Facial Aesthetic Surgery

If you have decided that you wish to alter your look by means of facial aesthetic surgery, commonly called plastic surgery, it is important that you be well educated on the topic. Changing your appearance via surgery is something you need to be both physically and emotionally ready for. You should not expect facial aesthetic surgery to completely change the way you feel about yourself.

Purpose

• Facial aesthetic surgery is possibly the most popular form of plastic surgery. It is used to modify the way the face looks and includes procedures done on the nose, eyes and ears, and the neck. Some may use facial aesthetic surgery with the goal of achieving the ideal face, while others use certain procedures to maintain their current youthful appearance, or to restore their previous looks.

Types

• Some types of facial aesthetic surgery include facelifts and necklifts, nose shaping, technically called rhinoplasty, browlifts and forehead lifts and eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty. Other common kinds of facial plastic surgery are chin and jaw implants, chin liposuction and tightening, cheek implants and a midface lift. Some procedures can be combined and done during the same, while others must be done at separate times. Of the top five cosmetic surgeries done on woman, two are facial: rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty.

Benefits

• Facelifts remove excess facial skin, sculpts the jaw and neckline. It is often done in conjunction with blepharoplasty and chin liposuction. Using laser resurfacing or BOTOX injections can enhance the effects of facelifts. Blepharoplasty removes excess fat and skin from the eyelids, making the eyes appear more youthful. Rhinoplasty can fix a wide nose, a crooked nose, or modify the tip of the nose or shape of the nostril. Forehead lifts remove wrinkles from the forehead and pull up the eyebrows.

Disadvantages

• All aesthetic facial surgery has its risk. Facelifts, while helping you to look younger, do not stop the aging process. Multiple surgeries may be needed to achieve the desired look and scars and deformities are sometimes visible. There are risks associated with all types of facial aesthetic surgery, but they include rupture in the small surface vessels of the face, scarring, skin discolorations, persistent pain and irregularities in the contour of the skin. To learn the risks of certain types of facial cosmetic surgeries, see the website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. An explanation of each procedure includes a list of possible risks.

Preparation

• Before your surgery your doctor will give you a packet full of information regarding getting ready for your surgery. It will include medications that you should avoid taking before facial aesthetic surgery, such as aspirin. You will also want to get your house ready to become your recovery center. You'll want the house clean, stocked with food that is easy to prepare. Be sure to have any medications and dressings you will need on hand as well. Consult with a medical esthetician in advance; she can help you prepare your skin for surgery and teach you how to care for your skin as it is healing.

Expert Insight

• It is important to choose a surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; one who has frequently performed the procedure you wish done. Training and experience enables a surgeon to perform facial aesthetic surgery with minimal complications. You can ask your primary care physician for advice or referrals, or call The Plastic Surgery Information Service at 1-888-475-2784 for a list of certified surgeons in your area.