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 “Aren’t facelifts outdated now that we have fillers?”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 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 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 […]
