Why Are HA Injectable Fillers So Popular? One Toronto Plastic Surgeon Explains
Dr. Lawrence Tong of Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery reveals why he believes hyaluronic acid-based injectable fillers continue to rank as one of the most popular cosmetic treatments year after year. Toronto, ON — “There are four main reasons why I believe hyaluronic acid-based injectable fillers (HA fillers) – which include Perlane®, Restylane®, JUVÉDERM®, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™, and JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA™ – have continued to be such popular treatments for both men and women over the years,” writes Toronto plastic surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD to begin a recent blog post titled, What Makes HA Injectable Fillers So Popular? In the entry, he goes on to list and briefly expand upon the following four reasons: Virtually no downtime is required following treatment. The injections are cost-effective compared to surgery. The treatment really does what it is advertised to do in appropriate candidates. The filler can be easily ‘dissolved’ in the rare case that a patient is not satisfied with the result. At Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Tong’s private practice, the Toronto plastic surgeon says HA fillers have proved to be excellent nonsurgical rejuvenation options for patients seeking to restore facial volume and improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In HA Injectable Fillers for Men Vs. Women – another recent article on his website – the most common areas in which patients receive HA filler injections are identified as the cheeks, […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Shares Advice on Rhinoplasty In 3-Part Blog Series
Dr. Lawrence Tong reveals the unique challenges of rhinoplasty and explains why choosing a skilled surgeon is vital for successful results. Toronto, Ontario – “My aim as a rhinoplasty surgeon is to educate my patients and to engage them in making decisions about their surgery,” says Dr. Lawrence Tong in the first of a three-part blog series on rhinoplasty approaches and techniques. The blog post, titled “Helping You Visualize Your Rhinoplasty Results,” goes on to say that while most of Dr. Tong’s patients come into his office with specific points of concern about their nose, he does a comprehensive evaluation to determine any additional aspects of the nasal structure and appearance that can be improved. This approach helps patients reach their goals with realistic expectations. Through the combination of comprehensive doctor-patient communication and visualization technology such as the VECTRA® imaging system, Dr. Tong is able to provide his Toronto plastic surgery patients with a clearer idea of the potential results after their rhinoplasty procedure. The consultation process is a time for patients to discuss their concerns, and for Dr. Tong to educate patients about the options available to them. When designing the treatment plan, Dr. Tong relies on these discussions and uses the simulations to ensure that the end goal is one they have decided on together. In a follow-up blog post titled “5 Keys To Successful Rhinoplasty,” Dr. Tong […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Simulates Results with VECTRA® 3D Imaging
Dr. Lawrence Tong now utilizes VECTRA® 3D imaging to help patients visualize potential results from their cosmetic surgery procedures. Toronto, Ontario — “During your cosmetic surgery consultation, VECTRA® 3D imaging can help you visualize potential results as if you actually underwent the procedure,” writes Toronto plastic surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD in a recent blog entry. The post, entitled “How VECTRA® 3D Imaging Enhances Consultations,” details some unique advantages enabled by the VECTRA® 3D imaging system – the newest addition to Dr. Tong’s plastic surgery armamentarium. Produced by Canfield Scientific, Inc., VECTRA® is a digital capture and computer software system designed to simulate realistic surgical results that patients may be able to achieve from cosmetic plastic surgery. Utilizing six camera angles, a three dimensional, high-definition image of the patient’s target treatment area is generated that can be manipulated to simulate different surgical approaches and their outcomes. Images created and manipulated by the VECTRA® software are provided as hard copies for the patient’s personal reference after the consultation. In his blog post, Dr. Tong highlights two procedures for which VECTRA® 3D imaging has greatly improved the consultation process: Rhinoplasty – “…VECTRA® 3D provides me with a ‘virtual patient’ on which I can simulate surgical adjustments and see what works best aesthetically. Additionally, the software gives details of all the changes and their precise measurements; this provides me with a roadmap of sorts […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Harnesses Mobile Revolution with Responsive Website
The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery recently upgraded to an innovative, responsive mobile website design that optimizes the layout of procedure information and enhances research efficiency on a variety of devices. Toronto, Ontario – With a state-of-the-art facility and a commitment to the latest in aesthetic enhancement procedures, Dr. Lawrence Tong says he strives to deliver exceptional results for the patients of his private plastic surgery practice in Toronto. Recently, Dr. Tong has taken the mission of the Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery one step further with the practice’s new, responsive mobile website. Dr. Tong says this innovative website keeps his online presence up-to-date and utilizes the latest design technology, helping patients obtain comprehensive information about the practice and the plastic surgeon, as well as educational details about specific procedures. Dr. Tong, a board-certified plastic surgeon, notes his new website allows patients to access vital information from virtually any location in a format that is digitally optimized for their personal internet device. With so many of his patients now conducting much of their internet research on a smartphone or tablet, Dr. Tong believed creating a website that is easy to navigate from those mobile devices was essential – a website that does not have to abbreviate information in order to successfully fit a smaller screen. Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery’s new mobile website includes features such as: Easy-access interactive Google […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon Highlights Techniques To Ease Breast Augmentation Recovery
With his breast augmentation patients, Dr. Tong utilizes education intensive preoperative consultations to reduce anxiety, employs precise surgical techniques to ease recovery, and provides exemplary postoperative care to provide an “extraordinary cosmetic surgery experience.” Toronto, Ontario – According to Dr. Lawrence Tong, his practice’s mission is “to provide clients with an extraordinary cosmetic surgery experience, from beginning to end, and beyond.” At Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, his private Toronto plastic surgery practice, Dr. Tong feels that this is particularly true with breast augmentation. He guides every patient through a preoperative consultation that includes detailed discussions on breast implant types, implant sizes and shapes, and different surgical approaches. Additionally, Dr. Tong keeps the patient’s recovery in mind throughout the consultation to ensure a recuperation process that is as quick and easy as possible. Dr. Tong says many breast augmentation patients have read about the experiences of others on the internet and expect significant discomfort post-surgery; however, most of his patients are surprised by the ease of their recovery. In his recent blog post entitled, “Keys to a Smoother Breast Augmentation Recovery,” Dr. Tong notes that detailed patient education about the recovery process is imperative to establishing a foundation for a smooth recovery. During preoperative consultations, patients are taught what to expect during their recovery period, which he says will significantly reduce anxiety after surgery. According to Dr. Tong, one of […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon on the Benefits of Mommy Makeover Procedures
Dr. Lawrence Tong provides individualized mommy makeover procedures at his Toronto plastic surgery practice and lets prospective patients know what they can expect for results and recovery. Toronto, Ontario – Dr. Lawrence Tong, a Toronto plastic surgeon, knows that while motherhood brings joyful changes into a woman’s life, the progression of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child care often cause significant changes to her physical appearance. He notes that the post-pregnancy modification of exercise routines, eating habits, and lifestyle can result not only in physiological changes, but also can negatively affect self-esteem and confidence levels. For this reason, Dr. Tong says he offers his patients at Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery mommy makeover procedures in order to address their post-pregnancy concerns. According to Dr. Tong, about 20% of his plastic surgery patients receive mommy makeover procedures. The ideal mommy makeover candidate is a woman who is in good general health, not significantly over or underweight, and near her desired post-pregnancy weight. Additionally, he says the patient should also have completed breast feeding and be at least three to six months post-delivery if she is considering tummy enhancement. A mommy makeover typically consists of a combination of procedures that are individually customized to address each patient’s unique concerns. Common mommy makeover procedures can include: Breast augmentation Breast lift Tummy tuck Liposuction Each consultation is personally conducted by Dr. Tong, and a recommendation is […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon on Benefits of Fat Transfer Procedures
TORONTO — Dr. Lawrence Tong, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Toronto, says new innovations in surgical techniques have dramatically improved the number of options available to patients for improving their appearance as well as their self-esteem. According to Dr. Tong, one of the most influential advancements in plastic surgery over the past few years has been the use of fat transfer to achieve safe, natural results during procedures like facial rejuvenation, buttock augmentation, and breast augmentation. “Fat transfer is basically removing fat from one area of the body and placing it in another to improve the volume of the recipient area,” says Dr. Tong. “The most noticeable benefits of fat transfer procedures are that the results last longer than treatments such as dermal fillers. It has the ability to create a more natural-looking outcome, especially in cases where a significant amount of volume is needed.” Dr. Tong says he typically takes fat from places where patients have an excess amount, for example the flank, outer thigh, or abdomen, and carefully injects it into areas that have lost fullness or shape. While fat transfer can be used for procedures such as buttock enhancement or breast augmentation, he says a majority of his Toronto plastic surgery patients request the technique to enhance the appearance of their faces. Particularly with facial procedures, Dr. Tong says fat transfer has become a popular method because […]
Breaking Down the Facelift with Toronto Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lawrence Tong
TORONTO, ON, CA — According to the most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), facelifts are the fifth most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, with almost 120,000 performed in 2011. Having increased in demand by over five percent, Dr. Lawrence Tong and his Toronto plastic surgery practice say the rising demand for facial rejuvenation and facial lifting treatments has necessitated improved patient education as well as an increase in awareness about the complexities of the procedure. As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Toronto, Dr. Tong focuses on a wide variety of treatments ranging from nonsurgical injections such as BOTOX® Cosmetic to breast augmentation and the mommy makeovers. He says patient education is an essential part of the plastic surgery process, and one he promotes no matter what procedure patients are interested in. For facelifts in particular, Dr. Tong says patients should be aware of how the procedure is performed and how plastic surgeons strive to create the most natural, youthful outcome possible before they choose to undergo any treatment. “The most common concern amongst my facelift patients is the desire to look younger but with a natural appearance,” says Dr. Tong. “When I perform a facelift procedure, there are two tissue layers that are lifted and tightened: the inner ‘muscle’ layer and the skin. Most of the lift effect is attained by lifting the inner layer, and […]
Toronto Plastic Surgeon On the Importance of Exercise and Nutrition After Surgery
Toronto, Ontario – The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, a center for plastic surgery in Toronto, offers a variety of cosmetic surgery and med spa procedures, from skin resurfacing to breast augmentation to liposuction. After any plastic surgery procedure, Dr. Lawrence Tong says patients need to take care of their investment. He stresses the importance of exercise and healthy nutrition in order to maintain the results achieved from surgery, adding that without an effort to have some type of a diet and exercise regimen, individuals can jeopardize their aesthetic results. Dr. Lawrence Tong, a board-certified Toronto plastic surgeon, says although plastic surgery can make patients look thinner or more proportionate, cosmetic surgery does not prevent or cure disease (such as diabetes or high blood pressure). Plastic surgery, therefore, represents just one facet of looking good and feeling healthy. According to Dr. Tong, allowing the body to heal after surgery is just as important as exercising afterward. If an individual begins to exercise too early, they risk adversely affecting the healing process. Additionally, exercising too early can be uncomfortable and can lead to swelling, thus prolonging the recovery time. Premature exercise after surgery also places stress on both the healing incisions and muscles, which can negatively affect the end result. The timing to start exercising varies according to the procedure. Dr. Tong says once a patient has sufficiently recovered from surgery […]
Dr. Tong featured in May/June 2012 issue of Elevate Magazine
One of Dr. Tong’s areas of expertise is surgical facial rejuvenation. This includes facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, browlift, and ancillary procedures such as fat grafting, dermabrasion, and chin and neck liposuction. Dr. Tong is quoted in this month’s issue of Elevate magazine discussing the different types of Toronto facelift and neck lifting procedures that are available.