Facial Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery has exploded in popularity over the past decade. More and more people, particularly the baby boomers (born from 1946 to 1964), are trying to combat the ravages of aging on the body’s external appearance. Of particular importance is the facial area as this is the most visible part of the body (in western civilization) and gives away one’s age with little difficulty. Looking young is not only important to an individual’s self esteem, but can affect their ability to secure employment in today’s world that favors and respects youth over the wisdom of age.

Doctors that perform cosmetic surgery come from various medical specialties. Each specialty has made valuable contributions to what is now essentially a separate specialty of medicine in and of itself, namely Cosmetic Surgery.

When seeking cosmetic surgery it can be an arduous task to find the right doctor to perform the procedure. In making this decision, many factors must be taken into account such as the doctor’s training and years of experience. However, the most important factor is the human bond one makes with their doctor. For after all, it is this doctor that will be there with you during the entire process from initial consultation to final recovery.

Let’s talk a bit about facial cosmetic surgery. Surgeries range from noninvasive office procedures such as filler injections to eliminate facial lines to more complicated invasive procedures in the operating suite, such as full face and neck lifts, to fully rejuvenate the sagging facial skin. In most patients combinations of several procedures are necessary over time to obtain the desired goals. An expansive array of procedures is available to choose from and virtually every aspect of facial rejuvenation can be addressed. Importantly today’s modern techniques also have a great safety history and few complications occur in the right hands. Dr. Cartwright at Medical Eye Associates has both extensive training in facial cosmetic surgery and 20 years experience having performed thousands of successful procedures.

As a typical example, a patient may seek consultation for drooping and puffy eyelids and have additional concern regarding the lines around the eyes (crowfeet). This patient would require an eyelid lift (ptosis repair), removal of excess skin and fat (blepharoplasty) performed simultaneously and subsequent Botox injection followed by laser skin resurfacing or a chemical peel to address the unwanted aging lines. In some instances insurance may help with upper lid surgery if impairment of the upper visual field can be demonstrated as due to the sagging eyelids. The blepharoplasty / ptosis repair would be performed in an ambulatory surgical center under a mild intravenous sedation with a surgical time of about one hour. Postoperatively the patient would be bruised and swollen for one to two weeks and restricted from bending or lifting over ten pounds for one week. Botox injection is a brief in office procedure without anesthesia and no recovery. The effect is seen in a few days. One week after the Botox injection the skin resurfacing could be completed again in office, with no sedation or perhaps oral valium. Procedure time is around one half hour. Recovery is about one to two weeks with avoidance of direct sunlight the most significant restriction as the skin heals.

Many other facial procedures are offered at Medical Eye Associates which can be discussed in detail at a cosmetic surgery consultation.