Brighten Your Face With a Brow Lift
Over the years, you may have noticed wrinkling across the forehead or heaviness around the brow. Then again, it may be happening so gradually that you don’t even notice it. But others might.
Whatever the case, that heavy brow can leave you looking much older than you truly are. It may even give you an appearance of being sad, tired, or angry! Nobody wants that.
So why not brighten your face with a brow lift? Also known as a forehead lift, this procedure will lift your eyebrows to give you a lighter, happier, and fully refreshed appearance.
Reasons to Brighten Your Face With a Brow Lift
Obviously, if you’re not truly unhappy or angry, there’s no need to look like you are. Furthermore, wouldn’t you love to have a return to the natural shape of your eyes?
A brow lift will give you just that. Not only will it open and restore that natural shape, but it will smooth forehead wrinkles and bring balance to the upper and lower face for a brighter appearance.
So how is this done? All it takes is the removal of excess skin bunching and a possible repositioning of the skin and muscles around the brow.
Different Types of Brow Lifts
A brow lift is personalized to your specifications. In addition to your own aesthetic goals, your plastic surgeon will consider your hairline position, hair type, degree of lift needed, and your individual facial characteristics to determine which type is right for you.
- Endoscopic
If you’ve noticed the heaviness in your brow before it’s gotten too serious, the surgeon will likely recommend an endoscopic brow lift. With this minimally invasive technique, a series of small incisions are performed and endoscopic cameras are utilized to provide detailed visualization. With this procedure, tissue is suspended rather than removed.
- Coronal
If you have more serious sagging and a low hairline, a coronal brow lift is ideal. In this procedure, the incision extends from above the ear over to the opposite ear and is hidden by the hair. It delivers long lasting results with a natural appearance.
- Pretrichial
For patients with high hairlines, a pretrichial brow lift will, contrary to its name, actually lower the hairline while providing a fuller look to the hair. The carefully designed incision is inconspicuous as it follows the hairline on its natural course.
In all cases, a brow lift tightens loose skin of the forehead, reduces wrinkling, and raises drooping brows. In some cases, part of the muscle that’s responsible for frown lines between the brows is removed or trimmed.
What To Expect After Surgery
Pain after surgery is minimal and typically requires only OTC pain relievers. In some cases, mild pain medication may be required and will be carefully prescribed and monitored by the doctor.
Most patients return to work in four to seven days following a brow lift. A return to exercise is usually advised within two to four weeks. Your results will vary and you can discuss your recovery plan with your doctor.
Seeking a More Youthful Expression?
If so, then it might be time to rejuvenate and brighten your face with a brow lift.
Contact us today to get a free consultation with our team of professionals. They’ll determine the ideal brow lift for your situation. They may even recommend additional procedures such as an eyelid lift or BOTOX® treatments to maximize the results of your brow lift.
Get ready to glow again!
Smoothing Turkey Wattle Neck
Has the neck scarf recently become one of your most important accessories? Are you thinking about which one you’ll wear to Thanksgiving this year? It’s certainly an effective way to hide loose and drooping neck skin.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, that sagging skin around the neck and the jaw is known as turkey wattle neck – given its resemblance to the neck of turkey. The playful name betrays how embarrassing this condition can be though.
Fortunately, there is an effective way for smoothing turkey wattle neck rather than merely hiding it.
Causes of Turkey Wattle Neck
As great as it is for keeping us on the ground, gravity is not always on our side. And as we grow older, the skin around the neck and jaw give way to it. This results in noticeable sagging that can zap our self-esteem.
Yet, turkey wattle neck can also happen after extreme weight loss. When the body is subjected to rapid elimination of weight, the end result is often the uneven distribution of remaining fatty deposits. And there are no magical creams, elixirs, or diets that will alleviate it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be sentenced to a lifetime of turkey wattle neck from here on out.
Smoothing Turkey Wattle Neck
As mentioned above, there’s no anti-aging cream on the market that does much for addressing turkey wattle neck. And while maintaining a healthy diet and getting more exercise are always good practices, they won’t do much for the sagging skin around your jaw and neck.
Thus, the best way to rejuvenate that area and get rid of stubborn excess fat and tissue that’s settled there is through a surgical procedure referred to as a platysmaplasty.
Known in laymen’s terms as a neck lift, this procedure removes excess skin, fat, and tissue, while tightening the muscles and remaining skin. This gives the neck a smoother and more contoured appearance, while defining the jawline.
The Nitty Gritty on the Procedure
In a neck lift procedure, a board-certified plastic surgeon makes an incision that starts at the hairline, moves down toward the ear, and ends at the posterior hair. He or she then goes in to reposition the underlying tissue and redistribute fatty deposits as needed.
The surgeon will usually tighten the platysma muscle during the procedure as well. The platysma muscle stretches from the collarbone to just over the jawline. A youthful platysma creates a deep neck angle and tight hammock for the neck. As the platysma muscle gets thinner and more lax, it creates an oblique neck angle instead of a deep youthful angle.
Once everything is lifted and in place, the surgeon carefully re-drapes the skin around the treatment area. Finally, the incisions are closed and bandaged.
There is also the option of a limited incision neck lift which involves incisions around only the ears. This option is usually chosen when the condition is less severe, since the results won’t be as dramatic.
Finally, depending on the patient’s aesthetic goals, the surgeon may also recommend other procedures in tandem with the neck lift. These may include, but are not limited to a brow lift, liposuction, and/or a facelift.
Are You Troubled by Turkey Wattle Neck?
Smoothing turkey wattle neck with a neck lift is the perfect solution for dramatically lessening this embarrassing condition.
So contact us today for a free consultation with our expert team. We’ll sit down with you and discuss all of your options for achieving a younger-looking and more rejuvenated appearance.
In the meantime, have a great Thanksgiving!
5 Ways for Funding Plastic Surgery
Satisfied plastic surgery patients are quick to tell you that plastic surgery is worth every cent. After all, how do you put a price on feeling better and more confident about your appearance?
Even so, some people rule it out before even having a free consultation with a plastic surgeon. They assume that funding plastic surgery is out of reach for them.
That’s just not the case though.
There Are Many Options for Funding Plastic Surgery
Despite what “reality” TV might lead you to believe, plastic surgery performed by top of the line surgeons isn’t a luxury afforded only to those who live on Park Avenue or Rodeo Drive.
In fact, there are multiple options for funding plastic surgery – making it an option for a wide range of eager patients in different economic situations. We’ll take a look at just five of those options here.
- Medical Credit Card
If you’ve never heard of a medical credit card, it’s exactly what it sounds like. These are credit cards that are designed exclusively for medical procedures. Many allow you to choose the financing option most suited to your needs. There are even plans that require no down-payment or are interest-free through CareCredit®.
But you can also look into the Alphaeon Credit Card. There’s a $25,000 maximum spending cap and the interest rates are pretty reasonable. All you need is a current government-issued photo ID, social security number (or other tax ID number) and address to see if you prequalify.
In most cases, you can use medical credit cards at thousands of doctors’ offices nationwide.
- Regular Credit Card
It’s not at all uncommon for patients to use a standard issue credit card to cover plastic surgery procedure costs. This can be a great option if you have some money saved up already, but need the card to cover the rest.
In that case, you can get a new card with a 0% introductory APR and then attempt to pay it off in that allowed amount of time. This is usually 12- 18 months. If you know you won’t be able to do that, ensure that the APR after that isn’t too high. Or plan to transfer the balance to another card if need be.
- Unsecured Medical Loan
If you have a low credit score that rules you out of the above two options, you could look into an unsecured medical loan. This sort of loan is usually brokered through a third party such as a broker or a doctor and comes in the form of a personal loan or a credit card.
One of the caveats with this form of funding is high interest rates, so be sure you’re not getting swindled. And if you need someone to co-sign on this sort of loan, remember that you’re putting their credit on the line as well.
- 4. Bank Loan
If you have a bank or a credit union, they may be able to help.
A bank loan is more secure because it has a fixed interest rate and a fixed amount of time you’re given to repay the loan. You’re also not able to add more to the balance, which can be problematic for those using credit cards.
Similar to above, if you act responsibly during repayment, this is also a great way to build credit.
A loan with a lower interest rate might be available if you’re able to offer up collateral (such as your house or car). Just know that you risk losing them if you’re not able to pay on time.
- Gift from Families or Friend
If you have a wealthy friend or relative, it can be tempting to ask them if they can loan you the money for your procedure. Depending on the relationship you have, this may be fine.
But it can also be a total train wreck. Especially if situations arise where you have difficulty paying him or her back on time. Even if you have a written agreement with clear and concise terms, your relationship could take a hit.
Consider this though. During the holidays or around your birthday this year, let friends and family (wealthy and not wealthy alike) know that what you’d really love is a gift certificate or an electronic cash gift that would go toward funding your procedure.
Finding the perfect gift is a struggle most of the time. Not only will this gift make it easy for your friends and family, but it will allow you to get exactly what you want.
Treat Yourself!
Giving yourself the gift of a happier life and renewed confidence doesn’t have to break the bank. Instead, consider the above options for funding plastic surgery.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a team who will talk with you about your procedure, as well as the financing options that may be available to you.
Isn’t it time to make your plastic surgery dream a reality?
Can You Boost Collagen?
Are you tired of the increasing number of wrinkles and lines showing up as a result of aging? Wouldn’t it be great if you could naturally boost collagen somehow?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to increase natural production of collagen. One of the inevitabilities of aging is that the body just doesn’t make it like it once did.
But don’t worry. Not only are there preventative ways to keep production from waning too quickly, but there are ways to supplement the skin with the collagen it needs.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is an abundant and fibrous protein secreted by mostly connective tissue cells. It’s found in your bones, muscles, skin, hair, nails, and tendons of the body. In fact, it makes up one-third of the protein in your body. In essence, it forms a scaffold to give your body structure and strength.
So yeah, it’s a big deal. And there are many types. In most types of collagen, the molecules are packed together to form long fibrils that are capable of being stretched at great lengths. Gram for gram, these fibrils are stronger than steel.
In the middle layer of your skin, i.e. the dermis, collagen is synthesized to form a network of cells known as fibroblasts. These are required for the production and growth of new collagen.
As we age though, collagen weakens leaving the structural integrity of the skin imperiled. Dead skin cells are not as easily replaced or restored, and we end up with wrinkles. For women, collagen synthesis declines even further after menopause.
Then there are the other ways we unwittingly contribute to its decline.
How Is Collagen Damaged?
Aside from the ravages of aging, there are a number of other things that can damage collagen even before production begins declining.
We all know by now the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays from the sun on the skin. In the case of collagen, sunlight causes it to break down more rapidly. In response, abnormal elastin builds up to compensate and the skin rebuilds incorrectly. The result? Wrinkles.
The situation is even worse for folks who smoke tobacco. Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict which compromises the ability of nutrients and oxygen to reach the skin. And nicotine is only ONE of the many chemicals in tobacco that damage both collagen and elastin.
Plus, if you give in to a perpetual sweet tooth, you’re in even more danger of damaging collagen. A diet high in sugar increases the rate of glycation. During glycation, blood sugars attach to proteins to form molecules appropriately referred to as AGEs (advanced glycation end products). These can cause collagen to become dry, brittle, and weak.
How Can You Boost Collagen?
Before you run to the store to load up on moisturizing creams or powders that contain collagen, you should know that collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. But even if these moisturizers don’t directly increase collagen, there are so may benefits to keeping your skin fully moisturized to ward off wrinkles. Thus, quality skin products are a good investment.
One way you can actually boost collagen is through collagen injections. Cosmetic dermal fillers are an effective way to fill out depressions and improve the contours of the skin on the face. In addition, a plastic surgeon may recommend laser therapy as a means of stimulating the growth of collagen, elastin, and melanin.
Finally, maintaining a healthy diet can support continued collagen formation in your body. Take advantage of nutrients such as anthocyanidins (found in blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and raspberries), copper (found in shellfish, nuts, and red meat), and essential amino acids such as proline (found in egg whites, meat, cheese, soy, and cabbage).
And be sure you’re getting plenty of vitamin C from citrus, broccoli, and strawberries, as well as vitamin A from animal-derived foods and also beta-carotene in a plant-based diet.
You Don’t Have to Settle for Wrinkles
Even though you can’t turn back the hands of time and boost collagen production in your skin, you can take steps now to lessen the appearance of aging and to slow its future impact.
We can help.
Contact us today to speak with our team of experts on ways to moisturize, plump up, and smooth out some of those wrinkles for a brighter and more youthful appearance.
And start putting your best face forward!
Difference Between Upper and Lower Eyelid Lifts
Remember when you were younger and felt a certain freedom to rub your eyes vigorously and often? And then an older relative would revile you for doing so; warning you of the ills of such an action?
Turns out they were right. By now, you’ve more than likely come to the realization that the skin around the eyes is very thin and delicate. Especially if you’re experiencing sagging and wrinkling there.
What’s worse is that the muscles that support the eyelids may have also become weakened and lax with age causing drooping, puffiness, and dark circles. The good news is – upper and lower eyelid lifts can turn back the hands of time. Well, sorta.
Upper and Lower Eyelid Lifts
The umbrella medical term for eyelid lifts is blepharoplasty. Depending on a patient’s needs, a highly skilled plastic surgeon will recommend either an upper eyelid lift or a lower eyelid lift. In some cases, he or she may recommend both – known as a quad blepharoplasty.
All three procedures deliver a dramatically more youthful appearance to the eyes. As such, blepharoplasty surgery is among the most commonly performed procedures.
So what’s the difference between an upper blepharoplasty and a lower one? We’ll take a look (no pun intended).
When You Need a Lower Eyelid Lift
If you’re of a certain age, you’ve probably noticed lines and wrinkles around the lower eyes. There may even be sagging skin, puffiness, and ‘bags’ under the eyes. This is the result of fat or fluid that has dropped into the lower eyelid and created a heaviness and drooping.
For patients with lines, wrinkles, sagging, or bags in the under-eye area, the recommendation would be a lower eyelid lift. The procedure for each patient depends on individual eye anatomy and the results one hopes to achieve. The two most common approaches utilize either an external approach or a transconjunctival approach.
With the external approach, excess fat and skin are removed through an incision made just below the lower eyelashes. If there are hollow areas beneath the eyes, excess fat from the eyelid may be repositioned. The cheek may also be lifted to fill that space. In addition, where there is muscular weakness, the lower eyelid is tightened to improve strength.
Meanwhile, the objective of the transconjunctival approach is to remove or reposition excess fat working through an incision made just inside the eyelid. This is a more direct approach and is often favored for younger patients or for those for whom muscle weakness is not an issue.
When an Upper Eyelid Lift Is Recommended
An upper eyelid lift procedure is less involved than a lower eyelid surgery.
As you likely guessed, an upper blepharoplasty would be recommended where there is sagging skin, excess fat, or loose muscle along the upper eyelids as opposed to the lower eyelids. In these situations, the drooping can be significant enough to block or obstruct vision to some degree. This condition is known as ptosis.
For an upper blepharoplasty, excess skin, muscle, and sometimes fat are removed through a small incision in the upper eyelid. If needed, the muscles above the eye will also be repositioned before the skin is lifted and reattached. Since the incision is made in the crease above the eye, any resulting scarring is hidden once healing is complete.
Although a simpler process than the lower eyelid lift, it’s not unusual for a surgeon to also recommend a brow lift in tandem with an upper eyelid lift to provide significant improvement.
Bring Brightness to Your Eyes
Yes, youth is wasted on the young. No need to lament those days of eye-rubbing though. What’s done is done. Instead, take advantage of the wondrous results from upper and lower eyelid lifts.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and you’ll see how easy it is to bring back some youthful sparkle and radiance to those peepers.
Using Nicotine During Plastic Surgery Recovery
If you’re a smoker, it’s likely you know the risks involved. And you may even feel some resistance to reading about yet another reason to quit using nicotine.
But if you’re planning to have plastic surgery it’s truly in your best interest to give up smoking and nicotine before the procedure so that your recovery will go smoothly.
Because the fact is, using nicotine during plastic surgery recovery can result in some very negative repercussions.
Plastic Surgery Is Unique
Of course, smoking and using nicotine during any surgical procedure recovery is going to slow healing and require the body to work harder. But what makes it even riskier during recovery from plastic surgery is the intricate involvement of the blood vessels.
A board-certified plastic surgeon is required to work in layers of skin, fascia, fat, and muscle. Within each of these layers there is lifting, pulling, stretching, and repositioning that severs blood vessels. As these vessels heal, it’s the job of the remaining blood vessels to pick up the slack so that the tissues can stay oxygenated and receive the nutrients needed for healing.
Nicotine constricts blood vessels – resulting in inadequate oxygen supply to these layers. And without proper oxygen, healing is not only compromised, but you run the risk of destroying tissues.
According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), nicotine users are 27% more likely to experience necrosis (tissue death) after an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). And they are 12.5 times more likely to have tissue necrosis after a facelift procedure.
And among smokers, there’s a 33% incidence of implant loss who require immediate breast reconstruction surgery with implants after a mastectomy.
And It Isn’t Just Smoking…
In case you didn’t notice, we aren’t discussing smoking as the only culprit here. The problem is nicotine. And nicotine delivery can come in many forms including gum, e-cigarettes, patches, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc.
So when your plastic surgeon says you need to stop smoking within four weeks before your procedure, he or she isn’t just talking about just giving cigarettes the ax. He or she means all forms of nicotine.
And the reason you are asked to quit at least a month before the procedure is that regular nicotine use keeps the blood vessels in a constricted state. Thus, quitting four weeks out of the surgery allows the vessels to open up and prepares them to supply the blood needed for proper healing.
Other Risks of Using Nicotine During Plastic Surgery Recovery
The above mentioned necrosis is terrifying. But perhaps the numbers weren’t enough to convince you of the problems with using nicotine when having a plastic surgery procedure.
Even if you don’t experience tissue death, you can bet you’ll be facing a heightened risk of infection during recovery. Plus, if fat cells are not able to heal, you could be burdened with hardened lumps in the targeted area. Scarring will likely be thicker and more pigmented. And you’ll experience more post-operative pain and discomfort.
In addition, you could experience permanent damage to small blood vessels, as well as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke during and after surgery, and a heightened risk of pneumonia after surgery.
Quitting Is Tough, But Worth It
Getting a confidence-boosting and life-improving plastic surgery procedure can be great motivation for finally kicking the nicotine habit. Plus, you’ll be giving your health a boost.
There’s no easy way to quit. But avoiding triggers like stress and alcohol, spending time with non-smoking friends, keeping yourself busy, and downloading apps that deliver positive reinforcement can be good places to begin.
You may even want to put an “after” picture of how you want to look after your procedure on your bathroom mirror and phone’s wallpaper for additional inspiration.
We Want to Help You Look and FEEL Better
You want to reap the benefits of your life-changing surgery. But using nicotine during plastic surgery recovery can easily put the kibosh on that.
And abstaining from nicotine use before your procedure will set the stage for a healthier you long after the surgery. So if you’re ready to say goodbye to nicotine for good, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
We’ll be happy to discuss with you any concerns you might have about quitting nicotine so you can have the best experience possible.
What Is a SMAS Facelift?
When it comes to signs of aging, the face is often the most telling. This is compounded by the fact that it can’t be hidden.
So it’s no big surprise that many older adults are making the decision to get a SMAS facelift to restore a more youthful appearance and feel better about how they present themselves.
This technique is the latest in facelift surgeries and it is far more effective than the old-school procedures.
What Is the SMAS?
If you’re considering a full facelift, you may want a deeper understanding of the structure of the face.
SMAS is an acronym for the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System. It’s the layer of dense connective tissue in the cheek that’s located between the muscles that control facial expression and the subcutaneous fat just beneath the skin.
In the early days of plastic surgery, surgeons only tightened the skin. This was effective, but due to the high wound healing tension on the skin, scarring was an issue. And there wasn’t much in the way of longevity.
With a deeper understanding of the SMAS, surgeons began to discover different options that involved more than just lifting the skin. From there the deep plane facelift was born.
The Deep Plane Facelift
By the 1990s, a full facelift consisted of what was known as a deep plane lift. This procedure raised both the skin and the SMAS together as one layer. This allowed for better circulation for the overlying skin to assist in wound healing. The problem was, the procedure posed an increased risk of injury to facial nerves.
As such, most plastic surgeons have abandoned this older technique and are now utilizing the SMAS facelift.
What Makes a SMAS Facelift Different?
Though the name might lead you to believe that only the SMAS is lifted in this procedure, that’s not the case. Rather, a SMAS facelift still raises both the skin and the SMAS, but separately.
With the ability to individually manipulate the skin and SMAS layers, the surgeon is able to tighten and reposition the face in multiple directions which allows him or her more control for customizing and restoring individual facial shape. This allows for a much more natural-looking result.
The same can’t be said for the deep plane method which prohibited doctors to take into consideration each patient’s unique facial shape. There was only one direction of tightening – regardless of bone structure, skin quality, and soft tissue bulk.
In addition, a SMAS facelift is not a one-procedure-works-for-all deal. There are variations. For example, for patients who struggle with laxity primarily around the jowls, the surgeon will likely excise part of the SMAS or fold it on itself. Meanwhile, if central cheek lifting is required, the surgeon will perform extensive inward SMAS lifting.
Whatever the case, when board-certified surgeons refer to a full facelift these days, it’s more than likely a SMAS facelift. And that’s clearly a good thing!
Curious About What a Facelift Would Do for You?
A SMAS facelift can address and correct even the most advanced signs of aging on your face while restoring your natural appearance.
So if you’re wondering whether a full facelift might be right for you, contact us for a free consultation. Whether you opt for just a facelift, or decide to add an additional procedure to enhance your results, your more youthful appearance is sure to bring a smile to your face.
Do You Need Revision Surgery?
Plastic surgery can be life-changing in so many positive ways. There are occasions though, rare as they may be, where the results of the surgery aren’t… ideal.
In the vast majority of plastic surgery procedures, when you do the research and choose a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform it, the results are exactly what you’d hoped for and anticipated.
But in unusual cases where the surgery results in unaddressed issues or more problems rather than fewer, you will need to look into revision surgery.
There Are Multiple Forms of Revision Surgery
Revision surgery is any procedure that is performed to correct negative issues that resulted from a previous surgery. And to be clear, it is not unique to plastic surgery. It’s performed across the spectrum of surgical specialities.
That’s why it’s essential to vet any surgeon that will be operating on you. Just because a plastic surgeon has a degree doesn’t mean he or she is uniquely qualified to perform the procedure you require. And if you end up with a botched up job, you could end up struggling with excessive scarring, aesthetic problems, or even functional issues.
While there are any number of revision surgeries, the following are among the most common in plastic surgery:
- Facial Procedures
Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, requires precision to deliver exact results. If the nostrils end up too narrow or wide or the tip of the nose is droopy after surgery, it’s impossible to hide. So this is among the most common revision procedures for plastic surgery.
In addition, rhinoplasty may be performed for functional issues such as improving breathing and reducing snoring. If the initial surgery fails to address these, a revision surgery would be a definite consideration.
It would also be suggested for patients who are dissatisfied with continued jowls or changes to appearance after a facelift; or for those who are uncomfortable with the look, feel, or size of facial implants.
- Breast Procedures
When patients come in for either a breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction, they are seeking breasts that are symmetrical and have a natural look and feel. This is also true for patients who have undergone reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy. If a surgeon is unable to deliver these results, a revision surgery is needed.
In addition, revision surgery is required if there is capsular contracture, or the breast implant has deflated, eroded, or is simply malpositioned.
- Tummy Tuck
Surgical revision after a tummy tuck, a.k.a. abdominoplasty, is not as common. And in many cases, it’s not technically revision surgery if the patient’s dissatisfaction is the result of gaining or losing weight or getting pregnant after the surgery.
There are rare incidents though where a raised scar, abnormal belly button, or continued excess skin are cause for revision surgery.
No matter what the cause for potential revision surgery, it is not a decision to be made without weighing all your options.
Revision Surgery Is Not a Quick Go-To
Keep in mind that recovery from any surgery takes time. You don’t want to be too quick to assume that something terrible is happening during the healing process. You’ll need to be patient. Swelling subsides, scars fade, and the body eventually adjusts to its new situation. Depending on a wide array of factors, could take up to a year.
In addition, you’ll be faced with the additional cost of the surgery, as well as the recovery time required after the procedure. In other words, it’s not a quick solution. So unless you’re deeply dissatisfied or the surgeon has made an egregious error, it should only be considered after a great deal of thought.
Are You Dissatisfied With a Plastic Surgical Procedure?
If you’re not happy with the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure and would like to explore the option of revision surgery, contact us today for a free consultation.
You’ll be able to sit down with our doctors and discuss all of your options.
Then it’s determined that revision is right for you, you can rest easy in knowing that our board-certified plastic surgeons skilled in the revision process will give you the results you desired – and deserved – the first time around.
Managing Post Plastic Surgery Pain
We spend so much of our lives trying to avoid pain. And for good reason. When one is in discomfort, it’s hard on the mind and the body.
The physical and emotional stress of being in pain also makes it harder to recover from surgery. That’s why managing post plastic surgery pain is such an important component of the overall procedure.
In fact, pain control following plastic surgery isn’t just a focus for the patient. It’s a priority for any board-certified plastic surgeon who wants to ensure their patient’s full recovery.
Managing Post Plastic Surgery Pain
Your specific post-operative pain management needs will depend on your procedure. And you may receive more than one type of pain treatment. Whatever the case, be assured that managing your pain safely and effectively will be the priority.
Analgesics
Typically, pain after plastic surgery is managed to some degree with analgesics. These pain-reducing medications are known by many names.
You’re likely familiar with with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and celecoxib. You might know these better by their brand-names: Advil, Aleve, and Celebrex. All of these lessen inflammatory activity. In addition, there is also acetaminophen (Tylenol) that can be utilized for managing pain.
The type, delivery, and dosage of analgesics would be determined by the doctor based on type of surgery, expected recovery, and each patient’s individual needs.
Nerve Blocks
There are also local anesthetics that can be administered to specific parts of the body to cause temporary loss of sensation. This provides targeted relief to the area. And nerve blockers such as the long-lasting anesthetic drug called Exparel have been a game changers in the plastic surgery field.
Before Exparel, narcotics such as opioids were the most effective medications for keeping post-surgical pain under control. But the side effects of narcotics include dizziness, drowsiness, constipation and nausea. Plus there’s the very real risk of addiction.
Much like getting a shot at the dentist to numb the pain, Exparel is administered at the end of the surgical procedure before the patient is awakened. When the patient comes out of surgery, the area is numb.
Unlike a dental numbing, however, Exparel then continues to provide pain control for up to three days. While it doesn’t eliminate the pain during recovery, it greatly reduces (by about 2/3) the amount of narcotics a patient would usually require during this crucial healing time.
And the fewer narcotics, the better.
Narcotics
The combination of an anesthetic like Exparel with preoperative non-narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants has proven to significantly decrease the amount of narcotic pain medication patients require after surgery.
In some cases though, narcotics such as opioids will be needed for very short-term use. At no point will an ethical plastic surgeon prescribe opioids for chronic, long-term pain.
As such, patients are educated on the risks associated with opioids and their potential side effects. If needed, they will be the smallest dose effective for the shortest possible time and tapered off after that time.
A Little Pain = Tremendous Gain
Are you ready to improve your life with plastic surgery?
If so, just remember that managing post plastic surgery pain is easier, safer, and more effective now than ever. Plus, you’ll be thoroughly educated on all pain medications and the role of each drug in your recovery process.
So contact us today for a free consultation. And change your life for the better.
Eyelid or Mid-Face Lift? Maybe Both
Aging is no field day.
Sure, there are the wisdom and knowledge that come with getting older. If only they could come without the sagging and stretching skin around the eyes and cheeks though.
Fortunately, an eyelid or mid-face lift can combat this issue with great success. Your plastic surgeon may even recommend both!
The Eyelid Lift
As we age, our eyelids stretch and excess fat can gather above and below them. The muscles that support them can also weaken. All of this leads to sagging skin. Fat bags may develop as well, most commonly in the lower eyelids.
That sagging skin around the eyes isn’t just unsightly; it can actually affect your sight. Your peripheral vision can be impacted by sagging skin – especially in the upper and outer parts of your field of vision.
Eyelid lift surgery, known as blepharoplasty in doctor speak, aims to reduce or eliminate this vision problem. It will also give your eyes a more youthful and alert appearance. So it’s a double win.
What Happens During an Eyelid Lift?
Blepharoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure.
First, the eyelids are numbed via an injection into the eyelids. There may also be intravenous medication to assist with relaxation, or the procedure can be done under general anesthesia – oftentimes in conjunction with facelifts, neck lifts, and endoscopic brow lifts.
In cases where the surgery is performed on both the upper and lower eyelids, the upper lids are addressed first. The surgeon cuts along the fold of the eyelid, removes any excess skin, fat, or muscle, then closes the incision. For the lower lid, the incision is just below the lashes either inside the lower or lid, or along the eye’s natural crease. Excess fat, muscle, or skin is removed or redistributed accordingly and the incision is closed.
If additional support to the eyebrow is required – such as when the upper eyelid droops close to the pupil – the surgeon will add a procedure known as a brow lift to provide that support.
Some patients will choose to combine an eyelid lift with another procedure, such as a mid-face lift.
What Is a Mid-Face Lift?
Most of us are familiar with the term “face lift.” It’s an amazingly effective procedure that targets the jawline, jowls, and deep nasolabial folds to give it a more youthful appearance.
A mid-face lift, also known as a cheek lift, focuses more on the cheeks and surrounding areas. This procedure is most commonly performed with an endoscope through incisions in the temporal hair and inside of the mouth. It smooths out sagging skin by tightening the muscles behind the skin. This helps to lessen laugh lines, accentuate cheekbones, and make the eyes brighter.
This is why it works so well in combination with an eyelid lift.
The Mid-Face Lift Procedure
A mid-face or cheek lift procedure generally takes two or more hours to complete and is done under general anesthesia.
The surgeon starts by making two small incisions by the hairline so they will be well-concealed and barely visible. Using an endoscope, he or she then tightens the muscles and repositions fat pads under the skin and the eyes to give everything a smoother and brighter appearance.
The recovery from the procedure takes around 2-4 weeks and patients can return to regular activity after just four weeks.
Look Younger With An Eyelid or Mid-Face Lift
Not only will you look younger, but you may even improve your vision! So if you’re considering an eyelid or mid-face lift (or both) don’t hesitate to contact us.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons will sit down with you during your free consultation and guide you on next steps toward a happier you.
