Procedures
Minimizing the Effects of Aging
The specialty of plastic surgery encompasses many areas of
medicine - from birth defects to hand surgery, from cancer reconstruction to
the many aspects of cosmetic
surgery. This office enjoys an extensive experience in each area, and always
seeks to promote the patient's health and well-being above all else. We feel
that every surgical experience should be pleasant and comfortable. Our staff
is completely dedicated to that concept. We honor your privacy and strive
to satisfy you to the best of our abilities. Compassion, friendliness, and
availability
are hallmarks of this office.
Nowhere does aging leave its imprint more noticeably than
on the face. Many factors contribute to facial wrinkling including sun exposure,
smoking, improper diet
and nutrition, alcohol consumption, stress and heredity.
Facial rejuvenation surgery may involve procedures to reduce
the signs of aging in the mid—face, lower face and neck, as well as the
eyelids, forehead and eyebrow areas. Treatments to minimize fine skin lines may
also be performed.
Frequently, multiple facial procedures can be performed at the same time.
What To Know Before Deciding To Have Surgery
Surgical facilities and anesthesia.
Surgery can be performed in a number of locations, depending on the procedure
and what your plastic surgeon
regards as appropriate.
Generally, aesthetic plastic surgery takes place in a hospital or an ambulatory
care setting—such as an outpatient center or your surgeon's office—based
surgical facility.
Sedation will be given to relax you prior to administration
of a local anesthetic. Some aesthetic surgical procedures, require general
anesthesia so that you sleep
through the entire operation.
Risks and complications.
Although some of the
procedures described here appear to be relatively simple operations, it is
essential for you to
understand that
aesthetic plastic surgery, like all surgery, has attendant risks.
Plastic surgeons perform thousands of successful aesthetic
procedures each week, but as with any type of surgery, a patient can have
an adverse reaction to the
anesthetic or be affected by postoperative complications such as blood
clots, infection or poor healing. These problems can occur even when the surgeon
has
performed the operation with the utmost skill. Since smoking interferes
with proper healing and aspirin increases the risk of excessive bleeding, you
will
be advised to avoid them before and after surgery. Aspirin should be stopped
for ten days and smoking for three prior to surgery. Occasionally, surgical
revisions may be desirable to achieve optimal results.
Recovering from your
surgery.
Your plastic surgeon will inform you of any restrictions to your
normal activities following surgery. In general,
you should avoid bending,
strenuous exercise and other activities that raise your blood pressure
for several days to weeks (depending on what type of surgery was performed).
It also
takes
time for the visible signs of healing to subside. Do not expect to see
the final results of your surgery right away. Plan your business and social
activities to allow sufficient time for recovery.
Other considerations.
The
results achieved by some aesthetic surgical procedures, such as surgery of
the nose, ears and chin, generally are
permanent. Other procedures,
particularly those that diminish the effects of aging, produce results
that usually are long—lasting but are not permanent. Plastic surgery may
be able to turn back the clock but cannot stop it from running.
