Procedures :: Face
Facelift
In time, gravity, sun exposure, and the stresses of daily life take their toll on our faces: deep creases appear beside the mouth, the jawline slackens, and folds and fat deposits appear on the neck. Facelifts counteract these problems by removing fat and tightening skin and muscles, giving your face a fresher, youthful look -- after surgery, some patients appear as much as ten or 15 years younger.
Facelifts are most often performed on people in their 40s-60s, those in their 70s or 80s can have facelifts as well. The procedure can be combined with others (browlift, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping) for more dramatic results, or it can be restricted to the neck (necklift) if the patient's problems center there.
Facelifts are usually outpatient procedures and may be performed in an office-based facility, surgery center or hospital, typically under local anesthesia combined with a sedative. The procedure itself varies depending on the surgeon and the patient’s facial structure (i.e. where the incisions are placed, whether one or both sides of the face are worked on at once, in which order the steps are performed).
Results of a facelift do not last forever, but in another sense, the effects are permanent; years later, your face will continue to look better than if you had never had the procedure.
Eyelid Surgery
Droopy upper eyelids and puffy bags under the eyes can make you look older and more tired than you feel. "Blepharoplasty" or eyelid surgery is the most commonly performed facial plastic surgical procedure. By removing small amounts of excess skin and fat one can transform the eyelid region to a more youthful and refreshed look.
The upper eyelid incision is hidden in the natural crease of the eyelid and is barely perceptible. The lower eyelid incision is so close to the lashes that it can barely be seen with the naked eye, even in men. This allows for the precise removal of excess skin, thus avoiding the need for laser resurfacing, which can lead to long term redness, abnormal appearance of the skin, and a change in eyelid shape. The entire procedure is done under high power magnification, allowing for exceptional precision. In addition, new techniques, such as micro fat grafting, help restore a youthful lid-cheek junction.
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
One of the most common plastic surgery procedures, nose surgery (Rhinoplasty) is performed to reshape, reduce or augment a person's nose, remove a hump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the nose and the mouth, or to correct injury, birth defects, or other problems that affect breathing. In some patients with breathing difficulties, correction of a deviated septum or enlargement of the turbinates (internal nasal structures designed to heat and humidify the air we breathe, but which can enlarge as a result of allergies and, thereby, obstruct breathing) can be combined with the cosmetic portion of the procedure. Results depend on the patient's nasal bone and cartilage structure, facial shape, skin thickness and age (teenagers should have had their growth spurt). The procedure may be done in the office or the hospital, depending on personal preference and insurance coverage.
For a short time after surgery you may experience puffiness, nose ache or a dull headache, some swelling and bruising, bleeding or stuffiness. Most patients feel like themselves within two days and return to work in about a week. Contact lenses can be worn immediately but glasses may need to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for up to several weeks.
Browlift
Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Browlifts involve the removal or alteration of the muscles above the eyes to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.
While browlifts are typically performed on patients aged 40-60 to counteract the effects of aging, anyone with lined or inelastic skin on the forehead - whether it's caused by muscle activity or inherited conditions - are eligible. The procedure is usually performed in an office-based facility or surgery center under local anesthesia and sedation.
Lip Enhancement
Lip augmentation is a cosmetic procedure used to increase the size of the lips through injectable fillers. The lips can be injected to make them fuller and more youthful, or the multiple vertical lines can be injected to lessen the wrinkling. Most patients desiring larger, fuller lips are able to achieve their desired results with just one simple procedure.
During this procedure, fat is taken from somewhere in your body and injected into one or both lips. Alternatively, Collagen or Restylane® may be injected. Dr. Reiffel will discuss which treatment option is best for you to achieve the full lips you desire.
Surgery of the Chin
Chin surgery, also known as mentoplasty/genioplasty, is a surgical procedure to reshape the chin either by enhancement with an implant or reduction surgery on the bone. Many times a plastic surgeon may recommend chin surgery to a patient having nose surgery in order to achieve facial proportion, as the size of the chin may magnify or minimize the perceived size of the nose. Even a slight enlargement of the chin can be used to make the neckline longer and more youthful. Chin surgery helps provide a harmonious balance to your facial features so that you feel better about the way you look.
Skin Rejuvenation
At Artistic Plastic Surgery, we provide a wide range of services designed to prevent or reverse the effects of sun damage, acne and aging on the skin. We offer patients many different products that contain Retin-A and alpha hydroxy acid, two active ingredients proven effective in reducing or eliminating the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pigmented lesions, acne and more. These ingredients help exfoliate dead skin cells and stimulate collagen production, allowing the surface of the skin to appear fuller and more youthful, and eliminating worries about the appearance of the skin.
* Contact us for more information on our Facial Procedures.
