LOOK YOUR BEST

As the old saying goes, the camera adds 20 pounds.

Video conferencing use that increased exponentially during the pandemic revolutionized the way we communicate and spawned a number of trends. Home offices were converted into studios. Innovative, waist up wardrobes were invented to offer an aura of professionalism. For the most part the business world adapted to these new technologies and continues to do so.

But there was another outgrowth of the migration to video communications. Many people didn’t like the way they looked while Zooming or FaceTiming. The up close and personal view of their own appearance on camera caused them to re-evaluate how they look.

Enter Dr. Steven Bloch, M.D., the founder of Body by Bloch in Highland Park. Bloch is an internationally recognized, board certified plastic surgeon with more than 40 years of experience. He says there are a number of trends that are currently influencing the field of plastic surgery, and a big one is the emergence of video calling.

“I would say as more people are doing conversations over video platforms like Zoom, they’re concentrating on their faces, and most people don’t look very attractive on a Zoom,” Bloch says. “I think it has led to a significant increase in the number of nose jobs and face lifts. It is not uncommon that people come in and say, ‘I hate the way I look on FaceTime or Zoom. I hate my neck. I hate my nose’.”

Another trend in plastic surgery relates to heightened standards, partly due to new technologies. Body contouring and body sculpting has always remained fairly stable, but Bloch says he continues to up his standards for the criteria he uses to determine optimal outcomes for his patients. The amount of what he wants to achieve, with, say, a tummy tuck, is more than just removing the abdominal apron (excess skin and fat around the abdomen).

“Now we want to tighten the underlying muscles and combine it with some liposuction and some additional skin tightening in order to create a more defined athletic appearing body,” Bloch says. “It’s like most things in plastic surgery or actually most things in the world. It doesn’t just occur. It evolves.”

Bloch says his criteria for the many years that he’s been in practice is an evolution based upon what technologies are available. He says it’s not like all of a sudden, some miracle emerges. He keeps raising the standards so that he can more closely approximate the ideal outcome.

One new technology Bloch using is called Emface.

Emface involves two energies that are applied to the face. It heats up the tissue to promote collagen production, but it still gives an intense stimulation to the underlying muscle. What he’s seeing as part of the aging process is that the facial muscles as we age get a little bit sloppy, and the length of the muscle increases. If the muscle increases, then the overlying tissue begins to sag.

“When we do a face lift, it’s really a tightening of the soft tissue. It isn’t doing that much to the underlying muscle,” Bloch says. “But now what we’re doing with Emface, which is a non-invasive procedure, is the patient goes through a series of treatments, and we can show that the stimulation of the muscle actually increases the muscle tone, causing a shortening of the muscle and a lifting of the overlying skin and soft tissue.”

The concept of the evolution of technology in the plastic surgery is akin to teeth whitening. Bloch says people weren’t aware of the color of their teeth until a really effective treatment came along to correct it.

“Our concept of aging is changing too as technologies such as Emface become available. I’m predicting that Emface will become as popular as Botox. The results aren’t as earth shattering as Botox. Botox is a game changer because it just works,” he says. “The results with Emface are more subtle. I’ve done it myself and I’ve seen the improvement. I like it, and I believe in it. I think it’s going to be a game changer as part of the anti-aging concept.”

The protocol for Emface is four treatments in the course of a month, then a rest period for about three months. Follow-up treatments, assuming patients like the results, are about one treatment every three to four months in order to maintain the look. Bloch says one should realize Emface isn’t for everyone. It is not going to replace a face lift, but it may put off the time before a facelift is needed, and it might prolong the lifetime of a face lift.

“Let’s say a year or so after the facelift, you start a patient on an anti-aging program in order to maintain the result, and you would use the new Emface technology that really has just been out since January,” Bloch says. “At least in my practice it has taken off. We’ve probably treated close to 80 people already. The results of it have been very encouraging.”

Another new technology that Bloch has incorporated into his practice is called CoolPeel, which is a Co2 laser that doesn’t cause the thermal damage that traditional Co2 lasers cause.

“Consequently, the healing time is much faster, and you can also adjust the level and intensity of ablation (the surgical removal of body tissue),” he says. “That has been a very effective laser treatment in order to improve skin tone, texture, and fine lines with much less downtime as compared to other technologies.”

Perhaps the most fascinating trend that has emerged the past decade or so is the fact people are aging and becoming more aware and more self-conscious of their appearance at a later age, and they trying to do things in order to stay in shape.

“We are seeing people who are healthy, leading active lives, and coming to us at older and older ages and asking to have things done, whether it be a face lift or a body-contouring operation,” says Bloch. “You look at these people and based on a medical history, there’s no reason not to do it. The oldest person now that I’ve done a face lift on is 91. She’s in great shape.” It’s not just living longer. As important is the quality of life for many people has significantly improved. At the end of the day, it’s not how long you live, it’s the quality of your life, Bloch says. Most people who come in who want to have something done, they say, “I feel younger than this person staring at me in the mirror.” “Our concept in terms of face lifts has kind of changed, too. Whereas earlier facelifts were mostly dependent on a suspension of the tissue, now it’s more of a lifting rather than a suspension,” he says. “What does that do? It creates a more natural look.”

The ideal, in his mind—the ideal cosmetic result—is that patients have achieved a more youthful appearance, but it looks totally natural. No one should even know that they’ve had anything done other than the fact that they just look better.

Bloch says those seeking to improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery should first and foremost find a doctor they can trust, one who communicates well and listens to patients and is inquisitive about their desired results.

“I would tell them the best way is to take the time and effort and come in and actually be evaluated,” he says. “It’s also important that whoever they go to, that doctor takes the time to listen to what they want and their perception as to what the outcome is.”

It’s then the challenge of the doctor to come up with techniques and procedures that in their estimation is going to give the patient the best result, that’s going to last the longest, with the least amount of downtime and risk. At the end of a day, to come up with something that a reasonable human being thinks is cost effective.

“It’s impossible for them to go through the Internet and to do an assessment on their face as to everything they need. The occasional patient is really well educated and comes pretty close to it, but it doesn’t replace a professional opinion,” Bloch says. “Patients don’t always have to do everything that is outlined, but they should at least have an overview of what is possible.”

Body by Bloch is located at 1160 Park Avenue West, Suite 2E in Highland Park. For more information, call 847-432-0840 or visit bodybybloch.com.