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Previously Asked Questions

My daughter is 20 years old and applies a ton of make-up to camouflage her scars. What are her options for making those scars less noticeable?

The goal is to improve the appearance of the scar either by disguising it or by minimizing its prominence. Your physician will evaluate your daughter's skin type and the type of scarring in order to determine possible treatment plans. Options may include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, injectable filler, or skin graft surgery. Your daughter's physician will go over the alternatives, benefits, and risks, thoroughly explaining the procedures before deciding on the optimal plan. The result will be a less noticeable scar and a tremendous increase in self-confidence.

My neck makes me look much older than I am. The skin sags and camouflages my chin. I have heard that a facelift can help the appearance of my neck, is this my only option?

As we age, our skin becomes less elastic causing it to droop. This sagging skin can be addressed by a facelift or a necklift. A facelift is a procedure where the skin is lifted, excess fat and skin is removed, and the skin is tightenend. The result is a rejuvenated appearance in the lower two-thirds of the face, i.e., cheek, chin, and neck areas. If you are looking to only improve the appearance of your neck, a necklift can include tightening sagging muscles and/or removing excess skin. In order to receive optimal results, contact your facial plastic surgeon for an evaluation on what would work best for you.

My son was born with abnormally large ears that do not lay flat against his head. He is now four years old and I would like him to have corrective surgery. Is he too young? I would like to have the surgery before he starts school, but would like an expert opinion.

Surgery to correct protruding ears may be done as early as age five or six. At an earlier age, the ear has not fully formed and is still growing. In another year or so, your son's cartilage will still be soft and moldable, therefore producing very good results. See your facial plastic surgeon for a consultation and evaluation; you and your physician can make the optimal plan for your son.

I am interested in laser resurfacing for my face. What will I look like right after treatment?

Laser resurfacing is performed to reduce the signs of aging by removing the damaged outer layer of the skin and allowing a new, supple layer to emerge. Immediately following the treatment most patients experience redness and some swelling. Your physician will be able to tell you what to expect more specifically, as it varies from patient to patient depending on the type of laser used and how much of the face is treated. Some patients have mild discomfort that can be alleviated with pain medication. Most patients feel uncomfortable returning immediately to work due to the red appearance and your physician will probably recommend that you take off work from 5 to 7 days. Again, each individual's convalescence and appearance will depend on the extent of the treatment.

I am a heavy smoker. I would like to have surgery on my nose and I am wondering if my smoking habits will affect the surgery?

Yes, your smoking habits will affect your surgery. Smoking causes distinctive changes in the facial skin. Cigarette toxins reduce the blood supply to the tissues, so after having a procedure, the rate of healing is lower and the risk of infection is greater. Smokers tend to have coarser, thicker facial skin that is more prone to wrinkling.

Your surgeon may recommend that you quit smoking for several weeks, if not months, before your surgery. As for rhinoplasty (nose surgery), make a consultation appointment so your physician can evaluate your skin and your nose, and decide what treatment plan is right for you.

A friend of mine recently had an endoscopic forehead lift. What can you tell me about this technique?

A relatively new technique, endoscopic browlift is useful in younger patients with brow wrinkles. Several half-inch incisions are made in the scalp, and a tiny video camera and other specially designed instruments are introduced and used to lift the skin and tighten the muscles. Tiny screws, electrocautery, or lasers may be used to fix tissue in its new position. A tight headband is worn for several days to hold the skin in place while it heals. Because it does not permit the removal of excess skin, endoscopic browlift is recommended only for patients with good skin tone and little sagging. Other browlift techniques may give better results in some patients.

My jowls have become prominent over the past few years, and I'm starting to develop a double chin. Would a facelift help?

A facelift raises and tightens the skin in the lower third of the face and over the jaw line, making it the most appropriate treatment for sagging in the jowl area. A consultation with a facial plastic surgeon can help determine whether other procedures should be part of your overall treatment plan. For example, if you have excess fatty deposits in the chin area, you may opt to have liposuction (a fat vacuuming procedure) done at the same time. If your chin is weak or your midfacial bony structure is inadequate, augmentation of these skeletal areas may further improve your facial harmony. Laser resurfacing or a chemical peel procedure may refine your skin tone and reduce surface wrinkles.

I'm convinced my sagging jowls are damaging my credibility with clients, but what can I do? Men don't get facelifts, do they?

In today's competitive job market, sagging jowls, tired eyes, and drooping foreheads are liabilities for men as well as women. Many men today seek facial plastic surgery to maintain the healthy, robust appearance that reflects that way they feel inside. A facelift can remove those sagging jowls and restore your jawline. Bagginess around the eyes and deep brow lines that project an angry or worried look are also common in men. These problems are improved by blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a forehead or eyebrow lift. If your face doesn't project your true image, a facial plastic surgeon can help — men as well as women.

My daughter has a "ski-jump" nose, and at 12 she's starting to care about her appearance. Is she old enough to have nose surgery?

When your daughter may have nose surgery will depend on her individual growth pattern and the internal structure of the nose. Problems with the appearance of the nose usually are corrected after puberty, but surgery may be indicated in a younger child if internal defects are causing serious breathing problems. The age for surgery to refine the shape of the nose is usually about 15 for girls and 17 for boys, but it depends on the physical development of the child. In some cases, it may be appropriate to operate on a girl at 12 or 13 years of age. A consultation with your facial plastic surgeon can answer your specific questions about nose surgery.

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