Preparing for Facelift Surgery

November 26th, 2010 Posted in Facelifts
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You have decided to have a facelift.  You have discussed the options with your professional facial plastic surgeon, weighed the pros and cons, and have decided that facelift surgery is the best option for you.  How do you best prepare?

Facelift surgery is a major surgical procedure that lasts 2-4 hours.  It is generally performed as an outpatient.  When you leave surgery, a white fluffy dressing is usually in place.  This dressing is generally removed by the surgeon within a few hours to one day, and replaced with an elastic type bandage.  Drains are often in place to help minimize swelling and edema associated with the surgery.  You will likely have some discoloration of your face (you may have some bruising) that can last up to one to two weeks.  You should plan on taking some time off of work during this period.

About two weeks before facelift surgery you should schedule a pre-operative appointment with your surgeon and his assistant.  At this time, review any medications you may be taking.  This includes any medicines that may be over the counter or any herbal or alternative medication products you currently use.  You may be advised to stop some of these medications, and your surgeon may wish to discuss alternatives of other medicines.  Never be embarrassed to share with your surgeon any medications you are taking.  Your surgeon may also prescribe some new medications for you to take, or add in some herbal supplements to aid in healing. 

Most importantly, stop smoking.  For some of the dangers associated with smoking and cosmetic surgery, see our article on this topic.  Trust your surgeon, and get ready for a new you!

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Facial Paralysis

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Facial Paralysis
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There are many different reasons that you may have facial paralysis.  Facial paralysis generally occurs after damage to the facial nerve.  When this nerve is damaged, your face may appear ‘uneven’ and you may not be able to express yourself in the ways that you want.  You may find that this makes you sad or angry, and is causing you to be depressed.  This is a very normal reaction to facial paralysis.

There are procedures to help correct this.  Depending on the cause of your facial paralysis, either dynamic or static facial reconstruction can be done.  Sometimes, a combination of both may be performed.

Dynamic procedures will help you become ‘reanimated’.  This means that you will have an even smile, or an even eyebrow lift when you are surprised.  Static procedures help keep your face even when you are at rest.  One of the most important considerations with facial paralysis is your eyes, eyesight, and eyelid.  Sometimes consultation with an eye surgeon is also necessary to help correct your facial paralysis.

It may take a long time after facial paralysis surgery to see results, and may require several different procedures.  Muscles may need to be moved from one part of the body to the face, to help achieve appropriate muscle movement.  Specialized exercises may be prescribed after the surgery to help aid in the healing, and you may need to wear a specially designed facial mask or eye shield, depending on the type of surgery.  Long term results are often very successful, and clients are happy with their overall results.  Many times, insurance companies will help cover a portion of facial paralysis corrective surgeries.

To see if you are a candidate for facial paralysis corrective surgery, contact your local facial plastic surgeon today.

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Mini Face Lift

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Facelifts
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A minimal incision line face lift is often referred to as a ‘mini’ face lift, and is an excellent choice for certain people.  Minimal incision line face lifts correct and enhance the lower portions of your face, helping to tighten skin that has begun to sag below the level of the eyes.

The minimal incision line face lift has shorter ‘down time’ and a faster recovery rate than a traditional face lift.  Clients can generally return to work in less than a week, with minimal swelling or bruising. 

Clients who benefit the most from minimal incision line face lifts are those that have excess sagging in skin in the cheeks and jaw line, around the nose, or have cheek pads that appear to be ‘loose’ or ‘slipping’.  Drooping in the corners of the mouth generally cannot be treated with a minimal incision line face lift, and other procedures are better indicated in these cases.

The advantages of a minimal incision line face lift are huge:  less tissue is disturbed, so there is less bruising, swelling and edema.  Because the incision lines are smaller, healing time is faster, and there is less of a risk for infection.  Return to work can generally be done in one week.  Repeated touch ups are not a problem, and are easy to perform, and the ability to provide a full face lift in later years is still a viable option.  A mini face lift in conjunction with aggressive skin care such as wrinkle minimizations, laser resurfacing, and some lotions can provide many years of satisfaction.  Finally, anesthesia needs are much lower with a minimal incision line face lift.

If you are interested in seeing if a minimal incision line face lift is the best option for you, consult your facial cosmetic surgeon today for a consultation.  The choice is in your hands!

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Eye Lid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Blepharoplasty, Eyelid Lift
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Tired of looking tired?  Your eyes help shape your face, and give an overall impression of you.  As we age, our eyes are the first place that shows the aging process.  Skin can begin to sag a bit in the eye area, and bags can begin to form under the eyes.  These things together make your face look older than you are, and give an overall impression of you being sad, angry or tired all the time.

One of the ways to correct this is by having an eyelid lift.  The surgical name of an eyelid lift is Blepharoplasty.  Blepharoplasty is one of the top five cosmetic surgical procedures.  Correcting eye sag and lid droop alone can allow a person to look ten years younger!  Belpharoplasty also removes the extra skin from around your eyes, improving overall vision.

Prior to having an eyelid lift and rejuvenation, you will be seen by a professional cosmetic surgeon that specializes in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.  This consultation will last about an hour.  Make sure to discuss with the physician any medications you take (including herbals or supplements) during this time.  Blepharoplasty is generally done with a local anesthetic as an out-patient procedure, and takes less than two hours to complete.  If you and your physician prefer, blepharoplasty can be performed in a surgical center with sedation and full anesthesia.  In either case, recovery takes less than a week, and you can plan on returning to work in three to five days.

If you are interested in correcting the chronic tired look of your eyes, contact your local professional cosmetic surgeon today.  Consultation with a cosmetic surgeon that specializes in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is ideal, as these surgeons have advanced training and credentials in facial surgery.

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Eliminate Wrinkes With Botox

October 25th, 2010 Posted in Botox
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You may have wondered if Botox really works to help diminish fine lines and wrinkles.  Or, you may have wondered if you will look ‘fake’ or ‘false’ if you have Botox done.  This article will help describe how Botox works, and who benefits from this procedure.

Botox works by temporarily ‘paralyzing’ the muscles that cause wrinkles to appear.  Botox works well against all types of wrinkles, and can be used for moderate to severe wrinkles.  Botox is especially helpful in eliminating crow’s feet, worry lines, mouth lines, and furrows between eyebrows.

No anesthetic is needed.  Botox is a simple, small injection given to patients.  The whole procedure lasts about 10 minutes.  Results are seen within three days. 

Botox is temporary.  Results will last about three to four months.  If you decide not to have repeated Botox treatments, the lines and wrinkles that were there before will return.

The best results of Botox are seen when early intervention is started.  Botox is not for everyone, and before having or receiving a Botox treatment, make sure that you share with your physician any medications (including herbals and supplements) you are on, if you have ever had problems breathing, or if you have any other types of chronic disorders.  Together, you and your physician can make the best decision on your anti-aging regimen. 

To see if you are a candidate for Botox, consult your local facial plastic surgeon today.  Start the anti-aging process today with Botox to help reduce and diminish lines, wrinkles and the ‘11’ that may have appeared between your eyebrows!

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Laser Skin Rejuvenation

October 22nd, 2010 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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The word laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.   A laser is a single wavelength source of high-energy light that can be accurately focused to transmit that light on to a very small area.  The use of lasers in skin rejuvenation has given patients many options for softening the signs of aging without “going under the knife” or undergoing facelift procedures.  Lasers can also be used to improve imperfections in the skin due to other medical factors besides aging.

There are basically two different types of lasers:  ablative and non-ablative.  Ablative lasers vaporize the top layers of damaged skin.  Ablative laser procedures generally produce significant effects with just one treatment.  Because the top layer of skin is destroyed, down time is necessary for ablative laser procedures.  Non-ablative lasers work deeper in the skin without removing or otherwise damaging the top layers of the skin.  They also stimulate new collagen growth.  The lack of down time required for non-ablative laser procedures offers significant benefits to patients.  However, non-ablative laser procedures usually require multiple treatments to have significant effects.

The use of lasers in facial cosmetic procedures has revolutionized skin rejuvenation.  It has also greatly increased the options for patients who desire to look younger or to improve their appearance but are not willing to undergo plastic surgery.  Lasers are currently used for the following cosmetic treatments:

•  Fine lines and wrinkles
•  Skin tightening
•  Pigmented lesions (sun spots, age spots, melasma and other forms of
    hyperpigmentation)
•  Removal of precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses
•  Vascular lesions (broken blood vessels on the face, veins on the legs, spider nevi,
    hemangiomas and birth marks such as port wine stains)
•  Tattoo removal
•  Acne and acne scar removal
•  Hair removal

Different types of lasers are better suited for treating different types of conditions.  The Fraxel or other fractionated lasers may be the best for treating wrinkles around the eyes.  The CO2 or Er:YAG are well-suited for treating acne scars.  IPL may be the best to treat vascular lesions and to improve the skin’s texture and color.  The good news is that so many different types of treatments are available.  If you are interested in laser skin rejuvenation procedures, consult a licensed, experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area.

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