Are you a candidate for Computer Imaging?

Computer imaging is an important tool used to define more precisely the patient’s needs and goals and the surgeon’s abilities and limitations, and is a highly effective method of communication between patients and their surgeon. A surgeon can show a patient an image of a reasonable outcome of a cosmetic procedure. It also gives a patient the opportunity to show a doctor what they like and dislike about their current features or a proposed outcome. By using the computer, it can be demonstrated to the patient what can – and cannot – be done surgically, and in some cases show how cosmetic surgery may not be in the patient’s best interest.

Most importantly, computer video imaging involves the patient in planning the surgery, an aspect all too frequently missing from many cosmetic surgery preoperative consultations.

Surgeries available:

Forehead or Brow Lift

The brow lift or "forehead lift" is the procedure that raises the eyebrows usually with several techniques to rejuvenate the eyebrows and rid one of a furrowed or angry look. Common techniques are as follows:

• Endoscopic Technique: with 3-6 incisions (averaging at 4) behind the hairline; often used in younger individuals who do not need much rejuvenation.
• Endoscopic Technique with Suture Suspension: This procedure is the same, but uses internal, permanent suture material to suspend the muscles, either by sewing through the muscle or suspending it from a surgical "barb".
• A Full Coronal Technique: a full, long incision is utilized from the temple on one side to the other.
• Subcutaneous Brow Lift Technique: this technique is done in front of the hair line.
• Temporal Brow Lift: two incisions are made above the temple to lift the brows and forehead, laterally.

Are You a Candidate for a Forehead or Brow Lift?
If the above describes you and you have the desire to rid yourself of sagging, angry-looking brows or superficial wrinkles on the forehead – you may be a good candidate for a brow lift. If there is excessive sagging skin all over the face and below the brow, other rejuvenative procedures such as a Face Lift, Platysmaplasty (neck lift) or Blepharoplasty may be beneficial.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery)

Blepharoplasty (aka eyelid surgery, eyelid lift, eyelid tuck) is a procedure to correct the sagging or "drooping' of the eyelids and the removal of excess fat, skin and muscle or even the "herniated" fat in the eye area. As we get older, most individuals start to see a difference in their eye area - more disappear underneath the extra fatty area under the brow bone. This procedure can give a more youthful appearance to an otherwise older, more tired looking face. It is a procedure than should be sought to be performed by a surgeon who is well skilled with its technique as experienced with numerous facial types and eye types.

Blepharoplasty will not rid you of wrinkles around the eye area. This includes crow's feet or other such wrinkles in the peri-orbital area. This procedure will not eliminate dark circles or lift your eyebrows. If a lifting effect of the eyebrows is what you are seeking, a Brow lift may better suit you.

This procedure can enhance your appearance and give your eye area a more "awake" look and can even remedy certain individual's vision problems if they are caused by the excess skin blocking their vision. If the latter is the case, usually insurance may cover the operation.

Are You a Candidate for Blepharoplasty?
Most individuals seek out Blepharoplasty in their mid thirties or later. However, if saggy or fatty eyelids are hereditary you may wish to go undergo this procedure at an earlier age. Only a qualified plastic surgeon can determine if you are a good candidate for Blepharoplasty.

Rhytidectomy (Face Lift)

Also known as Rhytidoplasty or Face Lift, this operation is designed to reduce sagging and wrinkling in the lower face and neck. It does not correct problems around the eyelids, at the corners of the mouth (unless a mid-face lift is used, but there still is no ideal nasolabial lift) or the creases at the lips. This operation may be chosen for one of two reasons: to help prevent the advancement of aging, i.e. to help relatively young individuals (40 and younger) to appear to stay young, or it may assist one who is already wrinkled or whose skin sags to appear younger and fresher. The amount of improvement depends upon the degree of wrinkling and sagging already present. If minimal, then changes may be subtle but the aging process is markedly retarded. If the wrinkling and sagging is great, then the results can be very dramatic.

Are You A Candidate For Rhytidectomy?
If you are in good physical and emotional/mental health, have realistic expectations, no serious health threats and have the desire to rid yourself of loose sagging skin of the face and neck, you may be a good candidate for Rhytidectomy. An ideal patient would have elastic skin and great underlying bone structure.

Facial Liposuction

Facial liposuction, sub-mentum or sub-mental liposuction and even technically facial suction lipectomy is the removal of fat from under the chin from either an intra oral incision or an extra-oral (transdermal) incision under the chin, or from an incision below the jaw or at the jaw angle to remove jawline fat. This procedure can significantly reduce the appearance of excess facial fat. Sometimes these complaints are called a "double-chin" or "jowls". This is often a result of aging, obesity, or heredity.

Some patients even request or may benefit from both sub-mentum liposuction and a chin implant to complete the look. The removal of this excess fat pocket can significantly define a lower facial structure. Some patients may even have their "jowl" fat removed along their jawline.

Are You A Candidate For Facial Liposuction?
If you find that your under chin area and/or jawline retains excess pockets of fat or a "pudge" and you do not appreciate this look, you may wish to consider this procedure. It is a minimally invasive procedure but it will cause discomfort and swelling and you will have to take it easy for a proper result so consider all of the above before deciding if this may be a viable option.

Otoplasty (Ear surgery)

Otoplasty is surgery designed to pin the ears closer to the head or lessen the appearance of larger than average ears. It is most commonly performed on children and teens. However, many young adults seek Otoplasty as well.

Some Otoplasties involve removing a sliver of cartilage from the ear and suturing the cartilage back together allowing it to fuse together either closer to the head or of a smaller size.

Ear pinning is not the only complaint that can be resolved by Otoplasty. This procedure can correct ears that have congenital deformities as well as those caused by trauma or bad habits of "ear pulling". Many toddlers tend to pull on their ears during the teething stage and this habit may remain throughout their younger years well after their teeth have emerged. Ear pulling or congenital deformities can leave children with stretched earlobes (which can be corrected with a slight snip of the excess skin) as well as the uncurling of the natural folds and the folding over of the top of the ear.

Are You a Candidate for Otoplasty?
If you are a physically healthy and emotionally stable individual you are more than likely a candidate for Otoplasty. There really is no restriction on having an Otoplasty. As long as you are healthy and are not prone to Keloid, hypertrophic scarring or even hyper- or hypopigmentation - you should be fine. Be sure to discuss any health concerns with Dr. Hecht beforehand.

Septoplasty (Nasal surgery)

A Septoplasty is the surgical procedure to straighten a deviated, "twisted", "bent" or "crooked" septum to improve breathing, function, sinus infections, comfort and possibly, cosmetic.

Many individuals go through their entire lives never knowing that their difficulty breathing through the nose could be corrected through a Septoplasty. Many people breathe very loudly and many people may think they are "stuffed up" but they , in fact, suffer from a deviated septum and when their tissues naturally swell the side with the extreme deviation is even more restricted.

Are You A Candidate For Septoplasty?
If you are having difficulty breathing, either constantly or sporadically, one sided or both, interchangeable or not, you should seek out an exam by a qualified Otolaryngologist; ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Specialist. There are very few people in the world with a perfectly straight septum. But usually when the bend or deviation is great enough it can cause problems. And even if you are diagnosed with a deviated septum, it may only be a posterior (rear or back) deviation in which the front half is fine but the back half is '"crooked". Not only can a deviated septum wreak havoc on your ability to breathe through your nose, if severe enough it could contribute to repeat sinus infections. If you are just having sinus surgery but the tools and instruments are having difficulty accessing the sinus cavities it is quite possible that you will need a Septoplasty as well.

Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery)

Rhinoplasty is the surgery of the nose to either thin, turn up, augment, shorten, elongate or otherwise bring balance to the face through its alteration and may include It also and more than likely will include Tiplasty to refine and define the tip of the nose as well. Tiplasty is normally the surgery of the nose involving only the cartilages of the nose. Septoplasty, to restore or otherwise introduce functionality as far as ease of breathing to the individual. All three of these can be performed together, but for cosmetic reasons only many patients seek the full rhinoplasty which include the alteration of the bone and cartilage of the nose and not the septoplasty.

Are you a Candidate For Rhinoplasty?
If you are in great physical and emotional health as well as have reasonable expectations, elastic skin and no previous existing medical conditions or bone disorders, are not or have not been on Accutane® for the last 6 months (cause excessive facial bone growth) you may be a good candidate for Rhinoplasty. Only a qualified plastic surgeon can determine this after speaking to you as well as going over your medical history, examining your facial structure and skin. You must realize that no doctor can perform miracles but a highly skilled surgeon can transform what you do have into a more balanced look altogether.

Chin Augmentation

Chin augmentation is the use of synthetics, biologicals or even chin/jaw bone advancement (called Genioplasty; ) to augment, or make the mentum ( the lower portion of the face lying below the lower lip and including the prominence of the lower jaw -- called also chin) bone structure of the face more prominent. It can give balance to an otherwise less defined face or further augment an already existent chin structure.

It also may be that the face needs Mandibular (jaw) augmentation or Malar (cheek) augmentation to balance out the features in addition to chin augmentation. It is also very common to have chin augmentation in conjunction with rhinoplasty. Dr. Hecht can help determine your needs by examining your facial structure and photographs.

Are You A Candidate For Chin Augmentation?
If the above pertains to you and you wish to augment your area of compliant, you may be a good candidate for chin augmentation. Only a qualified plastic surgeon can determine this after speaking to you as well as going over your medical history, examining your facial structure and skin. You must realize that no doctor can perform miracles but a highly skilled surgeon can transform what you do have into a more balanced look altogether.

Platysmaplasty (Neck Lift)

A Neck Lift, or platysmaplasty and even submental platysmaplasty, is a surgery designed to reduce the loose look of sagging skin in the neck area and under the jaw line. Some patients who complain of having a fleshy neck, "jowls", plastysma or neck "banding", or a "turkey waddle" can benefit from this procedure. Many times patients choose to have a neck lift with a face lift procedure. You must realize that the neck lift or face lift procedure is not designed to rejuvenate the area above the brow or around the eyes. If this is what you seek a brow (forehead) lift or blepharoplasty may benefit you. These four procedures can be performed in conjunction with one another for a complete transformation. You may even wish to consider laser resurfacing, if you are a candidate, for increased wrinkle ablation and facial rejuvenation.

Are You a Candidate for Platysmaplasty?
If the above describes you and you have the desire to rid yourself of loose sagging skin around the neck, you may be a good candidate for platysmaplasty (neck lift).

 

What Is Laser Resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing (or laser peel, laser rejuvenation, laser surgery), is the act of using a carbon dioxide (CO2), erbium, pulse dye or other laser to remove wrinkles, discolorations, age spots, and sun damaged skin or stimulate your body's fibroblasts to "grow" collagen to treat the wrinkle from within. The laser is passed over the treatment area to eradicate wrinkles around the eyes and mouth or anywhere you have unsightly lines, hyperpigmentation or blemishes. Lasers are an effective way to remove those superficial lines that make you appear aged. Plus, laser resurfacing is a considered a safer, less invasive procedure say than deep TCA peels or Dermabrasion. However, laser resurfacing is not for everyone.

Are You a Candidate For Laser Resurfacing?
Not everyone is a candidate for laser resurfacing. If you are prone to keloids, hyper or hypo pigmentation or do not react well to burns or excessive scarring due to minor cuts and abrasion, laser resurfacing is not a good idea. The laser is a type of burn as it literally evaporates the top layers of skin to reveal younger, tighter skin beneath. If you scar badly when you are burned, laser resurfacing may not be for you. If you have ethnicity (like Greek, Italian or African American, etc.) in your biological family, you may be prone to hyper or hypo pigmentation resulting from the procedure. An ideal patient would be of white European descent with elastic, non-oily skin.