LIP CONTOURING: WHY WOMEN ARE DITCHING THE SYRINGE FOR PERMANENTLY PLUMPED LIPS

What is lip contouring? It is the newest procedure being performed on women and men. It is done under local anesthesia using a tiny blade to make an incision beneath the nose at the edge of your nostrils, ultimately raising your upper lip. The procedure is done in Dr. Devgan’s office, taking only 20 minutes. How could you not love this method!?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of lip augmentations has risen by 60% from 2000- 2017. In the past patients were not as willing to be up front about surgeries. Now with the various social media platforms, patients are more than willing to share there experiences and procedures.

Dr. Devgan’s Platinum Lip Plump is a great addition to lip contouring. It has been featured in InStyle. Vogue, OK Magazine along with other beauty and fashion outlets. It has been clinically proven to make lips look fuller and plumper. 90% of patients reported improved lip volume and 100% of patients reported improvement in hydration and coloration.

To check out Dr. Devgan’s Platinum Lip Plump you can click here.

To read full story featured in ELLE Magazine click here.

Dr. Devgan is featured on Mind Body Green- How to spot skin cancer

Dr. Devgan is featured on MindBodyGreen, a boutique online health and wellness magazine that has been featured in The New York Times and Vogue.

Image credit Shutterstock

How To Spot Skin Cancer

by Dr. Lara Devgan

Most of us don't give a second thought to those pesky moles and freckles that crop up on our bodies over time. We're healthy, and we take care of ourselves, we think. They must be nothing, right?

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than two million people diagnosed every year.

In fact, each year, there are more new cases of skin cancer than new cases of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer COMBINED. One in five Americans will get skin cancer, and one in three Caucasians will get basal cell carcinoma (the most common form of skin cancer) over the course of their lives.

How can you tell if that spot is suspicious?

If it's new, different from other spots, or in any way concerning, see a doctor. Many people use the "ABCDE" rule.

A = Asymmetry

If the spot is asymmetrical, lopsided, or uneven looking, it could be a cancer. Most normal moles and freckles are even circles or ovals.

B = Border

If the spot has a jagged or irregular border, it could be a cancer. Most normal moles have a smooth straight-line border.

C = Color

If the spot has a variable color or several different colors, it could be a cancer. Most normal moles are even in pigmentation.

D = Diameter

If the spot is larger than 4 to 6 mm in diameter (about the size of a pencil eraser), it could be a cancer. Most normal spots are small.

E = Evolving

If the spot is evolving, growing, or changing over time, it could be a cancer. Most normal moles, freckles, and birth marks are relatively constant over time.

What can you do to guard against skin cancer?

1. Wear a zinc and titanium based sunscreen every day.

Make this a habit with absolutely no exceptions, like brushing your teeth or putting on your shoes. Sunscreen is a must.

2. Limit your sun exposure.

Try to avoid spending time outside between 10am and 2pm, when the sun's rays are the strongest. Almost half of our lifetime sun exposure occurs between ages 19 and 40, when it's common to spend a lot of time outdoors.

3. Pay attention to your body.

Do a monthly surveillance of spots on your body. Pay attention to any changes. See a dermatologist regularly for skin exams.

4. Seek help early.

Skin cancers that are caught early are extremely survivable and treatable, and surgery to remove them is much less disfiguring. See your doctor right away for any concerns.

Click to read Dr. Devgan's piece "How to spot skin cancer"

Moving personal essay on skin cancer

This is one of the most touching personal essays I have ever read about skin cancer. 

Featured in the New York Times, sports journalist Tim Layden writes lyrically about the basal cell carcinoma on his nose and what it took to repair it. I encourage everyone to read it-- as a piece of literary writing, and equally importantly, as a wake-up call about the devastation that can result from a casual disregard for sun protection. As Layden writes:

 How did I get myself into this mess? The same way that Hemingway’s Mike Campbell went broke in “The Sun Also Rises,” “Gradually, then suddenly.'’

Click to read Tim Layden's full piece.

Skin cancers are tricky because they often don't play by the rules, but they do have some classic features. 

Basal cell carcinomas are pearly pink, sometimes with an area of bleeding or ulceration, or a central crater, and sometimes with just a subtle area of redness. They are usually found on the nose, ears, face, and neck. These are the most common skin cancers; 30% of Caucasian people will get a basal cell cancer in their lives. 

Basal Cell Carcinoma. Image credit medicinenet.com

Squamous cell carcinomas usually begin as a small reddish plaque. Often they don't have any symptoms, but they can bleed, ulcerate, and change over time. They are common on the lips, face, hands, scalp, and ears, and they metastasize throughout the body. 

Squamous cell carcinoma. Image credit symsys-molemate.com

Melanomas are less common than the other two types of skin cancer, but they are the most deadly because of their aggressive tendency to metastasize. They are usually on sun-exposed areas, but can be found anywhere at all, including the eye, the fingernail, and even the bowel. The are usually pigmented, irregular, and evolve over time. The ABCDE nmemonic was developed for melanomas.

Melanoma. Image credit dermatology.org

The ABCDE of Melanoma. Image credit Loreal Paris. 

Much of my practice focuses on the excision of suspicious lesions and the reconstruction of skin cancers, so I am especially passionate about this topic.

Make sure you are vigilant about any new freckle, spot, mole, lump, or bump on your body. Skin cancer can happen to anyone, of any skin type-- not just the fair-skinned. When they are caught early, skin cancers are much less disfiguring and much more survivable. Get regular skin checks by a dermatologist. And wear zinc/ titanium based sunscreen everyday.