Dermabrasion is most often used to improve the look of facial skin left scarred by accidents or previous surgery, or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles, such as those around the mouth. It’s also sometimes used to remove the pre-cancerous growths called keratoses. Dermaplaning is commonly used to treat deep acne scars.
Breast Augmentation improves the size and appearance of the breasts. Women choose breast augmentation because they feel their breasts are too small, there is a discrepancy between the size of the breasts, or for further reconstruction following other breast surgery.
If you have unsightly sagging skin on the upper arms due to aging, genetics, or weight loss, you may be a candidate for upper arm lift. The procedure is intended to reduce or eliminate excess skin from the upper arms.
The procedure is usually done under general anesthesia. In order to remove the unwanted skin, an incision is required that runs from near the elbow into the armpit. The incision is placed in the most inconspicuous location (inner arm toward the back), but some scarring will always be visible.
After surgery, the upper arms are either wrapped or placed in an elastic sleeve to reduce swelling. Initial healing usually occurs in 10-14 days. Sutures are usually removed within the first 24 weeks. Swelling and bruising gradually disappear over 3-4 weeks. All swelling is gone in 3-6 months. The scars fade in 6-24 months depending on your skin. An additional procedure that may enhance the result is Liposuction of the upper arms.
This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment. The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.
While plastic surgeons encourage approaching liposuction from a state of good health, diet and exercise, they can effectively remove stubborn areas of fat that won’t respond in any other way. Through a very tiny incision, which can be concealed, a plastic surgeon will place a tube deep beneath the skin. With a combination of ultrasound energy and suction, a plastic surgeon can remove and sculpt fatty layers. The liposuction they perform is usually circumferential which will tailor the area front to back and avoid any irregularities. Afterwards a compression garment or girdle will help control swelling and provide comfort while the skin shrinks and the bruising resolves.
Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable hyaluronic acid (Restylane) or fat, can help fill in lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such as a facelift.
This procedure is done under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. This could be done with an incision within the hairline or endosmotically. Sutures are removed within 10 days. The bruising and swelling is apparent for less than 10 days. You may use camouflage makeup within a few days.
Rhinoplasty, most commonly referred to as a “nose job,” is a surgical procedure designed to create a natural-looking nose that balances with the rest of the face. It is a highly refined procedure and not an easy one to master. Deformed noses are often accompanied by breathing problems, and most rhinoplasty techniques can easily worsen these problems. It is best to trust your nose to a specialist who has many years of experience and judgment. Often rhinoplasty is accompanied by a chin implant to produce a more balanced and harmonious face, and on some occasions a chin implant alone will correct an apparent prominent nose. Recovery is rapid, discomfort rarely lasts more than one day, and almost everyone can return to normal social activity in six days. Contact Dr Splinter at plasticsurgeryinsandiego.com
Nose reshaping is intended to produce a more attractive nasal shape and/or a nose in better proportion to other facial features. Rhinoplasty is done on an outpatient basis under sedation, and local or general anesthesia. Your plastic surgeon will decide which of the following techniques should be used:
* STANDARD RHINOPLASTY: Incisions are made inside the nostrils. The nasal bones, cartilage, and soft tissues are reshaped to improve the external contour.
* OPEN RHINOPLASTY: Frequently used for difficult or larger noses. Involves one external incision across the columella (strut between the nostrils). Bones, cartilage, and soft tissues are reshaped under direct vision.
* TIP-PLASTY: If only the nasal tip is abnormal, it may be corrected with either a standard or external (open) approach.
* Large nostrils may be reduced through tiny incisions at the outer base of the nostrils with either type of rhinoplasty.
Ear surgery or otoplasty is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, so the operation is done on children between ages of four and fourteen. Ear surgery is also possible in adults with fewer risks. You have to be clear about what and how you want your ear to be when you talk to the doctor.
Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a “tummy tuck,” is a procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. This type of surgery can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. This procedure produces a permanent scar, which, depending on the extent of the original problem and the surgery required to correct it, can extend from hip to hip.
You may be a candidate for thighplasty if you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity of the thigh, hip, or buttock areas. You may also desire this procedure if your skin in the thigh area is saggy, has an orange peel, flabby and/or dimpled appearance. The procedure may also be indicated if your thigh appearance improves dramatically when you lift the lax skin. If you are self-conscious about your lower body appearance you may also want to look into this procedure. The procedure is intended to produce tighter, more attractive thigh and buttock skin with improved contours. It is also intended to decrease irregularities in skin surface.
Excess skin and fat around the eyelid area can negatively affect your appearance and, in extreme cases, impair vision. Removing excess fat and skin from the upper and lower eyelid area can create a more youthful and refreshed appearance. During the eyelid surgery, an incision is made in the crease of the eyelid and excess skin and fat are removed.
A facelift is a procedure which involves removing excess facial skin and tightening the underlying muscle layers in order to eliminate or make less obvious hanging folds and lines that appear as we age. Most commonly, this involves the skin of the neck, the area under the chin, cheeks and temporal regions. Oftentimes other procedures, such as blepharoplasty, brow lift or rhinoplasty may be performed at the same time.
Breast Augmentation is designed to create beautiful breasts, a true breast enhancement. Breast augmentation is performed using saline breast implants or silicone breast implants.
Many women choose to have breast augmentation for various reasons; the most common are listed below:
* Women who wish to have fuller breasts because their breasts are too small.
* Women who wish to correct a loss of breast volume after pregnancy.
* Women who wish to have perkier breasts and a better shape after pregnancy.
* Women who wish to correct asymmetry of the breasts.
* Women who wish to replace a previously placed breast implant.
Laser hair removal uses highly amplified light to penetrate hair follicles. The pigmentation within the hair absorbs the light and the hair is destroyed within that follicle. Because the procedure targets the pigmentation within the hair, the procedure may prove ineffective for hairs that are white or have no pigment. This procedure not only helps to restore the physical appearance of the patient, but also restores self-confidence and respect to the patient.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, non-surgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily smooth moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people from 18 to 65 years of age. It is the only treatment of its type approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Take a look at men and women who’ve had BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, and see for yourself!
One 10-minute treatment—a few tiny injections—and within days there’s a noticeable improvement in those persistent lines between the brows, which can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.
This surgery takes approximately one hour to perform. The technique used is typically an incision approximately 1 1/2 inches long in the crease behind the ear where the cartilage is exposed. The fold is re-created, if needed, and the cartilage is secured to the back of the head. Precise measurements are taken so both ears protrude from the side of the head approximately 12-15 mm after the otoplasty surgery. Both permanent and dissolvable sutures are used to help maintain the new shape of the ear. The dissolvable sutures fall out about a week after surgery.
The skin over the abdomen area can become stretched out after childbirth or weight loss. This skin does not retract to its original tightness and can be loose and saggy. The abdominal muscles also have stretched out and have not regained their normal position, giving the appearance of a “pot belly” no matter how many sit-ups a person does. An abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck” will correct both of these problems. The excess skin is removed and the muscles are tightened to firm up the abdomen and provide better contour.
Rhinoplasty can be used to make the nose more delicate, remove bumps, and to sculpt it. A California board certified plastic surgeon employs the newest techniques available, using grafts to augment the nose, as opposed to older techniques that remove cartilage and sometimes lead to a “ski jump” appearance. Every patient’s goals are different, so your surgeon will work with you using computer imaging to achieve your ideal.
Rhinoplasty scars are hidden within the nostrils. You may not see the final results of your surgery until swelling resolves, which may take several weeks.