What can rhinoplasty do for
me? Rhinoplasty can reshape, reduce or augment the nose,
remove a hump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the
nose and the mouth, or correct injury, birth defects, or other
problems that affect breathing.
Does insurance cover the
procedure? Insurance may cover rhinoplasty if it is done
for reconstructive or medical reasons . Can I wear glasses
after nasal surgery? Contact lenses can be worn
immediately but glasses will have to be taped to your forehead or
propped on your cheeks for up to seven weeks.
What are the
risks? Complications are rare and, when they occur,
minor. These may include infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the
anesthesia. Also, a second procedure is required in about one out of
every ten cases.
What problems can otoplasty
correct? Ear surgery typically serves two functions:
setting prominent ears back closer to the head, and reducing the
size of large ears. Surgery may also be helpful for "lop ear,"
"cupped ear" and "shell ear," large or stretched earlobes, and lobes
with large creases and wrinkles. Surgeons are also able to construct
new ears for patients who are missing them from injury or other
causes. Can adults have the
procedure done? The operation is most often performed on
children aged four to 14, but adults may have it as well. Will I need surgery on both
ears even if only one has a problem? Surgery may be
performed on both ears to achieve better balance. Will my ears look alike
after surgery? You should not expect your new ears to
match exactly; even normal, natural ears are not identical. What are the
risks? Complications are rare and usually minor, but may
include blood clots and cartilage infection (usually treatable with
antibiotics but occasionally requiring surgery).
What problems can a facelift
correct? A facelift can reduce signs of aging (wrinkles,
lines, sagging skin, drooping brow) by removing excess fat,
tightening the underlying muscles, and redraping the skin around the
neck and face.
Can facelifts be combined
with other procedures? Facelifts can be done alone or in
conjunction with a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose
reshaping. I would like to improve the
look of my neck, not my face. Do I need a facelift? The
neck and the face are intimately related and our approach treats
these areas a unit. Are there any special
concerns for men? Men may have to shave behind the neck
and ears where areas of beard-growing skin have been repositioned.
When can I go back to
work? Most patients return to work about ten days to two
weeks after surgery. Will my scars be
visible? Scars are usually hidden by the hair or the
natural creases of your face and ears. In addition, they will fade
as time passes and should be scarcely visible. Will I need another facelift
in the future? Patients sometimes repeat the procedure
in five or ten years. But the effect of a single facelift is
long-lasting; years after surgery, you will look better than if you
had never had a facelift.
What is a chemical
peel? Chemical peels remove damaged outer layers of skin
on the face to smooth texture, reduce scarring, and remove blemishes
and pre-cancerous growths to produce healthy, glowing skin.
Can chemical peels be
combined with other procedures? Peels can be combined
with other procedures such as facelifts for a younger look. Does insurance cover the
procedure? Chemical peels may be covered by insurance if
they are performed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons. What are the different types
of chemical peels? There are three types of chemical
peels, ranging from mild to strong -- alphahydroxy acids (AHAs),
tricholoroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol. What are
AHAs? AHAs are the gentlest of the three types of
chemical peel and consist of a group of glycolic, lactic and fruit
acids. AHAs are used to smooth and brighten skin by treating fine
wrinkles, dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. They are typically
applied once a week or as part of a daily regimen. Treatment takes
10 minutes or less. Sometimes AHAs, Retin-A (a prescription
medication containing Vitamin A) or hydroquinone (a bleach solution)
are used to thin the skin and even its tone as a pre-treatment for
TCA peels. What are
TCAs? TCAs are commonly used for medium-depth peeling to
treat fine surface wrinkles, superficial blemishes and pigment
problems, sometimes in combination with AHAs. TCAs are the preferred
treatment for darker-skinned patients. Multiple treatments may be
required, but treatments only last 10-15 minutes and recovery time
is shorter than with phenol. Are there any
risks? All three treatment types carry potential risks
such as infection and scarring. TCA peels may produce some
unintended color changes in the skin, while phenol peels may reduce
or eliminate the new skin's ability to make pigment evenly or at
all, thus causing a lighter or uneven skin tone that must be
protected from sunlight.
What can a browlift
do for me? Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined
foreheads by tightening skin and muscles above the eyes, smoothing
wrinkles and raising the eyebrows, helping you to look less angry,
sad or tired. What will I
look like after surgery? Try standing in front of a
mirror and placing the palms of your hands to the sides of your eyes
above the eyebrows. Then pull the skin back from the eyes, raising
the forehead. This is approximately how the procedure will make you
look. Can a browlift be combined
with other procedures? 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. What age are patients
usually? 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. What's the difference
between traditional and endoscopic methods? The main
difference lies in the type of incision made. In a traditional
browlift the surgeon makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision
behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top
of the forehead. In a minimally invasive endoscopic browlift the
surgeon makes three to five short incisions (less than an inch long)
behind the hairline. The endoscope -- a slim instrument with a
camera on the end -- is placed in one incision so the surgeon can
see beneath the skin, while he or she lifts the skin and adjusts
muscles through the other incisions. When can I return to
work? Many patients return to work or school in 10-14
days. What are the
risks? Complications are rare and usually minor but may
include temporary numbness or reduced sensation along the incision;
nerve injury, causing loss of ability to raise the eyebrows or
wrinkle the forehead and potentially requiring another operation;
hair loss along scar edges; formation of a broad scar, possibly
requiring surgical correction; infection and bleeding are very rare,
but possible.
What are the advantages of
blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)? By removing excess
fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids,
blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes.
It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by
lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. Can the procedure be
combined with others? Because blepharoplasty cannot be
used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles,
crow's feet or dark circles under the eyes, the procedure is often
combined with others such as a facelift and Botox ® treatments. How long does the procedure
take? Blepharoplasty can last 45 minutes to a few hours,
depending on how much work is done. Will I have visible
scars? Incisions are made along the eyelids in
inconspicuous places to minimize scar visibility. If no skin needs
to be removed during surgery, the surgeon will likely perform a
transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside
the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars. How soon after surgery can I
wear my contact lenses? Contact lenses may not be worn
for two weeks. Glasses may be worn immediately. Are results
permanent? The effects of blepharoplasty can last for a
long time and are sometimes even permanent. What are the risks?
Complications from the procedure are uncommon, but can
include infection, reaction to anesthesia, double or blurred vision
for a few days, temporary swelling of the eyelids, tiny whiteheads,
and difficulty closing eyes when going to sleep. Uneven healing and
scarring, and ectropion (pulling down of the lower lids) are very
rare and may require surgical correction. What health problems are
potential risk factors? Patients with thyroid problems,
dry eye, high blood pressure, diabetes, detached retina, glaucoma or
other health problems should consult with an ophthalmologist about
eligibility. Why should I consider chin
surgery (mentoplasty)? Patients
undergoing nose or neck surgery may consider chin surgery in order
to maintain an attractive facial proportion.
|