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Facelift surgery is a popular way to reverse wrinkles, sagging skin, and other signs of aging on your face. Review the following frequently asked questions to learn more about the facelift procedure.

Why is the procedure performed?

Facelift surgery lifts and smoothes the skin on the face and neck to achieve natural-looking facial rejuvenation. As one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, it is usually recommended for patients in their 50s and 60s to reverse the visible signs of aging.

How is the procedure performed?

During the facelift, a cosmetic surgeon makes an incision in the natural creases of the skin. Then the skin is lifted, and underlying tissue is tightened. Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is carefully repositioned.

What happens after the facelift?

After facelift surgery, the face will need to be bandaged for several days, with some swelling and bruising. It can take a few weeks for patients to return to their regular routine. Scarring is very minimal thanks to the careful positioning of the incisions.

What results can be expected?

The goal with a facelift is to make a noticeable difference, but leave the face appearing natural. Full results are usually seen about three months after the surgery. The results from a facelift typically last five to ten years, and can be enhanced as needed with non-invasive treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic.

What are the risks of facelift surgery?

Facelift surgery has a very low risk of complications, but because it is a medical procedure it is important to be aware of the potential risks, including infection, scarring, bleeding, nerve damage, and unsatisfactory surgical results.

Blepharoplasty, also known as cosmetic eyelid surgery, is a procedure to help rejuvenate the eyelid area. The procedure is gaining popularity and is often performed in conjunction with facelift surgery to achieve more dramatic results.

Before Surgery

Before the procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will speak with you about how the entire process works. This includes what you can expect on the day of your surgery and what you can expect in the way of recovery time. You may be asked to undergo some laboratory tests or a medical evaluation to ensure you are healthy enough to have the surgery. If you smoke, you should consider quitting to minimize potential complications. Also, you may need to stop taking certain medications two weeks prior to surgery. Your surgeon will be sure you understand all pre-operative instructions to help your procedure go as smoothly as possible.

Procedure Overview

On the day of your procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will likely give you a list of instructions to follow in the hours preceding your operation. It is important that you follow these instructions completely, as they are important to the successful outcome of your procedure. Depending on the type of eyelid surgery you are undergoing, and whether your treatment is being combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures, the surgery may take several hours to complete. Most blepharoplasty procedures are completed on an outpatient basis, so you can return home the same day as the procedure.

Recovery and Results

For most patients, recovery from eyelid surgery is quick and relatively painless. You can anticipate returning to work within 7 to 10 days if your surgery has no complications. You will be asked to keep your head and neck elevated for the first few days to help control blood flow. In some cases, your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze. After a week or so, you will go back and see your surgeon to have your stitches removed. You will be prescribed painkillers and anti-swelling medication to help deal with any pain or discomfort during your recovery.

If you are considering breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon may select from several incision techniques to perform your procedures. It is important to understand these options so you can work with your surgeon to develop a plastic surgery treatment plan that meets your individual needs and goals.

Inframammary Incision

The inframammary incision is made in the crease under the breast. Once the incision is made, the implant is inserted and positioned behind the nipple. Many women choose this incision location because the scarring is hidden in the fold. Additionally, it is the most versatile of all the incision options since it can be utilized in both submuscular and subglandular breast implant procedures.

Periareolar Incision

The periareolar incision is made along the outline of the areola. Once the incision is made, a pocket is formed in order for the implant to be placed and centered. An advantage to choosing this option is that scarring is very minimal because incisions are hidden in the areola border. However, in some cases, the individual’s areola is too small for this option.

Transaxillary Incision

Another option is to place the breast implants through a transaxillary incision. This type of incision is made in the underarm, and the surgeon creates a channel to the breast so the implant can be positioned behind the nipple. Since the incision is not made on the breast, the scar is well-hidden, making this incision technique a popular choice. However, this option is not suitable for patients who wish to use silicone implants.

Transumbilical Incision

The transumbilical technique involves placing the implants through a navel incision. The surgeon then creates a path to the breast, allowing the implant to be positioned behind the nipple. The main advantage of this technique is that there is no scarring on the breasts. But, as with the transaxillary technique, this option is not suitable for patients who wish to use silicone implants.

During your breast augmentation consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will weigh the pros and cons of each technique with you and will help you determine which incision option is best suited to your unique needs.

Often aging and pregnancy can wreak havoc on a woman’s body leaving their breasts sagging and lacking fullness. Many women consider undergoing a breast lift to achieve a perkier bust. Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding breast lift surgery.

What is a breast lift procedure?

A breast lift surgically lifts the breasts up on the body to give a woman a more youthful bust. During the breast lift procedure, the patient will be placed under general anesthesia and the cosmetic surgeon will utilize the appropriate breast lift technique to achieve a natural, youthful appearance while minimizing scarring. The surgeon will move the nipple and areola higher on the breast and remove excess skin and tissue. Depending on the patient's goals, the procedure may also be combined with breast augmentation to achieve both lift and fullness or with liposuction to achieve a more extensive body makeover.

What outcome should someone expect from a breast lift?

The outcome from a breast lift will be different of each woman. Typically, a woman can expect to have perkier breasts that are sitting higher on her chest. A breast lift will not make the breasts perfect, but they will be less saggy. As with most surgical procedures, a breast lift does leave some scarring. It is important to discuss realistic expectations as well as scarring with the surgeon prior to the breast lift procedure so patients have a better understanding of what results they may be able to achieve.

How long is the recovery period after a breast lift procedure?

Most breast lift patients are able to resume normal activities within a few days, but more strenuous activities will be restricted for a few weeks. The surgeon will provide detailed post-operative instructions that should be followed carefully to expedite recovery. 

BOTOX® Cosmetic is an extremely popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures. BOTOX® injections can temporarily reduce the appearance of deep forehead lines and crow's feet, making it a quick and easy option to improve your appearance and overall self-confidence.

What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein that, when injected into the appropriate muscles, temporarily reduces severe frown lines, crow's feet, and other facial wrinkles. A cosmetic surgeon will administer the treatment as a series of tiny injections into the muscle where the problem areas occur. Appropriate for people ages 18 to 65, the entire non-surgical procedure can be completed in 10 minutes with no recovery time!

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?

The deep lines and wrinkles on your forehead and around the eyes occur as a result of muscle activity. BOTOX® is injected into these facial muscles and blocks the muscle contractions. In doing so, it minimizes the appearance of the lines and wrinkles. For patients who wish to treat more extensive lines or sagging skin, a facelift may be a more suitable treatment option.

Are BOTOX® injections painful?

You may experience mild discomfort during the injection. Some doctors may elect to numb the area first before injecting BOTOX® to enhance patient comfort. There is no downtime after the procedure, and you can resume your regular activities immediately.

Are there any side effects following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?

After undergoing BOTOX® treatment, potential side effects are minimal but can include redness or bruising at the injection site, headache, and temporary drooping of the eyelid.

Will I see results immediately following treatment?

Your results following BOTOX® treatment will start to become noticeable within a few days and will gradually increase over the following week.

How long will the results last?

Results from BOTOX® injections will last up to six months. Additional treatments will be necessary to maintain results for a longer period of time. 

Liposuction can be used to remove fat deposits on the stomach, hips, thighs, and other areas of the body. Patients who have attempted diet and exercise to reduce these areas without success are typically very satisfied with the results of their liposuction procedure.

Liposuction Candidates

Prior to undergoing liposuction, a cosmetic surgeon will consult with the patient and determine if he or she is a good candidate for the procedure. Typically, patients in generally good health with stubborn deposits of localized fat are the best candidates for liposuction. Also during this initial consultation, the patient will communicate his or her desired results from the procedure, and the surgeon will inform them of realistic expectations about what the surgery can and cannot achieve.

Liposuction Procedure

During the liposuction procedure, the surgeon will make a small incision in the skin near the fat deposits to be removed. A tube called a cannula is inserted into the incision and used to suction out the unwanted fat. Much care must be used to ensure that too much fat is not removed, and that the correct sculpting techniques are used to provide the patient with a natural-looking body contour.

Recovery and Results

Typically, patients will experience swelling and bruising for two to three weeks after liposuction surgery, but will be able to return to work after 7 to 10 days. To maximize the results of their procedure, patients must be careful to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits to prevent the return of the unwanted fat.  Many patients find that the improved body contour they achieve with liposuction also gives then a renewed sense of self-confidence.

For more information on liposuction or other body contouring treatments, please contact our cosmetic surgery center today to schedule a private consultation.

Many people work tirelessly to rid themselves of unwanted hair through conventional hair removal methods. Unfortunately, waxing, shaving, plucking, and depilatory creams are not permanent. So, many people seek laser hair removal to get rid of unwanted hair permanently.

What to Expect

Laser hair removal is a safe, effective treatment that can be used on large areas of the body or small areas depending on the patient's preference. It is minimally invasive and involves a simple office procedure with little to no discomfort or downtime.

Before a person has laser hair removal, they need to consult a cosmetic surgeon to determine their candidacy for treatment. During their initial consultation they may have a patch test performed to test how they respond to the laser. This patch test can also help determine what intensity level is needed to remove the unwanted hair.

The process of laser hair removal involves a low energy laser being applied to the areas of the body with unwanted hair. The laser damages the hair follicles in the treatment area without causing any damage to the surrounding skin and tissue.

After Your Treatment

After laser hair removal, patients may experience a mild reddening in the area that was treated. This typically subsides within 24 hours. The unwanted hair in the area that was treated will usually fall out within a few days of the laser hair removal treatment.

The laser hair removal procedure does not typically get rid of all of a person's unwanted hair in one treatment because hair grows in phases, and the laser is most effective when the hair is in the growth phase. Most people need five to eight treatments to achieve their desired results. After all of the treatments are complete, patients may see up to 95 percent of their unwanted hair eliminated.

For more information on laser hair removal, please contact our cosmetic surgery center today to schedule a private consultation.