Plastic Surgery Chronicle

Cosmetic Surgery Offers a Second Chance

We only get one chance at a first impression, and the person who projects the best self-image makes the best impression. In today’s society, people recognize the importance of self-improvement, it could be for social or professional reasons. Exercise, skin care and nutrition are important but can only do so much. Real structural change requires more.In other words, cosmetic surgery offers a second chance – the opportunity to fight against both the calendar and genetics!

Facelift (rhytidectomy)

Over the past few years, the term face lift has become a topic of increased interest and discussion. The effects of time, gravity and heredity show on any face. The facelift operation itself, also known as rhytidectomy, is performed to correct double chins and sagging jowls. The modern-day, long-lasting facelift operation, involves the permanent removal of undesirable accumulations of fat. As well, sagging muscles and connective tissue are repositioned and re-supported.

Because excess fat is now removed in the operation, patients no longer need to lose weight before surgery.(good enought!) In fact, for people who previously had chubby cheeks or a fat neck, one of the benefits of facelift surgery is an apparent loss of weight following surgery. The overall effect is a younger, fresher yet natural appearance.

Blepharoplasty

While people talk most about facelifts, the most popular age reversing operation among patients these days involves the eyelids. Heavy, drooping upper eyelids and baggy lower eyelids make people look tired, old, and certainly past their prime. The surgical correction known as blepharoplasty can remove the fatty pouches that cause these unfortunate problems. Upper eyelid drooping, which sometimes partially obscures vision, is corrected by removal of excess skin, muscle and fat. Incisions follow natural contour lines in the upper eyelids, and in the lower lid can be made on the inside, so there is no scar at all. In some cases, circles under the eyes can be filled in and the lids tightened.

Forehead Lift

A pleasing eyebrow shape and arch is associated with youth and beauty. On the other hand, an unfavorable eyebrow shape and angle can make a person look tired, worried or angry. Forehead and Brow lift, in addition to lifting the eyebrows back to where they belong, smoothes out a deeply furrowed and pinched forehead. Some doctors may prefer the high-tech endoscopic method, which is a big improvement to older more invasive surgery, because it requires only very small incisions within the hair. With this advanced procedure they no longer make the old fashioned long incision across the top of the head and never remove scalp or hair.

Botox

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Botox is used for the treatment of frown lines, forehead furrows, and lines and wrinkles of the lower face. Botox has proven to be a very popular nonsurgical cosmetic treatment. The type of lines and wrinkles that respond to Botox injections are those caused by muscles—specifically those muscles that contract during facial expressions such as frowning or squinting. It works by relaxing the muscles that cause the lines so wrinkles smooth out. Good advantage of Botox Injection is that here is no downtime, and patients can immediately resume normal activities.

Skin Resurfacing

Skin resurfacing uses either a laser or special chemicals to smooth the skin, reduce wrinkling, and even out the complexion. Some people prefer to correct one thing at a time while Others want a more dramatic improvement; they have as much done as necessary and feasible at once so as to achieve maximum benefits. It is an individual choice, and one of the reasons a thorough consultation with a well-qualified, experienced, sympathetic plastic surgeon is so important. Breakthroughs in anesthesia methods and monitoring devices have made it possible for all of these operations to be performed on an outpatient basis. This is a positive step because patients feel more comfortable and heal faster in this environment. In addition, outpatient procedures reduce expenses overall.

Body Contouring Surgery

According to statistics kept by the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Liposculpture, more commonly known as liposuction, has become the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure. In liposculpture, a combination of saline (saltwater) and local anesthetic is first flooded into the areas to be contoured. Working through tiny incisions just large enough to fit the thin liposculpture vacuum tube, fat cells and some fluid are then gently swept away by suctioning back and forth under the skin. Liposculpture is truly a matter of sculpting the human form; it effectively removes unwanted fat from areas that are often resistant to diet and exercise. These can include the neck, upper arms, chest, sides, abdomen, thighs, hips, knees and ankles. Other procedures for figure improvement include abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and cosmetic breast surgery. Saline implants, which have now replaced silicone gel implants, are used both to enlarge and to enhance shape

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