Head and Neck
Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) — Surgery on the ear is most commonly done on children between the ages of 4 to 14 to set prominent ears closer back to the head, or to reduce the size of large ears. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and holds no additional risks.
The surgeon begins the operation by first creating an incision along the back of the ear and exposing the cartilage. The cartilage is then sculpted and bent back towards the head. The use of non-removable stitches can be used to maintain the new shape. Another commonly used technique is done through a similar incision where skin is removed and stitches are used to fold the cartilage back on itself without actually removing any. Scarring should be slight and will fade over time.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) — Eyelid surgery is performed to minimize the effects of aging, improve self-image, and to do away with the sad, tired or older appearance often associated with excessive or loose skin, wrinkles, fine lines and/or puffiness in either the upper or lower lids.
· Upper eyelids — An incision is typically made within the natural crease of the inside corner of the eye and extended to the outside corner of the eye around the crow’s feet or laugh lines. Any excessive skin or fatty tissue is removed through the incision. The incision is then closed, and is well hidden within the natural line of the eyelid.
· Lower eyelids — An incision is made just under the lash line, where excess skin, muscle and fat are removed. Additional adjustments performed during lower eyelid surgery may include redistributing fat around the eye to reduce puffiness or bulges, and tightening any underlying muscle.
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Face Lift Patient -For more before & after photos click here. |
Facelift (Rhytidectomy) — This surgery is available to men and women who are dissatisfied with their facial appearance during the aging process. A face-lift will target the deep creases that form between the nose and mouth, a jawline that may have grown slack and jowl-like, and combat any folds and fat deposits that appear around the neck. A good candidate for the procedure would be an individual who exhibits the above characteristics, but whose skin maintains elasticity, and a strong, well-defined bone structure.
A facelift can be done alone, or can be performed along with a forehead lift, eyelid surgery or nose reshaping. Not all facelifts are the same, and will depend on your needs and your surgeon’s approach. Typically, the surgery involves incisions above the hairline at the temples, down in front of the ear, and continue behind the earlobes to the lower scalp. The skin is separated from the fat and the muscle and fat from around the neck and chin will be trimmed or suctioned to improve contouring. The underlying muscle and membranes will be tightened, the skin will be pulled back into place, and any excess will be removed. Stitches will be used to secure the layers of tissue, and aid in closing the incision.
Forehead Lift — Typical patients for a forehead or brow lift are between the ages of 40 to 60. This surgery is performed for reasons including minimizing the visible effects of aging, reducing furrows or frown lines due to stress or muscle activity, or as treatment for inherited conditions, such as low, heavy brow or furrowed lines above the nose.
A forehead lift is often performed along with a facelift in order to provide an overall smoother look. Your surgeon will best determine the surgical method used to best achieve your cosmetic goals. Two types of forehead lifts are described below.
· A classic forehead lift involves an incision behind the hairline that begins at ear level and runs across the top of the forehead and down the other side of the head. If you are balding, or have a receding hairline, discuss more inconspicuous incision options with your surgeon. Once the incision is made the surgeon will life the forehead skin to remove underlying tissue, and alter or release the forehead muscles. Eyebrows may also be lifted, and any excess skin at the point of incision will be trimmed. The incision will be closed using either stitches or clips.
· An endoscopic lift involves 3 to 5 short scalp incisions. An endoscope is inserted into these short incisions allowing the surgeon to view the muscles and tissue while using additional instruments to lift the skin and removing or altering the muscles and tissue. Stitches or clips will be used to close each of the short incisions.
Hair Replacement Surgery — Hair replacement treatments are ideal for those individual’s who have lost hair due to aging, change in hormone’s, or a family history of baldness. The best candidates for the procedure are adults who have noticeable hair loss with healthy hair growth at the sides and back of the head for donor areas.
· Hair transplantation involves the removal of small pieces of scalp bearing hair from a donor site. These grafts are then relocated to the bald or thinning area. Typically several surgeries are necessary to achieve the correct amount of fullness. A recovery period of several months is recommended between each procedure.
· Flap surgery is successful in covering a large area of baldness, and is designed specifically for each patient. This procedure involves removing a section of bald scalp, and lifting a flap of hair-bearing skin off the surface while still attached at one end. The new flap is sewn into its new position while still "tethered" to its original blood supply. During the healing process, the relocated hair will obstruct the scar.
· Scalp reduction is for coverage of bald areas at the top and back of the head. This procedure involves removing a segment of bald scalp. The skin surrounding the cutout is loosened and pulled so that the sections of hair-bearing scalp can be brought together and closed with stitches.
· Tissue expansion is successfully used in hair replacement surgeries by achieving significant coverage in a short amount of time. A tissue expander is inserted beneath the hair-bearing scalp and is gradually inflated using salt water. Over a period of weeks, the skin expands and new skin cells grow. After about 2 months, the hair has been stretched enough that another procedure is done to move the expanded skin over the adjacent bald area.
Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) — Surgery involving the nose is done to reduce or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge of the nose, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip. Cosmetic nose surgery is best performed on teenagers after they have completed their growth spurt and on adults.
The surgery itself first involves separating the skin from the bone and cartilage. If the desired result is a narrower bridge, the surgeon will remove the hump, and move the nasal bones together for a more narrow bridge. If surgery is being done to improve the angle between the nose and the upper lip, the surgeon will trim the septum to achieve the desired results. If the nostrils are too wide, small wedges of skin can be removed from their base and then bring them closer together. Once all surgical aspects are completed, the skin will be redraped over the new framework, a splint will be inserted to maintain the shape, and packing will be added to stabilize the septum.