Aging & Health

Published on July 2025 Can You Get a Facelift If You Smoke or Vape? How Raggio MD Helps Nicotine Users Heal Safely—with Natural, Beautiful Results The Truth Few Practices Will Tell You If you smoke, vape, or use nicotine products—and you’re considering a facelift—you’ve probably heard this before: “Sorry, you’re not a candidate.” That’s because most facial plastic surgeons won’t operate on patients with any nicotine exposure due to concerns about wound healing, skin necrosis, and infection. But here’s what makes Raggio MD different: We’ve developed an evidence-based, advanced facelift protocol—called the PreservaLift™—designed with enhanced healing, meticulous blood flow preservation, and regenerative therapies that reduce […]

Published on June 2025 Facelift Myths Debunked What You Really Need to Know When it comes to facelifts, misinformation is everywhere. At Raggio MD, we hear it all the time: “Won’t I look pulled?” “Isn’t recovery awful?” “Aren’t facelifts outdated now that we have fillers?” These myths often hold people back from a procedure that could genuinely change the way they feel about themselves. In this guide, I want to cut through the noise and answer the real questions patients are too afraid—or too overwhelmed—to ask. Let’s separate fact from fiction—and give you the clarity you need to make a confident, […]

Published on May 2025 The Modern Approach to Facelift: The PreservaLift™ At Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, AL, the pursuit of natural, lasting facial rejuvenation has reached a new level with the PreservaLift™ — a signature procedure developed by Dr. Blake Raggio, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. This advanced technique redefines facelift surgery by blending modern deep-plane methods with preservation-based artistry, all within the safety of our AAAASF-accredited surgical center.  As we age, our faces naturally lose volume and elasticity, leading to sagging skin, deepening lines, and a less defined jawline. While traditional facelifts have long been the go-to […]

Published on April 2025 10 Steps to Exceptional Scar Healing The Raggio MD Difference Have you ever wondered why the incisions after facial plastic surgery at Raggio MD often heal so beautifully? It’s not magic – it’s a careful plan and a promise from Dr. Raggio himself. We believe that every step, from before your surgery to months after, plays a big part in how well you heal and how your skin looks. Here’s a peek into our approach: 1. Getting Your Body Ready to Heal Just like a plant needs good soil to grow strong, your body needs to be […]

Published on March 2025 SKIN PROCEDURES AFTER ACCUTANE What You Need to Know About Timing and Safety Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery — Why This Matters If you’ve recently completed a course of isotretinoin (Accutane) for acne, it’s important to understand how it may affect your skin’s healing process—especially if you’re considering laser resurfacing, deep chemical peels, or other ablative treatments. What the Research Shows Historically, patients were told to wait 6 to 12 months after stopping Accutane before having skin procedures, due to concerns about poor wound healing or scarring. However, newer medical studies have shown that this long delay is not always […]

Published on July 2024 The 7 Keys to Hair Restoration: A Facial Plastic Surgeon’s Perspective As a double-board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in Birmingham, AL, I often encounter patients seeking effective treatments for hair loss. Based on my experience in hair restoration and weighing the available evidence-based medicine, here’s a rundown of the best available options, from least effective to most effective: Supplements (e.g., Nutrafol and Viviscal) For patients seeking Hair Restoration, I start by ensuring they eat a balanced diet, implement healthy sleep patterns, and optimize any chronic medical conditions (e.g., Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Autoimmune disorders, Chronic Skin Conditions, etc.).  I […]

Published on June 2024 Skin Purging: Everything you need to Know by Dr. Blake Raggio, Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Skin purging is a phenomenon often encountered in professional skincare and facial rejuvenation treatments. As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Blake Raggio frequently educates his patients in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan area and surrounding regions, such as Huntsville, Auburn, and Montgomery, about this temporary but normal skin reaction. Skin purging occurs when new skincare products or treatments accelerate skin exfoliation and regeneration, leading to a transient increase in breakouts. Understanding the Mechanism of Skin Purging Skin purging arises because certain active ingredients or […]

Published on May 2024 Unlock the Secrets of PRF Injections: The Ultimate Face Rejuvenation Solution Discover the transformative power of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Injections, the groundbreaking treatment taking the world of cosmetic enhancement by storm. PRF injections are the latest innovation in leveraging the body’s natural healing mechanisms to revitalize and enrich your skin, offering a more radiant and youthful appearance. Expert Insights on PRF Injections: Dr. Blake Raggio: Distinguished Facial Plastic Surgeon with double-board certification, based in Birmingham, AL. Revolutionize Your Beauty Regimen with PRF Injections: PRF injections are a novel cosmetic procedure that uses a patient’s own blood to enhance the […]

Published on November 2023 Cosmetic Surgery Amongst Baby Boomers Cosmetic Surgery Trends-In General Self-improvement takes its shape in many forms, whether dieting, exercising, meditating, reading, or picking up a new hobby. With that said, one self-improvement element has become more mainstream over the last two decades-Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. Whether it be due to a culture where appearance seemingly drives societal norms (e.g., Hollywood, social media) or where “selfies” and virtual meetings (e.g., Zoom) have become more commonplace, one thing is for sure, that is Cosmetic Procedures have become increasingly popular over the last several years, especially for baby boomers. According to The Aesthetic […]

Published on January 2024 The Anatomy of Facial Aging-What’s Happening to My Face? Recently, we discussed why more and more Baby Boomers are undergoing cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging. This month, we’ll discuss the “Anatomy of Facial Aging” to better elucidate the causes of those bothersome changes one may experience as you age. The Certainties of Aging The aging process involves the complex interplay of several key elements including diet, exercise, sleep, genetics, environmental factors (sun exposure, wind damage), and tobacco use, to name a few. Despite our best attempts to alter these variables, the certainty remains – aging will […]