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In the medical world, the fat-injection procedure is known as autologous fat transplantation or microlipoinjection. It involves extracting fat cells from the patient’s abdomen, thighs, buttocks or elsewhere and reinjecting them beneath the facial skin. Fat is most often used to fill in “sunken” cheeks or laugh lines between the nose and mouth, to correct skin depressions or indentations, to minimize forehead wrinkles and to enhance the lips.
Thousands of abdominoplasties are performed successfully each year. When done by a qualified plastic surgeon who is trained in body contouring, the results are generally quite positive. Nevertheless, there are always risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.
The ThreadLift™ is a non-surgical facelift procedure. ThreadLift™ candidates include all those individuals with aging signs of the face, including droopiness of the skin of the brow, cheeks, jowls and neck. Patients whose faces are very heavy or very thin are not ideal candidates.
The ThreadLift™ is a minimally invasive office procedure performed under local anesthetic that is designed to elevate, reposition and lift lax skin of the brow, face and neck without surgery. It is a combination of several “thread” techniques (Aptos, Featherlift, looplift, Wofflelift) that have been used throughout Europe in the past decade to achieve maximum aesthetic effects with minimal recovery. The ThreadLift™ employs non-surgical “cogged” threads and sutures that have been used for decades in cardiac, abdominal, neuro and plastic surgery. The ThreadLift™ works by having these tiny threads inserted painlessly under the skin. These fine threads are similar to those that would be used to support the deep structures of your face if you were to receive a real surgical facelift. Using local anesthetic, the threads are passed into the droopy facial element with a special guide needle. The threads are then able to grab on to the droopy soft-tissue and muscle of the desired area. The ThreadLift™ is done without general anesthesia, a knife, scars or significant recovery. Most patients experience minimal bruising or swelling for 1-7 days. The ThreadLift™ is not painful and most patients can return to normal activities with makeup the next day. The threads stay where they are inserted and, like all internal sutures, are generally well tolerated by the body. The threads and their effects are removable, reliable, and reversible.
Liposuction is one of the most frequently performed procedures. Localized fat pockets, resistant to exercise and diet, can be eliminated. The areas of the body of such accumulated fat pockets often include the hips, thighs, abdomen, neck , arms, and breasts. The best candidates are near normal weight people with elastic skin who desire an improved contour change. This procedure is usually performed under general or local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The incisions are placed in specific areas to provide the optimal contouring and aesthetic result. A fitted compression garment will be worn for about 3 to 4 weeks. Activity may be resumed in about 3 weeks and the final results will be apparent in about 3 months.
When performing breast augmentation surgery by itself, it takes great skill to place an implant correctly and achieve wonderful results. Similarly, it takes great skill to appropriately carry out a breast lift procedure by itself and re-establish a youthful looking breast. However, both of these operations have certain, relatively low levels of unpredictability when they are carried out by themselves. Unpredictability in plastic surgery originates from multiple factors, such as, individual wound healing factors, age, hormones and techniques used. When breast lifts are combined with implant placement the variables that contribute to unpredictability are multiplied several fold. Increased unpredictability sometimes makes it more difficult to achieve good results.
Cheek implants are inserted through small incisions on the inside of the upper lip, which heal in approximately one week. A relatively minor procedure, cheek implants may be placed using only local anesthesia or with deeper sedation for patient comfort. Most implants are constructed from solid silicone, which adheres to the underlying bone and is very difficult to feel. While rare, complications may include infection or displacement of the implant requiring removal or repositioning. Over the years the art and science of facial contouring with cheek implants has evolved significantly, and there are many different styles and shapes to choose from. A successful outcome requires choosing the right size and shape of implant, and then placing that implant in the right location.
There are many reasons for undergoing a breast lift. Reasons include, having breasts that lack substance or firmness; having breasts that are pendulous, but of satisfactory size; having nipples and areolas that point downwards, especially if they are positioned below the breast crease; or having loss of elasticity, weight loss, pregnancy and breast-feeding affect the shape and firmness of the breasts.
When looking to perform a rhinoplasty, realistic expectations from the patient’s perspective are very important. The goal of rhinoplasty is to reshape and sculpt a new nose that fits harmoniously with the face and fits into the facial balance for each individual patient. Every nose job is different. There is no one perfect nose.
It is important to have realistic goals and expectations regarding the outcome of the surgery. It is also important to consider why you want to have nose surgery. The goal is to improve the nose aesthetically to better balance with the other facial features; sometimes breathing is improved at the same time. Rhinoplasty is performed by making small incisions on the inside of the nose. There are no external incisions. The skin is lifted off of the cartilage and bone and the nose is then sculpted to the appropriate shape. The skin is then placed back in position and dissolvable sutures are used to close the incisions inside the nose.
Some women wish to enhance their body contour because they feel that their breasts are too small. Other women seek to correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy and nursing, or to balance a difference in breast size. The results of breast augmentation can be subtle or dramatic, and depend on a patient’s personal preferences. For many of a board certified plastic surgeon’s patients, the results of breast augmentation surgery are satisfying and exhilarating.