Facelift | Eyelid Surgery | Rhinoplasty | Facial Implants (Chin) | BOTOX® Cosmetic | Restylane




The Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure designed to smooth the loose skin on your face and neck, and to reduce the most apparent signs of aging in the facial area, giving you a more youthful appearance. The procedure involves reducing the creases from the nose and mouth, the slacking jaw line and sagging jowls and fat deposits around the neck by removing excess fat and tightening underlying muscles, then redraping the skin on the face and neck. Although the procedure cannot stop the aging process, it can turn back the clock on your facial appearance, giving you a younger, fresher look, which can also have a positive effect on your self-confidence.

The best candidates for a facelift are those who:

• Have face and neck skin that has begun to sag, but still possess good skin elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well defined.

• Experience the loss of a well-defined jaw line

• Have deep wrinkles in the cheeks

• Have loose skin, wrinkles or excess fatty tissue in the neck

A face-lift is performed by generally making an incision around the natural contour of the ear, and around your earlobe along your hairline. This helps keeps any scarring from being visible. Any incision can be easily masked by make-up or hair. If a neck lift is performed, you may have a small incision under your chin. After your surgery you may have a drain tube to allow excess fluid to drain from the incision. Your bandage will stay in place for 1 to 2 days. You may experience some increased swelling in the first 24 to 48 hours after your surgery. Most bruising will subside in about 2 weeks. Some numbness may occur, and your stitches will remain till your 1-week visit.

Since each individual has his or her own unique facial features, physical reactions and healing abilities, the results of a facelift vary with each patient and they are never 100% predictable. During a facelift, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Some complications that may arise include hematoma (blood under the skin that must be removed by your doctor), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary) infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Smokers are more likely to experience poor healing of the skin.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence by removing the appearance of droopy or sagging eyelids. As people age the eyelid stretches, muscles weaken, and fat accumulates around the eyes, causing "bags", or excess skin to become prominent. During your consultation, the doctor will assess which of the four eyelids (top and bottom for both eyes) require surgery.

The best candidates for eyelid surgery are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations. Generally patients for this procedure are 35 years or older. However, if sagging eyelids runs in your family, it is possible to have eyelid surgery at a younger age.

Eyelid surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia. If your doctor chooses local anesthesia, he will numb the area around your eyes, along with giving you a mild oral or IV sedative. The actual surgery takes one to three hours. The incisions made during the surgery follow the natural lines of your eye.

As with any procedure there is the possibility of complications occurring. For eyelid surgery, these include infection, or a reaction to the anesthesia used. Minor complications that commonly follow eyelid surgery include double or blurred vision for a few days, which is caused by swelling at the corner of the eyelids, and slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Following surgery, some patients may have difficulty closing their eyes when they sleep. Adhering to the physician’s advice on pre and post-op care will greatly reduce the risk of complications.

After your surgery, you may feel tightness in your eyes. An ointment and a bandage will cover your eyes. A cold compress and elevation will help keep the swelling and bruising down. For the first few weeks following your surgery, you may also experience excessive tearing, sensitivity to light, and temporary changes in your vision such as blurring or double vision. Your stitches will be removed 2 to 7 days after your surgery.

Surgery of the nose is one of the most common of all plastic surgery procedures. There are individuals who have been unhappy with the appearance of their nose for their whole life, and there are individuals who have had their nose altered as a result of injury. Rhinoplasty offers a solution to these individuals. The best candidates for a rhinoplasty are those people who are looking for an improvement in the way they look, not those searching for perfection. There are many ways rhinoplasty can improve upon one’s nasal appearance. This surgery can reduce or increase the overall size of your nose, change the shape of the tip or bridge, narrow or widen the nostrils. Not only can rhinoplasty enhance appearance, it can also help improve one’s breathing. The consultation is an important part of the process because it allows the doctor to examine the current state of the nose and determine what can be done to enhance its appearance.

The rhinoplasty procedure usually takes an hour or two, though more complicated procedures may take longer. The surgery starts with the skin of the nose being separated from its supporting framework of the bone and cartilage, which is then sculpted to the desired shape. The skin is then redraped over the new framework. After the surgery is complete, a splint is then applied to help the nose maintain its new shape. Nasal packs or soft splints may be placed in the nostrils to stabilize the septum; this is the dividing wall between the air passages.

After surgery, during the first twenty-four hours, the face will feel puffy, the nose may ache, and the patient may experience a dull headache. The patient should plan on resting with their head elevated for the first day. There will be swelling and bruising around the eyes, reaching a peak after two to three days. By the end of one week all packing, dressings, splints and stitches should be removed and the patient is able to return to school or work. It will be a few weeks following surgery before patients can resume more strenuous activities. Healing times vary with patients.

Men and women who wish to enhance their facial features may turn to Facial implants. Facial implants can enhance your image as well as your self-esteem. Facial implants can help bring balance to the features of your face. These implants can bring the chin or cheekbones into balance or help define your chin. Others may use facial implants as a cosmetic enhancement to help bring a more youthful appearance to their aged face. Facial implant surgery can be performed alone, or in conjunction with a normal face-lift. During facial implant surgery, your doctor may use local or general anesthesia, depending on the severity of the surgery.
The following is a brief description of the various facial implant procedures available. Each of these implants, in their own way, can bring your facial features into balance. During your consultation, the doctor can examine your current facial features and determine which implants will best serve your needs.

Chin

Chin implant surgery may take 30 minutes to an hour. Your doctor will decide on the proper implant size, and insert it into a pocket over the front of the jawbone. The incision may be placed on the inside of your mouth, or in the skin just under the chin. Your sutures will be removed with in 5 to 7 days. Some swelling and discomfort may be present, and you may find it difficult to smile or talk.

There are individuals who would like to enhance their appearance, but do not want to undergo surgery and want as little downtime as possible. Many individuals have turned to BOTOX® injections, a quick, virtually painless procedure. BOTOX® is a form of botulinum toxin that, when injected, temporarily paralyzes muscles that cause wrinkles. This treatment reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crow’s feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. BOTOX® treatments result in a youthful and more refreshed appearance.

BOTOX® injections take only a few minutes to an hour to be performed, depending on the size of the treatment area. Also with BOTOX® injections, there is little or no discomfort involved. Plus most patients are able to return to their normal activities immediately after receiving treatment. Generally, the effects of your BOTOX® injections should last about 3-6 months and further treatments may be advised. There are very few known side effects involved with BOTOX®. These include temporary bruising, and mild muscle aches.

Restylane is a biodegradable gel based on hyaluronic acid, a substance which occurs naturally in the skin. Since Restylane is based on a non-animal, naturally occurring substance, it reduces the risk of any allergic reaction, transmitting disease, or other complications from occurring. No skin test is required. When injected, it can smooth wrinkles and folds, give volume to your lips or give shape to your facial contours. Restylane treatment sessions take less than thirty minutes and patients can return to their normal routine soon after. The results are instantaneous and last anywhere from six to twelve months. Since Restylane is biodegradable, when it breaks down, it turns into water and carbon dioxide, and disappears without a trace from your body.