Sourced directly from Dr. Victor Ferrari's social posts and replies.
What is HydraGold Micro-channeling and what are its benefits?
HydraGold is a micro-channeling device that stamps the skin with gold-plated microneedles, delivering a customized cocktail of products directly into the skin. This cocktail typically includes a combination of Botox/Dysport and hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane. Within a week of treatment, HydraGold provides a plump, dewy appearance, smooths skin, diminishes lines and wrinkles, shrinks pores, hydrates, rejuvenates, and improves the appearance of acne scars and uneven texture by stimulating collagen. It's recommended as a perfect treatment a few days before a special event to achieve a noticeable glow.
What are the risks of DIY lip injections and why should I choose a professional?
Do-it-yourself lip injections are a dangerous trend. Products used are often not FDA approved, meaning their contents are unknown. Without proper anatomical knowledge, DIY injections can lead to severe complications such as lumps, blocked blood flow causing lip skin to die (requiring reconstructive surgery and permanent disfigurement), or even blindness if filler enters an artery and travels to the brain. Dr. Ferrari strongly recommends seeking a professional, well-trained injector who understands anatomy to ensure precise placement, minimize vascular compromise, enhance safety, and achieve natural, satisfying outcomes. Patient safety is a top priority, and his practice's experienced Nurse Injectors are selected for their deep anatomical understanding and ability to manage complications.
How visible are underarm scars from breast augmentation over time?
Underarm scars from breast augmentation tend to heal very well due to the thin and moist nature of the skin in that area. Most patients find that a year after surgery, the scar is barely noticeable or cannot be found.
What are the risks of do-it-yourself (DIY) lip injections?
Dr. Ferrari warns that DIY lip injections are a very dangerous trend. The products used are not FDA approved, so their contents are unknown. Risks include lumpy lips, blocked blood flow to the lips which can cause skin death requiring reconstructive surgery and permanent disfigurement, or even permanent blindness if the product enters an artery and travels to the brain and eye. He strongly recommends seeking a professional, well-trained injector who understands anatomy to avoid these severe complications, emphasizing that saving a small amount of money is not worth these life-altering risks. Patient safety is Dr. Ferrari’s top priority, and his practice employs experienced Nurse Injectors with deep anatomical understanding to ensure safe and effective treatments.
What are Dr. Ferrari's preferences for breast implant type and texture?
Dr. Ferrari exclusively uses silicone, smooth, and round breast implants. He prefers silicone for its natural feel and appearance, noting that saline implants can look like a 'bag of water' and ripple more frequently. His practice stopped using textured implants several years ago due to their link to a rare form of lymphoma, an immune system cancer, and therefore only uses smooth implants, which are all round.
How does Dr. Ferrari approach lip filler for M-shaped lips?
M-shaped lips, characterized by a sharp dip in the center that can make the upper lip appear pointy or 'beaky', are considered one of the hardest lip shapes to treat with filler. This is because the center volume is naturally much larger than the side lip volume. To achieve the best natural-appearing outcome, Dr. Ferrari's practice prefers to slowly and delicately fill each side of the lip over two or three treatment settings, respecting the natural anatomy. Adding filler too quickly or without precision can exaggerate the M-shape's features rather than softening them. Patients are advised to choose an experienced injector who understands how to treat M-shaped lips with intention and artistry.
What is Dr. Ferrari's philosophy on breast implant placement (above vs. below the muscle)?
Dr. Ferrari almost always recommends subfascial (above-the-muscle) breast implant placement for most patients, prioritizing long-term well-being, natural aesthetics, and easier recovery. He notes that under-the-muscle placement is significantly more painful, has a much longer recovery, and can cause 'animation deformity' (implants moving unnaturally when pectoral muscles are flexed). Long-term risks of under-the-muscle placement include ribs caving in, breasts appearing smaller over time, a sunken zone if implants are removed, and potential shoulder imbalance and pain that may be unfixable, according to recent orthopedic literature. His preferred subfascial technique involves precise dissection to lift the fascia and place the implant directly on the muscle, offering similar capsular contracture rates to under-the-muscle placement without these associated complications or unnatural movement. While proficient in all techniques, he believes subfascial placement is the ideal choice.
What is HydraGold and what are its benefits?
HydraGold is a micro-channeling device that stamps the skin with gold-plated microneedles, delivering a customized cocktail of products directly into the skin. This cocktail typically includes Botox/Dysport and hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane. Within a week of treatment, HydraGold provides a plump, dewy appearance, smooths skin, diminishes lines and wrinkles, shrinks pores, hydrates, rejuvenates, improves acne scars and uneven texture, and stimulates collagen. It is an ideal treatment a few days before a special event to achieve a noticeable glow.