This new laser is literally melting years off the face.

The story in Thursday’s Medical Moment. One of the most recent trends in cosmetic surgery is to plump and fill out the face with facial fillers.

But, it's not a permanent fix. Now, doctors are taking a new approach to tackling jowls and deep folds by literally melting away the problem.

The procedure is so quick it's often referred to as the lunchtime face-lift.

42-year-old Terri Warth knows what it takes to captivate her students.

Sometimes being at the head of the class has brought her unwanted attention.

"All my life, I've had these fat deposits underneath my eyelids. Parents would come to me and say, oh, you look so tired,” says Terri.

Then she heard about a new procedure called AccuLift.

Doctor J. David Holcomb is one of the first in the world using a special fiber optic laser as thin as six strands of human hair to smooth out the face.

"It helps us to be able to contour the face in ways we never really could before," Dr. Holcomb, Facial and Cosmetic Surgeon at Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery PLLC, in Sarasota, FL said.

Tammy browning is hoping it will take years off her face.

As we age, fat in our face descends. The laser delivers a special wavelength of energy that heats up and literally melts away those fatty deposits. Another tool removes any additional fat left inside. Results can be seen immediately.

The alternatives are fillers or a more invasive face-lift. AccuLift takes just 30 minutes, requires only local anesthetic, and Doctor Holcomb says the fat removal is permanent.

Terri was back at work the next day.

"There was absolutely no down time,” says Terri.

Her confidence speaks for itself. Since last December, Dr. Holcomb has performed the AccuLift procedure on more than 100 patients.

LUNCHTIME FACELIFT FACIAL

FAT DEPOSITS: According to Science Daily, as people age, their face contours and changes due to volume losses, gains and the repositioning of facial compartments. All of these changes can result in facial sagging, wrinkles or hollowed skin. New research from UT Southwestern Medical Center suggests the face has distinct compartments that age at all different rates. According to Rebecca Fitzgerald, M.D., gravity used to be the prime suspect in facial aging, but now gravity is a bystander that only determines the direction of the falling tissue of the face. Fitzgerald also says that changes in an individual’s face are personalized to each face and can be influenced by gender, genetics, smoking and stress. Changes in one tissue may influence other tissues because the tissue layers operate interdependently.

FILLERS AND SURGERIES: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has a list of facial and neck cosmetic surgeries that include: Botox, brow lift, chemical peel, chin surgery, cleft lip/palate, dermabrasion, ear surgery, eyelid surgery, face-lift, facial implants, hair replacement surgery, injectable fillers, liposuction, nose surgery, permanent makeup, post-bariatric body contouring, scar revision, skin cancer care and skin rejuvenation/resurfacing. Some of the most popular procedures for facial rejuvenation are Botox injections and face lift procedures. A face lift is a surgical procedure to improve signs of aging in the face and neck. Some risks include unfavorable scarring, bleeding, infection, nerve injury, skin discoloration, and contour irregularities. Botox is a non-surgical injection that reduces frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet near the eyes and thick bands along the neck. Botox, which is injected into troubled areas, is made of botulinum toxin. The toxin paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles temporarily while smoothing the skin.

ACCULIFT: AccuLift is a laser-assisted facial procedure that rejuvenates the face and removes excess fat deposits from the cheeks, jowl area and neckline. According to the Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery Center, AccuLift is the first of its kind. It is a procedure that uses a laser that delivers wavelengths of energy to melt fat into liquid, so it will run out of the body like tears. The procedure lasts only 20 to 30 minutes per facial area, is minimally invasive and allows patients to return quickly to daily routines. The AccuLift is an alternative to the traditional face lift. AccuLift sculpts, removes excess fat deposits and tightens the skin. The procedure only requires local anesthetic, a few small incisions and costs half as much as many traditional facial rejuvenation procedures. ? For More Information, Contact: Kristine Hames Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery, PLLC Sarasota, FL (941) 365-8679 khames@srqfps.com http://www.srqfps.com