Are You a Candidate for Facial Plastic Surgery?
Below is a list of frequently asked questions. You can also find additional information on our services/procedures page. If you have any questions about our services or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 404-303-0101.
- How do I choose a facial plastic surgeon?
- Am I a candidate for a brow/forehead lift?
- Am I a candidate for chin surgery?
- Am I a candidate for an eyelid lift?
- Am I a candidate for a facelift?
- Am I a candidate for facial resurfacing and/or injectables?
How do I choose a facial plastic surgeon?
Cosmetic surgery has become a part of mainstream American society. Just as we head to the gym and plan our diets to feel better, more and more of us are considering cosmetic surgery to improve our looks as well as our self-esteem. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) found that 85 percent of American adults would undergo a facial plastic surgery procedure if given the chance.
If cosmetic surgery is an option you are considering, there are a number of things you should know. With the vast number of surgeons in practice today, it is more important than ever to make informed decisions when considering an elective procedure such as cosmetic surgery. The following are tips to assist you in making informed decisions when choosing the best surgeon for your specific needs:
- Ask around. When seeking out a surgeon, word of mouth referrals are a good place to begin your search. Consult with friends who have undergone a procedure, ask a trusted physician or inquire with your hairdresser or aesthetician at your local salon as to which doctors in the area have a good reputation for performing facial cosmetic procedures.
- Do your homework. Check to make sure that your surgeon's area of expertise and corresponding board certification is in facial plastic surgery. In today's highly competitive medical environment, the term "board-certified" can be found in almost any surgeon's advertising. It is important for you to recognize and seek out a surgeon who is board-certified in the correct area of expertise. If you are considering a cosmetic procedure of the face, head or neck, that area of expertise is facial plastic surgery. The AAFPRS offers a toll-free physician referral hotline called the Facial Plastic Surgery Information Service. This can be utilized by calling 1-800-322-FACE and is one way to confirm a facial plastic surgeon's board certification. You should also check to make sure the doctor is in good standing with your local medical society and the hospital where he or she has privileges.
- Be informed. The AAFPRS' Facial Plastic Surgery Information Service can also be utilized to obtain complimentary background materials on specific procedures. Studying these materials before you contact a surgeon will make you better informed and help you develop a list of questions you would like to ask prospective surgeons.
- Establish a rapport. Your personality should mesh well with your surgeon's. The surgeon you choose should be one with whom you can openly communicate and feel free expressing your opinions.
- Check for operating room certifications. Where is the surgery done? Whether in a freestanding ambulatory surgery center or a hospital, you want to make sure that certain standards of safety have been met. AAAHC is a national certification that is well recognized in the medical community; also, individual states, as well as Medicare, certify operating rooms. In addition, don't forget to ask if a board-certified anesthesiologist will be involved in your procedure.
Electing to undergo cosmetic surgery is a highly personal decision, and you should take the time to find the right surgeon for your needs.
*The above section was written by Burke Robinson, M.D.
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Am I a candidate for a brow/forehead lift?
In the prime of life, a tired, angry or sad expression may not reflect the vitality bubbling within. A forehead or brow lift can rejuvenate the areas by tightening loose skin and removing excess skin; even muscle tissue that causes vertical frown lines between the eyebrows can be excised. Although typically performed between the ages of 40 and 65, this procedure may even be desirable earlier.
The AAFPS offers a preview of what a forehead lift can do for you:
- Stand in front of a mirror.
- Put your hands above you brows and outside the edges of your eyes.
- Gently raise the skin upwards.
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Am I a candidate for chin surgery?
Keep in mind that chin surgery is an elective procedure and, as is true with all facial surgery procedures, carries a small risk. In discussing the pros and cons or benefits versus risks, your facial surgeon will explore with you various factors that can affect the outcome of this surgery, such as your age, skin type, and attitudes and expectations.
The need for chin augmentation or reduction should be evaluated in several circumstances. First, if the patient is changing their nasal profile, it is always necessary to evaluate the patient's overall facial profile which includes an assessment of chin projection. Second, if a patient is to undergo lower face and neck rejuvenation, chin projection should be evaluated. Third, if someone has a heavy neck and is to have an isolated neck contouring procedure such as liposuction, the chin profile should be assessed. Fourth, if the patient has normal dental occlusion but is unhappy with their chin projection then it should be evaluated for correction.
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Am I a candidate for an eyelid lift?
Some 100,000 men and women this year will choose to undergo blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) to look younger and even improve vision by removing the excess fat, muscle and skin from upper and lower lids that causes the puffiness and bags under their eyes that make them look tired. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the eyelid lift was the most popular procedure performed in 2002. Normally this procedure takes one to two hours and can cost $5,000.
Like many isolated facial cosmetic procedures, eyelid lifts may be combined with other procedures, such as a forehead lift for a drooping brow or skin resurfacing, to minimize fine lines around the eyes.
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Am I a candidate for a facelift?
Deciding whether to have a rhytidectomy (facelift) is a serious process. Not only are many thousands of dollars and weeks or months of recovery involved, but, as with all medical and surgical procedures, there is also an element of risk.
Cautions the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), which has the largest number of members in this specialty, "good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Understanding the limitations of rhytidectomy is crucial and psychological stability is vital. There is no ideal in a facelift."
Although this procedure can be performed on the young and old, anyone aged 50 or older should undergo a thorough physical before committing to a facelift. "An underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or depression, does not rule out a facelift," says the Director of the Emory Facial Center and Chief of Facial Plastic Surgery at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Seth A. Yellin, MD. However, such conditions and others must be well under control. Even smoking does not rule out having a facelift, although Yellin does encourage his patients to at least cut down. "I used to insist they quit, but that proved totally unrealistic," he adds.
Still, many factors can impact results, cautions the AAFPRS, including skin type, ethnic background, how much skin elasticity remains, bone structure and the rate at which a particular individual heals. "Those who have high blood pressure, previous scarring problems or a tendency to abnormal bleeding may not be good candidates," Yellin notes. "All these factors should be thoroughly discussed in advance with your surgeon. Realistic expectations and a positive attitude in working with your surgeon are essential."
Be sure to fully discuss the following:
- Type of technique to be used
- Type of anesthesia
- Surgical facility (out patient, hospital)
- Any additional surgery
- Complications
- Costs
"Doctors don't always tell patients the limitations of a procedure," Yellin cautions. "It is very important that there be an open dialogue, realistic expectations. It's all about setting expectations, communicating with the surgeon, not talking past one another."
"Sometimes less is more," Yellin advises. Simply changing one's hair color or using less makeup can make one also look more youthful. "Older people don't trust their natural beauty. You can never be 30 if you are 50, so be the best 50 you can."
Costs must be a major consideration. Rarely does insurance cover cosmetic surgery for other than medical necessity. Financing for plastic surgery is available for those who qualify. Still, in the final analysis, "if you cannot afford it, if you will put your and your family under financial hardship, don't do it," Yellin says.
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Am I a candidate for facial resurfacing and/or injectables?
Sunbathing, tanning booths, boating, and water and snow skiing have all taken their toll on Baby-Boomers' faces. Excessive smoking, poor nutrition and skin disorders also contribute to premature aging of the skin. "Premature wrinkling is more common now than ever before," the AAFPRS says.
Skin resurfacing removes the outer layers of facial skin using abrasion, chemicals, or laser, producing smoother and less wrinkled skin. But skin resurfacing cannot give you perfect skin; rather it improves your appearance as much as possible.
During your first consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, he or she will evaluate the various factors that influence outcome, including your general health and medical history, your skin type and color, ethnic background and age. Dark skin, allergies, burns, poorly healed scars and radiation exposure can influence results, as can episodes of cold sores and blisters around your mouth.
As is true in all cosmetic surgery procedures, candid and open communication between you and your surgeon is vital, as are realistic expectations.
In a chemical peel, one of several chemicals is applied to your skin. Glycolic acid is the mildest. Trichloroacetic acid is used in varying strengths for longer-lasting smoothness. Phenol produces the deepest peel.
Dermabrasion works to smooth deeper scars and wrinkles. This procedure is done under local anesthetic or a numbing agent. A high speed rotating brush removes the top layer of skin.
After a chemical peel or dermabrasion, you will experience swelling and crusting and have to use ointments for seven to 10 days. The reddening of your skin will fade in about a month. Often you'll be required to stick to a soft diet and avoid temperature extremes and stressful activities.
"It is imperative that you follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions to the letter," warns the AAFPRS. "Should you experience any increase in redness or itching in the days after surgery, notify your surgeon immediately," the organization stresses.
After a week or two, new pinkish, finer, less wrinkled skin will appear, but it will be several weeks before all the redness vanishes. You'll be instructed to use a sunblock.
Laser surgery — high energy, amplified light waves of carbon dioxide (CO2) resurfaces skin damaged by excess sun exposure, removes acne scars, smooths unwanted lines and wrinkles. Pulsed dye lasers remove port-wine stain birthmarks. KTP lasers treat facial spider veins. Facial plastic surgeons often choose to use the minimal laser intensity to preserve as much healthy tissue, thus requiring multiple sessions.
After laser resurfacing surgery, you can expect some swelling, crusting and redness for several days and you may have to use petroleum ointments to aid in healing. Staying out of the sun and using a sunblock are particularly important until your skin has returned to normal color, which can take several months.
It often takes several months for the full results of laser resurfacing to become apparent. For birthmarks and spider veins, quicker recovery can be expected. Only after the healing process for a treatment is complete can additional treatment sessions be scheduled.
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