Cosmetic Facial Procedures
Did you know that . . .
there’s a cosmetic surgery procedure for every part of the face?
There is a whole category of cosmetic surgery that is devoted to the facial area. The associated procedures can be done alone or in conjunction with others. The primary procedures are:
Face Lift
Face lift, also known as rhytidectomy, which can reduce a number of complaints including sagging skin, deep cheek folds, and jowls on the face and neck. The goal of a face lift is to firm and freshen for a more youthful look.
Heredity, skin texture, and bone structure all come into play during a face lift. The surgeon performs the procedure under general anesthesia and works one side at a time through incisions hidden in the hairline and in front of and behind the ears. After the removal of excess fatty deposits and the tightening of sagging muscles, the slack in the skin is redraped, the excess is removed, and the incisions are stitched closed.
Patients with little excess skin may be candidates for an endoscopic face lift that enables the surgeon to smooth and tighten the skin and muscles through very small incisions that are concealed in the mouth, behind the ears, or under the lower eyelid or chin.
Blepharoplasty
An eye lift (blepharoplasty) erases bags under the eyes, wrinkled and drooping layers of skin on the eyelids, and sagging eyebrows that conspire to give the entire face a tired, less-than-friendly expression. In their place the procedure creates a brighter, more youthful face, especially when combined with a face lift, brow lift, or other facial procedures.
An eye lift can involve the upper and/or lower eyelids. Incisions are hidden in the natural creases of the eyes and sometimes inside the lower lid. The hairline scars left behind by the sutures fade quickly and blend into the surrounding skin. Unlike other facial procedures, blepharoplasty requires no postoperative bandaging. Small pieces of surgical tape cover the incisions and are removed the next day. Makeup can be used and contact lenses worn the within a few days.
Brow Lift
A brow lift tackles a couple of the earliest signs of aging – those furrows in your forehead and between the brows and drooping eyebrows – that age you before your time. Similar to a face lift, the procedure raises the eyebrows and smoothes the forehead, refreshing and improving the overall appearance of the face.
Several techniques can be used for a brow lift, including endoscopic and subcutaneous, with incisions hidden in the hairline. A brow lift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in the doctor’s office, freestanding surgical clinic or hospital under either a combination of local anesthetic and sedative or general anesthesia.
Lip Augmentation
Lip augmentation can provide the pucker that Mother Nature didn’t. Thin, undefined lips can be plumped with synthetic or biological materials, either through injections or implants. The latter are longer lasting, as injectables tend to break down within the body within several months.
Lip augmentation can usually be done during an office visit. If, as often happens, it is performed in tandem with one or more other facial procedures (chin or cheek implants, nose job) to achieve facial balance, a surgical center or hospital setting is favored.
Facial Implants
The category of facial implants covers enhancement to the cheeks, chin, and jaw. Cheeks often become less prominent with age, resulting in a drawn, gaunt appearance. Cheek (or malar) augmentation uses implants made of silicone or other materials to resculpt the area, recreating the definition associated with youth. If a weak chin or jawline is throwing your face out of balance, chin augmentation (mentoplasty) and/or jaw (mandibular) augmentation can make the area more prominent and in keeping with the rest of your face, improving your looks immeasurably. Alternatively, to correct for a deficient chin, a plastic surgeon can perform a chin advancement, or sliding genioplasty, by separating a portion of the jawbone, moving it forward, and fastening it into place.
Chin, cheek and jaw implants are inserted through incisions in the mouth; when done in conjunction with a face lift, the surgeon may opt to use those incisions instead. All can be done under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.
Otoplasty
Cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty) can correct for ears that stick out too far, reduce the size of big ears, or recreate an ear misshapen or missing by birth defect or trauma. One of the most common types of otoplasty is ear pinning. During this procedure, ears that stick out too far are adjusted to fit closer to the sides of the head. It is usually done at an early age so that children are not teased by their peers.
Most forms of otoplasty are relatively simple and inexpensive; when performed to correct a deformity of the external ear, the costs are covered by medical insurance. Whatever the age of the patient, ear surgery can make a world of difference to their self-esteem.
Facial Surgery Risks and Complications
The usual side effects of facial surgery in general are numbness, tightness, temporary skin discoloration and swelling. Healing is gradual and the final results can take several months to emerge. Makeup can be worn to hide any visible scars shortly after most procedures, and patients are advised to protect the sensitive skin with a high SPF sunblock on a daily basis.
Before meeting with a plastic surgeon to discuss facial procedures, carefully consider the requirements of a good surgical candidate. You must be healthy, physically and mentally, and free of active disease. If you have a chronic health problem that could complicate surgery (asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes), it should be under control and you should reveal this to the surgeon. Emotionally, you must be ready to confront both surgery and recovery, which can be long and complicated. Postsurgical depression is common, and you must be ready to handle it. Are you realistic about the results you are seeking? You need to communicate your desires to the surgeon and listen to his or her reaction.
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