Facial Surgery Procedures

"The Plastic Surgeon's Advantage: A full spectrum of options"

Many cosmetic physicians provide injections and laser treatments, breast surgery, facial surgery, eye surgery or other partial aspects of plastic surgery.

However, plastic surgeons have the unique ability to consider and offer the full spectrum of these treatments. Because of the training in plastic and reconstructive surgery that involves the entire face, neck, skin, breasts and body, plastic surgeons such as Dr. Scott have the ability to help you choose from the MOST options (surgical and non-surgical) to improve your appearance with an integrated plan.

SURGICAL OPTIONS

These surgical procedures reshape the tissues of the neck and face, aiming to create a more youthful appearance. This typically involves an incision along the front of the base of the ear and/or behind the ear. There are many variations and types of facelifts, from changes to all different layers of the face, some of the layers, or just changes to the skin layer. It is important to discuss with Dr. Scott the various options in order to help select the procedure that may be right for you. Dr. Scott can help you select from a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatments in order to help you achieve the most desirable outcome possible.

What to expect: During the office consultation you will discuss all aspects of the procedure with Dr. Scott in order to establish a thorough and well-informed plan. Your procedure will begin after consulting with Dr. Scott and your anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Typical incisions begin on the scalp within the hair-bearing skin above your ear and near your temple. The incision continues next to your ear and then may continue behind the ear. From these incisions, we can reach your skin, subcutaneous tissues, and the muscles and lining around the muscles of your face and neck. Sometimes a small incision underneath the chin is used in order to reshape and tighten the tissues of your neck. Additional techniques such as injections or liposuction might be added to complete the individually tailored plan for you, depending on your wishes.

The recovery: The cheek and neck will have some bruising and swelling that improves over several weeks. Your postoperative course is monitored in the clinic by Dr. Scott and the staff.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection, fluid collections, or bleeding can occur following any type of facelift, and may require surgical drainage. More rarely, skin loss or nerve damage can occur. Skin loss is rare but occurs more often in patients who use nicotine and can require wound care or revision surgery. Nerve damage can cause areas of skin numbness or muscle weakness in the face. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. As always, our efforts are directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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This procedure is a less-invasive option that can be used in selected patients to improve the appearance of the neck in patients with prominent or full-appearing neck tissues. While this procedure is useful in some properly selected patients, it is important to consider other neck treatments and surgeries available in order to make a fully informed decision. In patients with good skin tone, and mild sagging of the neck and chin, or fullness of the neck and chin, liposuction can often provide some improvement in neck shape.

What to expect: During the office consultation you will discuss all aspects of the procedure with Dr. Scott in order to establish a thorough and well-informed plan. Your procedure will begin after consulting with Dr. Scott and your anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Typical incisions are placed underneath the chin and often along the sides of the neck beneath the jaw line. From these incisions, we can typically reduce the amount of excess tissue underneath the chin and along the upper neck.

The recovery: The neck will have some bruising and swelling that improve for several weeks. Your postoperative course is monitored in the clinic by Dr. Scott and the staff.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection, fluid collections, or bleeding can occur and may require surgical drainage or other intervention. More rarely nerve damage can occur causing skin numbness or muscle weakness in the face. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. As always, our efforts are directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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This surgical procedure is designed to lift the ptotic or "sagging" forehead and eyebrows. This procedure is individualized according to the patient's needs, and often uses fairly small incisions behind the hairline. This procedure is sometimes used in place of, or in combination with eyelid surgery. Because of the unique aspects of the female eyebrow when compared with the male eyebrow, position of the hairline, and other critical issues, this surgery should be carefully tailored according to the individual's specific features. The well-designed browlift takes into account the new position and shape of the eyebrows.

What to expect: During the office consultation you will discuss all aspects of the procedure with Dr. Scott in order to establish a thorough and well-informed plan. Your procedure will begin after consulting with Dr. Scott and your anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Typical incisions begin on the scalp within the hair-bearing skin and are several centimeters on either side of the scalp. From these incisions, we can reach your skin, subcutaneous tissues, and the muscles and lining around your forehead. Often the use of an endoscope and endoscopic devices and additional anchoring materials are used depending on the surgical plan and your particular discussion with Dr. Scott. Sometimes the smaller forehead muscles that produce wrinkles can be altered in order to improve the appearance of the central brow.

The recovery: The forehead and eyelids will have some bruising and swelling that improves over several weeks. Your postoperative course is monitored in the clinic by Dr. Scott and the staff.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection, fluid collection or bleeding can occur following any type of browlift, and may require surgical drainage or other intervention. More rarely nerve damage can occur. Nerve damage can cause areas of skin numbness or muscle weakness in the face or scalp. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. As always, our efforts are directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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This surgical procedure is designed to improve the appearance of protruding ears, by re-shaping cartilage and re-creating folds in the external ear. There are several techniques that are tailored to the individual, including the use of sutures, cartilage shaping and reduction, and skin removal. As part of the surgery, the ear lobe may be reduced or reshaped.

What to expect: Your procedure will begin after consulting with Dr. Scott and your anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Typical incisions are placed behind the ear, often at the connection between the ear and the head, as well as on the back of the ear itself. From this incision the cartilage and internal structures of your ear can be reshaped, using both reduction and suturing techniques to work toward a plan created by you and Dr. Scott.

The recovery: A soft dressing that is held with sutures is sometimes necessary and is removed in the office following your otoplasty. A headband is sometimes necessary and is typically removed after several weeks. The swelling and bruising typically improves over several weeks.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection, fluid collection or bleeding can occur following any type of nasal surgery, and may require surgical drainage, opening the sutures, or other intervention. More rarely tissue damage can occur. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. As always, our efforts are directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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This surgical procedure is designed to re-shape the nose according to the patient's wishes and needs. This can be done to improve nasal appearance and function following trauma and fractures, breathing abnormalities, dissatisfaction with appearance, or a combination of these reasons. There are a variety of approaches to this surgery, including the use of incisions on the inside of the nose and the outside of the nose. The surgery might include reducing the "hump" on the top of the nose, narrowing or widening the nose, increasing the projection or changing the "tip" of the nose, or other goals. Sometimes the nasal septum is curved or "deviated" and this can be straightened or changed. Attention will be paid to the upper portion, central or middle portion, and the lower portion of your nasal appearance. It is important to discuss with Dr. Scott any prior nasal conditions or medications you are taking, as well as any prior nasal procedures you have had, if any. Prior to the operation, multiple visits are recommended with Dr. Scott to carefully design a plan that is right for you.

What to expect: Your procedure will begin after consulting with Dr. Scott and your anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Typical approaches involve a small incision placed on the lower part of your nose skin. From this incision and incisions made inside your nose, the cartilage and internal structures of your nose can be reshaped, using both reduction and augmentation techniques to work toward a plan created by you and Dr. Scott. Occasionally ear cartilage or rib cartilage can be helpful, but typically the tissues of your nose and septum are utilized.

The recovery: Nasal packs are sometimes necessary and are removed in the office 1-2 days following your rhinoplasty. An external splint shaped to your nose is sometimes necessary and may be created in the operating room by Dr. Scott and is removed after 1-2 weeks. Some swelling and bruising following rhinoplasty can last for many months, but typically improves over several weeks.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection, fluid collections, or bleeding can occur following any type of nasal surgery, and may require surgical drainage, opening the sutures, nasal packing or other intervention. More rarely tissue damage can occur. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. As always, our efforts are always directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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This surgical procedure is often requested by patients who feel that their upper lids are "heavy" and contain excess folds of skin. Occasionally, this skin can fall as low as the patient's eyelashes. This surgical procedure removes a pre-designed combination of tissue from the eyelids such as skin and fat in order to re-shape the tissues surrounding the eye. This can be combined with additional eyelid procedures that may be necessary depending on your circumstances. The typical upper lid surgery involves removing a curved ellipse-shaped portion of the upper eyelid skin and muscle, with possible removal of deeper fat according to your pre-designed surgical plan with Dr. Scott. This procedure aims to create a firmer upper eyelid contour. Lower-lid surgery is aimed at removing some similar tissues and may also include a procedure to tighten the lower lid.

What to expect: This procedure can often be performed using local anesthesia, so that you do not typically need a general anesthetic. Typical incisions remove a carefully measured amount of eyelid skin at a pre-determined distance from both the eyelashes and eyebrow. From these incisions, a small amount of muscle and/or fat may be removed depending on your particular wishes and circumstances.

The recovery: The eyelids will have some bruising and swelling that improves over several weeks. Your postoperative course is monitored in the clinic by Dr. Scott and the staff. Eyedrops and cold compresses can be used to improve your comfort.

Some of the unlikely complications: Infection or bleeding can occur following any type of eyelid surgery, and may require surgical drainage, opening the sutures, or other intervention. Dry eyes or irritated eyes can occur. Rare complications include eye damage. A more complete discussion of the risks, benefits, and alternatives will always be included at your visit. Our efforts are directed at minimizing the risk of these complications and optimizing your safety.

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