If you have, you're not alone. Every year, over 2.5 million people in the U.S. have surgery to improve their appearance, making Cosmetic Surgery the fastest growing type of surgery performed today. Fortunately, the idea that Cosmetic Surgery is only for the rich, vain or famous is fading more than ever before. People from all walks of life, young and old, are discovering the tremendous benefits Cosmetic Surgery has to offer. The simply magical discovery is that a small change on the outside can make an enormous change on the inside. . .the way you feel about yourself. With Cosmetic Surgery becoming more affordable and safer than ever, this may be the time for you to consider making that change.
Anyone who desires a change in the way they look. Cosmetic Surgery patients fall into three broad categories:
First, some are born with the tendency for an exaggerated family trait or abnormality they do not like. Some examples are prominent ears, "family nose", or a small chin. While correction of these "inheritances" is generally by choice, for those who seek changes the results can be very dramatic, causing great improvement of self-image and esteem.
The second group are people who have injuries causing a change of appearance. An example would be an automobile accident resulting in large facial cuts or broken bones. Careful initial repair will try to minimize deformity, but further improvement may be provided by revisional surgery.
The third category includes those who were once happy with their looks, avoided serious injuries, but now have found that aging has caused some unwelcome changes in appearance. Some tolerate aging better than others, but the emotional impact of becoming self-conscious, or having work opportunities restricted or blocked due to appearance is devastating. It is understandable, therefore, that many people are consulting surgeons for help in controlling the signs of aging as they first begin to appear, and continue that effort as aging continues. They do not want to "turn the clock back", but wish to give in to aging changes gracefully.
As in most aspects of health care, with skin, prevention of damage is best. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, few of us avoid major skin changes due to disease or aging. We now know that excess exposure to sun without protection causes early aging and skin cancer. The majority (85%) of injury is seen to occur before age 25, but the effects of this damage do not appear until 10-20 years later. Increased awareness and better products for protection are our best defenses against sun damage, early aging, and skin cancer.
Minimal skin surface changes can be helped by Retin A application which acts as a mild irritant, causing loss of the dead surface layers. The result is reduction of fine, dry, wrinkled skin, leaving a more uniform skin surface and color. These effects are temporary, with changes going away when the Retin A cream is stopped.
For slightly deeper skin damage, wrinkling and "age spots", Chemical Peel may be suggested. Peel agents are irritating chemicals which, when applied to skin, result in a "peeling" of the upper skin layers. Upon shedding of the old skin surface, new skin is produced with fewer fine wrinkles or discolorations. Many of these changes are permanent, and this treatment offers one of the primary means medically available to reverse skin damage caused by the sun. Pre-cancerous areas and "age spots" can be effectively treated with peeling.
When skin is scarred or has rough texture with uneven surfaces, a "sanding" procedure may be used. This surgical "planing" is like removal of scratches from a table top by sanding the area around the scratch. This lowers the surface to the bottom of the scratch. In skin this reduces shadows caused when light strikes from an angle. When smoothed, the skin looks more level and healthier.
Like Dermabrasion and Chemical Peeling, Laser Skin Resurfacing rejuvenates the skin surface by removing the superficial layers of more aged skin. With the laser the superficial layers of skin are removed by vaporizing them with a laser specifically designed for skin resurfacing. The epidermis is repopulated with cells which do not suffer from the same degree of aging or sun damage. This results in a reduction in fine wrinkling and more healthy, youthful skin.
Even when skin conditioning is ideal, ravages of aging may lead to loss of elasticity and skin excess. Drooping of the outer eyebrow, upper eyelid, and production of "crow's feet" are often the first signs of aging. Lifting of the forehead or brows usually results in eyes that appear larger and more youthful, with improvement of the "crow's feet".
The eyes and eyebrows are the most expressive of all facial features. The variety of facial expressions are due to a complex arrangement of muscles that lie just under, and attach to, the skin. Constant action of these muscles during smiling, laughing, squinting, etc. coupled with loss of elasticity with aging, makes the eyes an early indicator of advancing years. Eyelids and brows tend to sag, while bulges form due to fat pockets around the eye. During eyelid lifting, excess skin and bulging fat is removed. The result is a more youthful and alive appearance, with the eyes looking larger and more easily made up.
The facelift reduces sagging of loose skin and wrinkling due to aging. Recent technical and equipment changes have made Face and Neck Lifts more versatile while improving patient safety. The best time to have a facelift is when you can no longer "make it up" or you feel self-conscious. Many decide to have the surgery in the early to mid-forties, electing not to wait for extreme sagging. Today's facelift is more lasting, effective, and natural looking than ever. The tightened skin lessens wrinkles, creases and lines to rejuvenate the softer, younger, natural contours of your face.
Sometimes alone, adding an implant to provide support and better shape to the face is very effective. Strong cheekbones or chin-jaw lines are desirable, and weaker features can be augmented by Cosmetic Surgery.
Liposuction is the most requested and fastest growing cosmetic surgical procedure in the US. For millions of people who are trying to improve their bodies and appearance, this can be a dream come true, because it can remove fat that exercise and diet cannot reach. The fact is, certain deposits of fat are resistant to exercise. No matter how many miles, sit-ups, weights, or laps you do, the unsightly fat deposits remain.
Once the problem fat cells are removed, they do not return to the site of original deposit. The best candidates are those with good muscle tone, near ideal weight, with localized fat accumulations such as under the chin or jaw. For these people Liposculpting and contouring can be a lasting way to realize a more pleasing shape.
Have you ever looked in the mirror, or seen pictures of yourself, and wished you could change the way your nose looks?
Two out of three of us will answer yes to that question. The nose, by virtue of its position in the center of the face, is important in defining symmetry and proportion. For example, nasal shape and size must compliment other facial features, such as the chin. In addition to improving appearance, nasal surgery may improve sinus problems and breathing. Nasal shape can be somewhat "customized" to your desire, and can be previewed during imaging. Your surgery should improve the appearance, without drawing attention to itself. Remember, the idea is not to create a totally "new" nose, but improve the shape and function of the one you have.
Today the way you look is up to you. This year, more than 2 million other Americans will exercise that right. Men and women, young and old, from all walks of life will make a change for the better via Cosmetic Surgery. Afterwards, many of them will not only look better… they'll feel better too. So can you. If there is some feature that bothers you, or a change you would like to make, we invite you to seek a consultation by calling us for an appointment.
The vast majority of Cosmetic Surgery procedures can be performed in an office-based operating suite under IV (intravenous) sedation or general anesthesia. This ensures a safe, comfortable procedure without the often staggering expense of hospital based surgery. Our doctors who perform cosmetic surgery are board certified and hold hospital privileges for the procedures which they perform.
We offer Cosmetic Surgical consultations at no charge, enabling you to gather information regarding your concerns, without having to pay expensive fees. It affords you a quick and easy way to find out if Cosmetic Surgery is right for you.
Detailed information will be made available to you during and following your consultation. Plenty of time will be allowed for you to obtain answers to all your questions. We invite you to enter into the exciting and rewarding world of Cosmetic Surgery.
A medical history along with a careful examination is conducted in order to evaluate your general health. We will discuss with you the way you can look in relation to your other facial features. Pre-operative instructions may include eliminating certain drugs that contain aspirin to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding. Antibiotics may be prescribed before surgery to prevent infection.
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