rivkin, MD. Situated near UCLA’s
bucolic campus in Westwood is the office of Dr. Alexander Z. Rivkin
M.D., a Yale trained facial cosmetic surgeon and UCLA faculty member
who focuses exclusively on providing his patients with the latest in
non-invasive, non-ablative cosmetic treatments.
The Emmys are this weekend, and there is still time to put your best
face forward, along with showing off that killer dress and perfect pair
of shoes.
The 62nd Emmy awards in Los Angeles have stars and stylists running
all over for the last minute items and spa treatments to deliver the
most optimal impression.
For a celebrity, there is nothing more important than putting your
best face forward, and years of covering red carpet events, it
is perplexing to see some of the decisions affluent stars have made with
regards to plastic surgeries, specifically overzealous procedures and
overuse of injectibles like Botox, Juvaderm, Radiesse and other facial
fillers that plump up and restore volume to gravity stricken aging
skin.
So many of these actors go cheap and rely on nurses, skin spas or
Botox “parties” for these face changing procedures, instead of seeking
the best facial cosmetic surgeon.
The explosion in popularity of these non surgical fixes continues,
but just like selecting that right dress, the right jewels and the right
makeup artist to make you look beautiful, it is astounding at how many
throw caution to the wind and don’t do their research.
Years of asking invasive (nosy, you can say it) questions and
overhearing conversations on the red carpet, I have a long list of who
to avoid for any potential work. But with the bad there is some good,
and some better than others. I personally decided to take the plunge
after visiting with a friend not seen in years. She looked like time
stopped ten years ago. Not different, just the same, and rested, like a
decade never happened. Her doctor was Dr. Alexander Rivkin, and I paid
him a visit.
Situated near UCLA’s bucolic campus in Westwood is the office of Dr.
Alexander Z. Rivkin M.D., a Yale trained facial cosmetic surgeon and
UCLA faculty member who focuses exclusively on providing his patients with the latest in
non-invasive, non-ablative cosmetic treatments. Dr. Rivkin strives to
deliver the best results in the least amount of downtime for the patient, or expense.
Grotesqueries and over-filled Los Angeles archetypical nightmarish
visages are not his thing.
Many actors and actresses go way overboard with their injectibles and
surgeries. Dr. Rivkin appreciates individual ‘perfection’ which is
unique to each patient. No one leaves his office with trout-like lips,
Jack Nicholson brows or the dreaded chimp face. His good taste combined
with his unrushed attention to each person’s facial bone structure and
planes are what sets him apart from the rest.
Dr. Rivkin is renowned for non-surgical alternatives to commonly
performed cosmetic procedures. He has been featured on the “TODAY” show,
“The Doctors” show, “Tyra Banks Show,” “EXTRA” Univision, PBS, KNBC-TV,
KABC-TV and in numerous national publications for the esthetically
elegant procedures he has invented.
He was the first physician in the country to offer the Non-Surgical
Nose Job, his signature method for non-invasive correction of cosmetic
nasal irregularities.
These are some last minute touch-ups that can be done days before you
hit the Red Carpet for the Emmys or any of the upcoming award shows
that are coming fast and furious to close out 2010.
Dr.Rivkin has
pioneered the:
* Non-Surgical Nose Job™ (Injection Rhinoplasty™)
*
Non-Surgical Chin Enhancement
* Non-Surgical Cheek Enhancement
* Non-Surgical Jowl Lift
* Non-Surgical Eye Lift
*
Non-Surgical Facelift.
He was a member of the teaching faculty at last year’s Rhinoplasty
meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery. He is a
prominent member of the national teaching faculties for Allergan,
Contura, Johnson and Johnson, Medicis and Bioform. He is also a member
of the physician advisory board for Contura. Giving back to the
community is a priority for Dr. Rivkin. He is honored to serve on the
boards of a number of charities including the Lynne Cohen Foundation for
Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research.
Another plus for me was the accessibility Dr. Rivkin offers patients
post injections; he is quite hands-on, calling and emailing his patients
to make sure they are doing well, and he is fastidious for follow-up
appointments to check symmetry and how the fillers and Botox placement
settled with each patient.
While I was waiting to speak with Dr. Rivkin, I watched a lovely UCLA
co-ed (Asian) who had a somewhat flattish undefined nose/profile emerge
looking like Maggie Q, with a natural looking refined nose. Except for
minor swelling, she was ready to go back to class.
He wants to see all patients have the least invasive cosmetic
options, and spends a significant amount of time educating other
physicians both in the office and at seminars and meetings around the
world.
Dr. Rivkin tells Monsters and Critics patients should hold off any
surgery cutting into the skin. “It’s a fallacy that some doctors
promote, urging patients to get a ‘starter’ facelift when these
surgeries usually fail within ten years. I strongly suggest to my
patients to hold off surgery for as long as possible and tread
conservatively, use tasteful placement of fillers and strategically
placed Botox to have a non surgical lift.”
Dr. Rivkin has performed more than 20,000 cosmetic procedures
utilizing injectable fillers, including Botox, Juvederm, Aftefill,
Radiesse and Restylane.
Dr. Rivkin shared with us an array of facts about Botox:
1. Botox is “botulinum toxin” NOT botulism (botulism is a disease
from an overdose of toxin, kind of like liver disease can be caused by
an overdose of aspirin.) Like Aspirin, in the right doses, Botox is
safe and effective.
2. You do not have to be paralyzed or look like some famous frozen
faced redheaded actresses if you get Botox. Skilled practitioners
should adjust the dose carefully so that you look more relaxed and your
face is smoother but you can still move your face naturally.
3. Botox doesn’t disperse into the body to cause paralysis or
organ damage. Botox is really good at staying exactly where it is
injected and not getting absorbed into the body.
4. Botox can make you look happier by raising your eyebrows and
the corners of your mouth.
5. Botox is not filler, so it will not fill the smile lines
6. Botox is very effective at helping to prevent migraines, headaches and neck pain
7. Botox is the one sure cure for teeth grinding or clenching.
The dose is injected in the Masseter muscles to weaken them, eventually
causing you to lose the habit of clenching and grinding. This will also
soften the angles of your jaw.
8. The tight, wind-blown look you see on some of the faces
strolling down Rodeo Drive is caused by overzealous facelift surgery,
not Botox
9. Botox is used more often for therapeutic purposes than cosmetic
ones. For example, Botox is used to help the muscle spasms associated
with Parkinson’s Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Blepharospams and Incontinence
(just to name a few).
10. Botox can be used for excessive sweating in under arms, in your
feet and in your head.
11. Good news! Great Britain has just approved the use of Botox for
migraines which is an important next step for approval in the US that
means one day soon, your insurance company could pay 80%!!
