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Facelift
Also
called rhytidectomy, facelift is a surgical procedure that involves
the removal of excess facial fat, the tightening of facial muscles,
and the stretching of facial skin - to approximate a smoother, firmer
appearance. The procedure takes place on either the face, neck, or
both. A facelift restores smoother, more pleasing contours to the
face and neck. Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve
the same results from a facelift. A plastic surgeon will select the
surgical technique that they feel will obtain the best outcome for
the patient. Although there are many variations to the facelift procedure,
usuallly an incision is hidden in the natural contour of the ear,
then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline. Following
surgery, incisions can be easily concealed by hair or with makeup.
There may also be a small incision hidden underneath the chin.
See Rhytidectomy.
Facial Implants
A facial implant is cosmetic plastic surgery to change the shape of
the chin, check, or jaw. This procedure is typically done to enhance
certain facial features, or to bring a certain aspect of the face
into proportion with the rest of the facial structures.
Facial implants are designed for augmentative, reconstructive or rejuvenative
purposes. Available in a wide range of sizes and styles for the chin,
jaw, nose and cheek, implants add or restore contour and/or proportion
to the face.
The implant procedure
follows a similar pattern for all facial areas. The plastic surgeon
makes a small incision near where the implant will be placed, either
in a crease or inside the mouth at the gum/lip junction. Then a pocket
in made in the facial tissue, the implant inserted, and the incision
is stitched. The surgery process generally takes one or two hours,
usually with general anesthesia. The incision is bandaged or taped,
and stitches are removed after several days (sutures placed inside
the mouth will dissolve in a similar period of time). Sometimes facial
implants are inserted at the same time as a facelift, nose or eyelid
procedure is performed.
Facial Scar Revision
Scar revision is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of
a scar. While no scar can be removed completely, plastic surgeons
can often improve the appearance of a scar, making it less obvious
through the injection or application of certain steroid medications
or through surgical procedures known as scar revisions. When the skin
is in the process of recovering from an injury, as the result of an
accident, surgery, a burn, or acne, scarring will occur wherever multiple
layers of the skin have been affected. Once a scar forms, it is permanent
but may be made less visible or relocated surgically. With very few
exceptions most people are self-conscious about facial scars, and
some may also experience diminished functioning of the eyes, mouth,
or nose due to scarring.
When a scar is of the contracture type, surgery usually involves removing
the scar tissue entirely. Contractures are an abnormal condition caused
by a loss of muscle fibers or a loss of the normal flexibility of
the skin. After removing the scar, skin flaps (composed of adjacent
healthy unscarred skin) are lifted and moved to form a new incision
line. When a flap is not possible, a skin graft may be used. The skin
graft involves taking a section of skin tissue from one area and attaching
it to another. Time must be allowed following surgery for new blood
vessels and soft tissue to form. Z-plasty is a method to move a scar
from one area to another, usually into a natural fold or crease in
the skin to minimize its visibility. While Z-plasty does not remove
all signs of a scar, it does make it less noticeable. Dermabrasion
and laser resurfacing are other methods a plastic surgeon uses to
make "rough or elevated" scars less prominent, by removing
part of the upper layers of skin with an abrading tool or laser light.
Clearly, the scar will remain, but it will be smoother and less visible.
Keloid or hypertropic scars are often treated first with injections
of steroids to reduce size. If this is not satisfactory, the scars
can be removed surgically, and the incisions closed with fine stitches,
often resulting in less prominent scars.
Also see Dermabrasion,
and Laser Facial Resurfacing.
Forehead Lifts
A forehead lift is the surgical removal of excess fat and skin, as
well as a tightening of the muscles in the forehead area. It can correct
sagging brows or deep furrows between the eyes. It is often done in
conjunction with a facelift in order to create a smoother facial appearance
overall. Forehead lifts are often performed to treat conditions associated
with aging, and it may be done in conjunction with other rejuvenative
surgery to achieve a more harmonious facial appearance. A forehead
lift is also appropriate for treatment of certain inherited traits,
so younger adults who have a low brow or who already have deep frown
lines due to stress or overactivity of muscles may benefit from the
procedure.
Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve the same
results from forehead surgery, and a plastic surgeon will select the
surgical technique that they feel will obtain the best outcome. In
many instances, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning
above the ears and hidden within the hair. Another forehead lift technique
uses an endoscope which is inserted through several tiny incisions
in the scalp. The placement of incisions may vary, and the main difference
among the various options for forehead lifting consists of the placement
of the incision. The original technique is the coronal incision, which
is made slightly behind the natural hairline. An alternative is the
pre-trichial incision. This is similar to the coronal incision except
that the mid-portion of the incision is made directly at the hairline.
This incision generally heals favorably and has the advantage of lowering
the hairline. The disadvantage could be noticeable scarring. An option
is to place the incision within the midforehead creases. This is primarily
used in men with deep pre-existing forehead lines. The newest approach
is endoscopic surgery. Several small one-half-inch to one-inch incisions
are placed just behind the hairline. Although this technique may require
more surgery time, it is less invasive and results in a smaller chance
of temporary scalp numbness.
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