Browlift (Forehead Lift)

Frown lines above our noses and in the middle of your forehead will give you an unwanted older appearance. Under stress and as we age, we tend to make faces that encourage the creases, giving us the serious, unhappy look. A brow lift eliminates these lines and is one of the only procedures that allows a plastic surgeon to access the hard to reach muscles that cause furrow lines.

For additional information on browlifts visit www.plasticsurgery.org

For additional information on browlifts visit www.surgery.org

Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)

By removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes.  It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient’s field of vision.  Blepharoplasty cannot be used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet or dark circles under the eyes, but the procedure can be combined with others such as a facelift and Botox® treatments to achieve these results.

The procedure is usually performed in an office with local anesthesia and lasts 45 minutes to a few hours depending on how much work is done.  Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids).  The surgeon removes excess tissue through these incisions and then stitches them closed with fine sutures.  In the case that no skin needs to be removed, the surgeon will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

Stitches are removed after three or four days and most people return to work in ten.  Contact lenses may not be worn for two weeks.  Eyes can be sensitive to light and wind and may be slightly irritated for a short while; your surgeon may prescribe eye drops and cool compresses to counteract these discomforts. 

Complications from the procedure are uncommon, and can include: infection, reaction to anesthesia, double or blurred vision for a few days, temporary swelling of the eyelids, tiny whiteheads, and difficulty closing eyes when going to sleep.  Uneven healing and scarring, and ectropion (pulling down of the lower lids) are very rare and may require surgical correction.  Patients with thyroid problems, dry eye, high blood pressure, diabetes, detached retina, glaucoma or other health problems should consult with an ophthalmologist about eligibility.

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For additional information on eyelid surgery visit www.plasticsurgery.org

For additional information on eyelid surgery visit www.surgery.org

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Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

As we age, our face changes. Skin loses its elasticity. Skin begins to bunch in several locations. Muscular bands become more apparent. A face-lift can help restore the look of your youth by selectively canceling out those features which signify age. The cheeks are elevated, folds are flattened, jowls tightened, the neck is redraped, and excess skin is removed. Your appearance is not replaced, but a younger appearance is restored.

There are several variations of face-lifts. Skin-only face-lifts were popular many years ago and are still used in select situations. Intermediate depth face lifts achieve their lift at deeper levels. Deep plane face lifts strive to achieve these changes just above the bones of the face. The incisions are made just in front of the ear and wrap around the back of the ear and hide within the hairline. The anatomy of the face is defined. Muscles and connective tissues are tightened, excess skin is redraped and removed. The next day, dressings are removed. Sutures are removed over a period of days as you heal. The amount of swelling that you may get is variable, but you can resume most normal activities within a week and should show very few signs of your procedure by three weeks.

For additional information on facelifts visit www.plasticsurgery.org

For additional information on facelifts visit www.surgery.org

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Otoplasty (Ear Pinning)

Otoplasty or ear pinback is done to correct protruding ears. It happens to be one of the few cosmetic surgeries performed on children.

An incision is placed in the natural creases behind the ear and the cartilage of the ear is weakened so that it bends into a new shape. The cartilage is also stitched into position to hold the ear into position.

Recovery normally takes one to two weeks and results can be noticed after many months.

For additional information on otoplasty: www.plasticsurgery.org

For additional information on otoplasty visit www.surgery.org

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Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping)

The nose is the most prominent feature of the human face. For many people, it is simply a part of their good looks and rarely merits a second thought.

For countless others, the nose is an almost constant source of embarrassment. Today, however, plastic surgery can correct a multitude of faults. Rhinoplasty can shorten, tilt up, build up or straighten. Rhinoplasty can make the most prominent feature on your face a permanent source of pride. It can give you a whole new appearance and a new outlook on life.

Rhinoplasty is one of the oldest operations in plastic surgery. The nose is a source of pride for many and a source of great embarrassment for others. Rhinoplasty can correct many of the faults we see in our nose. Often this procedure can be combined with functional improvement of the nasal airway through correction of abnormal internal nasal structures.

Rhinoplasties are individualized to meet the patient's needs and expectations. All rhinoplasties are performed through predominantly internal incisions and usually include an improvement of the nasal tip, straightening of the dorsum and adjustment of the bony nasal skeleton. These procedures may be performed as an open procedure with a small externally visible incision through the columella (base of nose) or may be performed as a closed procedure where all of the incisions are hidden. Different advantages exist in either approach. The choice is usually left to the discretion of your plastic surgeon.

For additional information on nose surgery visit: www.plasticsurgery.org

For additional information on nose surgery visit www.surgery.org

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