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Facial Procedures
Facelift (Rhytidectomy)As we age, the effects of gravity, environmental damage and stress can become apparent on your face and down through your neck. Many people consider getting a facelift to improve the appearance of jowls and creases or wrinkles that run from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth. By removing excess skin and fat and also tightening the facial tissues under the skin, the appearance of the face can be dramatically smoothed and will appear more rested and youthful. Facelifts are often combined with other facial rejuvenating procedures such as eyelid or brow lift. After a facelift, you will continue to age at the same rate, however the final results may make you look up to 10-15 years younger! What it won't do: As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process. A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery. Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:
The risks include:
Results It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to 6 months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. If you aren't ready for surgery, non-surgical rejuvenation treatments may be for you. They include:
Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)Blepharoplasty can be both a functional and cosmetic surgical procedure intended to reshape the upper eyelid and/or the lower eyelid by the removal or repositioning of excess tissue. Many people feel like their droopy or puffy eyelids make them look tired or sad. In some instances, drooping of the upper eyelids can impair one's vision. An eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, which removes excess skin and fat, can help you look more rested, refreshed and youthful. The procedure can be for only the lower eyelids, only the upper eyelids or both upper and lower. When an advanced amount of upper eyelid skin is present, the skin may protrude over the eyelashes and causing a loss of peripheral vision. The outer and upper parts of the visual field are most commonly affected and the condition may cause difficulty with activities such as driving or reading. In this circumstance, upper eyelid blepharoplasty is performed to improve peripheral vision. Patients with a less severe amount of excess skin may have a similar procedure performed for cosmetic reasons. Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is almost always done for cosmetic reasons, to improve puffy lower eyelid “bags” and reduce the wrinkling of skin. Specifically, eyelid surgery can treat:
Good candidates are:
Please advise Dr. Nichols if you have any of these medical conditions:
Potential risks or complications include:
Recovery After your procedure is completed, lubricating ointment and cold compresses may be applied, and in some cases your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze. Initial healing may include some swelling, bruising, irritation or dry eyes and discomfort that can be controlled with medication, cold compresses and ointment. Irritation at the incision sites also is possible. Dr. Nichols will discuss what to expect with your individual recovery. You must practice diligent sun protection, including wearing sunscreen and use dark sunglasses until the healing process is fully complete. Results Your final results will appear within several weeks, but it may take up to a year for incision lines to fully refine. While eyelid surgery can be expected to correct certain conditions permanently, you will continue to age naturally. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your results. Brow LiftIf you are concerned about your drooping brow line, or eyebrows, you may consider a browlift. The browlift procedure raises the brow line to a more youthful position while reducing the horizontal lines that form across the forehead, creating a more rested and youthful appearance. If you are concerned about your drooping brow line, or eyebrows, you may consider a browlift. The browlift procedure raises the brow line to a more youthful position while reducing the horizontal lines that form across the forehead, creating a more rested and youthful appearance. Brow lift surgery is a good option for you if:
Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a brow lift include:
The risks include:
Recovery When your procedure is completed, your forehead may be taped and your head may be loosely wrapped to minimize swelling and bruising. A thin drain tube may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect under the skin. Results Initial wound healing may take 5 to 10 days, at which time any sutures will be removed. You will be ready to return to work and normal activity at this time. Makeup can camouflage any bruising that remains. Healing will continue for several weeks as the swelling dissipates and incision lines refine and fade and it may take several months for your complete recovery. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. Nose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty)Nose reshaping, or rhinoplasty, is a procedure that improves the appearance of your nose to put it in better harmony with your other facial features. Improvements can be made to remove the hump, narrow the nose, reshape the tip, reduce asymmetries and to change the angle between the nose and upper lip. This procedure is commonly performed in addition to a chin implant or genioplasty. Rhinoplasty can change:
Is it right for me? Nose surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. Surgery of the nose is a good option for you if:
The risks include:
Be sure to ask questions: It's very important to ask Dr. Nichols questions about your nose procedure. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether it's excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Results It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to a year - and sometimes longer - for the outcome of the surgery to fully refine. Although the results of nose surgery are usually permanent, cartilage may continue to reshape and move tissue that may change the outcome over time. Chin AugmentationIf you are concerned about having a "weak" chin, you might consider a chin augmentation to make the chin better proportioned to your face. There are two different options that create this effect. You may consider a chin implant, where a small implant increases the projection of the chin, or a genioplasty, where a piece of the chin bone is removed and slid forward to increase the chin's projection. Either procedure can be done alone but are often combined with the nose reshaping procedure. Earlobe RepairThis procedure will restore the natural contour of the earlobe, however, there is much variation to the complexity of this repair. The cost of surgery depends on the extent of the problem and complexity of the surgical procedure. Average costs for a typical repair range $350 to $650 per ear which includes local anesthesia and typical supplies. Earlobe repair is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single procedure and another procedure may be necessary in the future. Secondary procedures from other doctor's previous operations can be more difficult and have higher charges. We have posted prices as a guide for an average surgery or procedure. After better understanding your needs, we can better help you with specific prices. We offer complimentary consultations, so call now to schedule your appointment. *253.759.4522* Ear Reshaping (Otoplasty)If the size of your ears or how far they may stick out is a concern of yours, ear reshaping, or otoplasty, may give you the desired look you would prefer. The goal of the procedure is to reduce the size of overly large ears and/or to position your ears so that they rest flatter against your head. It can also correct a defect in the ear structure that is present at birth, that becomes apparent with development or it can treat misshapen ears caused by injury. The procedure can be done in adults or as soon as one's ears are fully grown, usually by the age of 5-6 years old. Ear surgery can treat:
Is it right for me? Ear surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. Children who are good candidates for ear surgery are:
Teenagers and adults who are good candidates for ear surgery are:
Some of the risks include:
Laser Resurfacing, Dermabrasion, Chemical PeelWrinkles, age spots, sun damage and acne scarring may all be dramatically improved by surgical laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, and chemical peels. While you may see improvements to these conditions with non-surgical techniques, you may be a candidate to get the highest result with surgery. |
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