Overview

As we get older, our skin progressively loses its elasticity; this loosening skin produces wrinkles and creates the skin folds of the face, showing the sign of aging. To gain more youthful facial appearance, many people find a facelift to be a good solution. Facelift is performed in order to tighten loose skin, remove deep creases around the mouth and nose, and eliminate excess fat of the neck that appears as a double chin. During a facelift procedure, the facial skin is surgically lifted and underlying muscles and connective tissue is tightened, some fat and excess skin is then removed, finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. Facelift generally takes around 2-3 hours depending on the extent of the surgery with 1 night admission. Typically, the candidate for facelift is all genders aged around 40-50 years old who notice their sign of aging.

Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Surgery

Blepharoplasty or commonly known as eyelid surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, it is performed to help you look younger; improve your eye appearance and also your eye vision. Blepharoplasty is usually done in an outpatient setting, under local anesthesia and sedation. Typically the procedure lasts approximately 1-2 hours; which you may choose either upper eyelids or lower eyelids or both at the same time.

Upper Blepharoplasty

As we gets older, we often notice that our eyes look smaller or look older because of droopy or puffy upper eyelids. Upper eyelid surgery is performed to remove an amount of excess skin and fat on upper eyelids. Upper eyelid surgery can be combined with other cosmetic surgeries such as with Brow lift or Face Lift.

Lower Blepharoplasty

Lower Eyelid Surgery is performed to reduce bagginess from lower eyelid that look tired or worn down. There are two common eyelid surgery approaches; the first one is surgeons make an external incision just below the eyelashes, the second one is an incision made in the inside of the eyelid which requires a well knowledge of eye structure.

Preparation

Prior to undergoing eyelid surgery, a medical evaluation including physical examination, an eye examination and certain lab tests is needed to determine your health condition. You need to stop smoking cigarettes and stop taking certain medications including warfarin, aspirin, and over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.

Risks

There are possible risks of Blepharoplasty including swelling and bruising, bleeding from incision lines, infection, scarring, dry or irritated eye, as well as sensitivity to bright light and difficulty to close the eye.

Post-Operative Care

Swelling and bruising after the procedure is normal and will decrease within three or four days, cold compresses can be placed on the eyes to reduce swelling as well as keeping your head elevated. Use the eye drop to help keep the eyes from drying out, wearing a dark sunglasses for a couple week to protect the eye irritation caused by sun and wind.

Scarless Double Eyelids Surgery

Nowadays, double eyelid surgery is becoming more popular; this kind of cosmetic surgery requires a great amount of careful precision from experienced surgeon to achieve a natural-looking result. Scarless technique for double eyelids surgery has been introduced, the advantage of this approach is patient can return to work the next day after the surgery since only 3 millimeters incision are made on the eyelid. The incisions are closed with fine sutures, leaving almost unnoticeable scars.

Scarless technique brings more natural appearance and can be done to improve both men and women with triple eyelids, deep eye socket, asymmetric eyelid crease and small eyes.

Preparation

Guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications will be given and explained to the patient. Normally, you need to stop smoking cigarettes two weeks before the surgery and also stop taking certain medications including warfarin, aspirin, and over-the-counter pain relievers. It is also a good idea to arrange someone to pick you up or drive you home after a procedure.

Risks

Unclear eyelid crease can occur especially if there is a lot of upper lid fat (puffy upper eyelid). New eyelid crease may soften until it seems invisible in the patient view. Infection and swelling are also frequent complications of double eyelid surgery

Post-Operative Care

Your eyelids may feel tight and sore but you can control the pain with medication prescribed by the surgeon. You will be advised on how to clean your eyes, keep your head elevated, as well as using cold compresses to reduce swelling and bruising. Do not wear contact lenses for about two weeks.

Rhinoplasty Augmentation

For aesthetic reason, rhinoplasty augmentation can be done to boost your confidence and help create the face you desire. It is a surgical procedure that uses the implant to add height to the nose bridge and give definition to the nose tip.

Silicone nasal implant is a widely used choice for surgical nose augmentation, different sizes and shapes are available and the most common shapes are L-Shape which can increase height to the nasal bridge and make the nose tip projected, while I-Shape is used to augment nasal bridge only. Normally, the silicone implant is pre-formed and allows the surgeon to trim and carve so that it matches the length and width of the patients nose, and the desired nose discussed. Silicone is also easy to be inserted into the nose and when the problem occurs, it is also not difficult to remove.

Cartilage graft can be chosen over synthetic nasal implants, ear cartilage may be considered for grafting material to elevate the bridge height. An incision is made behind the ear where it is not noticeable. This requires a separate procedure to harvest the cartilage from your ear extending the amount of time it takes to complete the surgery. Furthermore, if ear cartilage is not inserted into the nose properly, cartilage can shift and twist out of shape. Cartilage graft may also become visible in patients who have thin and transparent skin.

To decide which implant is appropriate, you should discuss with your surgeon; they will consider and choose the best approach to help you achieve the best possible rhinoplasty result.

Preparation

Stop taking aspirin and NSAIDS drugs at least 2 weeks before the surgery. Do not smoke or drink alcohol since it can prolong healing and increase the chance of complications after the surgery.

Risks

When you undergo the surgical procedure, it is important to understand the risk and side effects that may happen as a result of the surgery. Infection, nosebleeds, bruising, swelling, implant displacement and pressure on surrounding structures are the risks associated with rhinoplasty. To avoid and minimize the complications, follow the surgeons instruction and choose a highly qualified rhinoplasty specialist.

Post-operative Care

Keep the head raised while sleeping to reduce swelling. Avoid bumping the nose, blowing your nose, bending over or heavy lifting. On the second day following surgery, you may have a shower but please ensure to keep the tape and splint on your nose dry at all times. After one week, you should be able to resume normal daily activities but still need to avoid strenuous physical activities and exercise.

Chin Implant

If you have a small, a receding chin, a weak jaw or lack of facial contour, chin implant can be the answer to help you feel more confident and happier with your look. Plastic surgeons use the implant to augment the size and shape of the chin to achieve a more harmonious balance of your face. Chin implant can be done as an isolated procedure or in conjunction with face lift, neck lift and frequently with the nose surgery (rhinoplasty). People with big nose may be a suitable candidate for chin implant, since a weak chin causes nose to be big; in this case the nose becomes balance with the rest of the face from a chin implant rather than rhinoplasty. Chin implant can be performed on both male and female patients. The procedure is minimally invasive, done under local anesthesia.

Silicone implants are the most common type of implant as they have a lower risk and yield a satisfactory result. During the procedure, the chin implant will be inserted within a chin pocket over the front of the jawbone, and then it will be carved and trimmed to fit each patient.

Chin enhancement is also done in a non-surgical approach using injectable facial filler to increase the length, width, or projection of the chin. It takes only 10-15 minutes with no anesthesia and patient will experience a little pain, less swelling and redness. There is also less risk of movement or infection. Some patients prefer filler injection for chin enhancement because they are not ready to undergo the open surgery and recovery time is relatively shorter, patient usually can go back to work the next day.

Preparation

Prior to undergoing chin implant surgery, your medical history will be reviewed to ensure that your overall health is good. Supplements, and certain vitamins should be avoided as well as aspirin, ibuprofen, other over the counter non-steroidal inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). You will be advised to refrain from smoking and alcohol for 2 weeks before the surgery since they can cause unforeseen complications and affect the healing.

Risks

Chin Implant should be performed by a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon to avoid the complications; however, some possible risks probably arise including infection, swelling, and shift in implant position, and side effect of anesthesia.

Post-operative care

Swelling, bruising and discomfort usually occur following surgery and this can be controlled with prescriptive pain medication and cold compress (wash cloths soaked in ice water), do not directly apply ice to the area. Eat soft food, avoid sleeping on your side or face down for the first week after the surgery to prevent implant displacement. Routines activities can be done including, shower, bath and hair wash, but no vigorous exercise or contact sports should be attempts for 2-3 weeks, or until it is approved by the physician.

Alar Reduction

The ideal nose seems to be a triangle shape with symmetrical nostrils; that is, the nostrils are in proportion with the rest of the nose and overall facial features. If the size of nostrils is large or wide, alar reduction may be considered to correct the width. This surgery is also known as Alarplasty. During the surgery, small incisions are made either on the outside or inside of the nose in the alar where the nose connects with your cheeks. After that, some specific amount of tissue on both sides is removed to tighten the span of wide nostril, and the incision is sutured to finish the procedure.

Alar Reduction is normally done using local anesthesia and because there is no cutting of bone and cartilage; hence, the recovery time is faster compared to rhinoplasty.

Preparation

Physical examination will be conducted to determine patient general health. The suitable candidate should be non-smokers with good health. As same with rhinoplasty and other cosmetic procedures, patient is required to avoid aspirin and brufen-containing medication, smoking and drinking alcohol for two weeks prior to surgery to get rid of the chance of post-operative bleeding and other complications.

Risks

Alar reduction poses some risks including infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Structural damage to the nose and excessive reduction can also occur to the patients.

Post-operative care

After your alar reduction surgery, you will experience nasal swelling, congestion and pain which can be managed by cold compress, pain medications prescribed by the physician and sleep with your head elevated. You should also avoid rubbing your nose, blowing your nose, bending over or lifting heavy things for at least one week.

Augmentation Rhinoplasty and Alar Reduction

Augmentation Rhinoplasty is performed to make your nasal bridge more prominent or your tip more projected and this procedure can be done in conjunction with alar reduction to reduce the width of the nostrils and achieve a more harmonious state with the rest of the facial composition. Augmentation Rhinoplasty uses implant such as silicone and cartilage to improve nose appearance, while alar reduction does not require any materials.

The best way to find out if both procedures are the right choice is to consult with the cosmetic surgeon and discuss your desired nose result. If two procedures are advised to be done simultaneously, surgeons will insert the implant first before narrowing the wide nostrils to prevent over-corrects the excessive alar flare.

Preparation

Do and dont is usually advised on the day of the consultation when you decides to perform the surgery. Usually, stop taking aspirin and NSAIDS drugs for at least 2 weeks before the surgery. Smoking and drinking alcohol is prohibited because it increases the risk of bleeding and can negative affect the healing process.

Risks

All cosmetic surgeries involve certain risks and for nose surgery, patient may experience bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, numbness of the nose, breathing difficulties and unfavorable scarring.

Post-operative care

Take medications as directed by the physician, you should not blow your nose for two weeks, For the first 48 hours, sleep with an extra pillows to keep your head elevated and use cold compress over the eyes to minimize swelling. Avoid extreme physical activity, no bending, lifting, or straining. It may take a few weeks for the swelling to subside. Rest both physically and mentally is the significant factor for healing process.

Nose Implant Removal

Nasal implants are commonly used for cosmetic purposes to build up the nasal bridge, project and refine the tip of the nose; nonetheless, it may produce some risks which mostly involve infection and movement of the nasal implant. In the event of infection, the implant begins protruding or almost protruding through the skin and the skin becomes thin. In such case, taking antibiotics may not be enough; the implant should be removed by the revision surgery. In addition, if your nose is red, painful with a fever and headache, this may also be a sign of infection.

Nose implant removal is also performed when the nose is deviated after the surgery, causing an unnatural look or unsatisfying result. During the removal, the original implant is removed and the new implant that can fit perfectly for ones nose is replaced, for example, if the nose bridge is too high, the wider implant will be used instead of the original one. Nasal implant removal is a highly specialized procedure; consequently, it is important that you select a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Preparation

It is important not to take any medications that thin the blood, aspirin and NSAIDS drugs prior to the surgery for 2 weeks. Smoking and Drinking alcohol is not allowed. You can normally start smoking a couple of weeks after surgery.

Risks

Like all cosmetic plastic surgery, nose implant removal carries certain risks including, bleeding, nasal blockage, breathing difficulty, numbness, swelling and excessive scarring. Your surgeon should explain all the relevant risks to you before having the surgery.

Post-operative care

Apply a cold compress and elevate your head by sleeping on 2 pillows to reduce the swelling. Blowing your nose should be avoided for two weeks at least, after two weeks, swelling should subside. Aside from avoiding lifting heavy objects, you should also avoid aerobic exercise or any contact sports around 2-3 weeks.

Facelift Surgery

As we get older, our skin progressively loses its elasticity; this loosening skin produces wrinkles and creates the skin folds of the face, showing the sign of aging. To gain more youthful facial appearance, many people find a facelift to be a good solution. Facelift is performed in order to tighten loose skin, remove deep creases around the mouth and nose, and eliminate excess fat of the neck that appears as a double chin. During a facelift procedure, the facial skin is surgically lifted and underlying muscles and connective tissue is tightened, some fat and excess skin is then removed, finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. Facelift generally takes around 2-3 hours depending on the extent of the surgery with 1 night admission. Typically, the candidate for facelift is all genders aged around 40-50 years old who notice their sign of aging.

Full Facelift involves the surgical procedure of forehead, jaw, check and neck lift, the entire facial regions will be lifted to reduce wrinkling and sagging skin.

Mid Facelift focuses on the lift of central face, in the cheekbone area. For patient who is bothered by sagging of the cheeks and the surrounding area probably choose mid facelifts as an alternative to full facelift. Its goal is to restore the cheek area which is not different from full facelifts but the recovery is faster.

Neck Lift is the surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat deposits from the neck area to improve visible sign of ageing. Neck lift can also be done along with mid facelift, but some people may choose to perform neck lift only because they are still satisfied with the upper facial appearance.

Preparation

Your medical history will be reviewed and some medicines like aspirin, blood thinners like ibuprofen, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements cannot be taken. Do not drink alcohol and smoke for two weeks prior to facelift surgery. Wash your hair thoroughly the day before the surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Some people may be given additional instructions which are based on his or her medical history.

Risk of Facelift Surgery

The risks found are infection, swelling and bruising, facial nerve injury, numbness in your cheeks, scalp and neck, and adverse reaction to anesthesia. You may also experience temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions which will start to recover in approximately 3 months.

Post-operative care

Following the surgery, you should have much rest, keep your activities at minimum, use pillows to elevate your head while sleeping, sleep with your back of your head, and take prescribed medications to control the pain and discomfort as advised by the physician. Avoid bending over and lifting heavy objects, avoid hitting or bumping your face, and other strenuous activities to prevent the complications or bleeding.

Unilateral and Bilateral Dimple Creation Surgery

A natural dimple is formed when there is a small defect in the cheek called the buccinator muscle. Nevertheless, the dimples can be created with a minimally invasive surgery to simulate a natural dimple. The patient can have unilateral or bilateral dimples placed on the desired area; such as, cheeks or chin.

Preparation

The doctor will advise you stop taking aspirin or other NSAIDs at least 1 weeks before the procedure.

Procedure

To create a dimple, a small suture is passed through the inside of the cheek and catches the undersurface of the skin. Once the suture is tied, a natural-looking dimple is created in the overlying skin. The dissolvable stitches are used to close the inside cheek and the patient is able to continue their normal activities after the procedure. The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia.

Post-operative Care

The surgeon will prescribe antibiotics for a few days after the surgery is performed as pain is mild and tolerable. There will be swelling in the cheek after the surgery. Cold packs can be applied to reduce swelling, but it will generally go away within a few days. The healing period may vary depending on the patients condition.

Risks

If the stitch breaks during the healing period, the dimple may result in being shallow or disappear and may need a revision surgery.

Unilateral and Bilateral Otoplasty

Otoplasty is also referred as ear plastic surgery to correct the ears involving reshaping the cartilage into a less protruding shape. This procedure is performed to remodel one or both ears.

Preparation

The surgeon will assess the patients ears and discuss the proper treatment option, which may perform under local anesthesia if it is adult or under general anesthesia for children. Patients undergoing the surgery under general anesthesia will be required to refrain from eating or drinking after midnight the night before surgery. The last meal prior to the surgery should be light.

Procedure

Otoplasty is the surgical technique to correct the protruding ears, which are pinned back closer to the head. Incisions for otoplasty are performed on the back surface of the ear. This will help create a more common look to the patients.

Post-operative care

After the surgery, a firm head dressing is applied and required to wear the bandage at least 1 week.

The patient will be instructed to wear a soft headband covering the ears in order to hold them in their proper position. Based on the patients healthcare needs, the patient may be advised to wear the headband at night.

Besides daily care, the patient is not allowed to perform the following activities:

• No strenuous or vigorous exercise at least 2 weeks
• Do not shampoo the hair approximately 1 week after surgery
• Try not to sleep on your side during recovery

Risks

The patients may experience pain and swelling after surgery. Hence, the painkiller will be prescribed if necessary. In some cases, antibiotic may be needed as a preventive measure against infection. However, the patients are recommended to contact the doctor immediately if they experience any complications.

Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that can add fullness and plumpness to lips. There are various options available to enhance the size and shape of the lips. The surgeon will assess the patients face and recommend the appropriate selection. These options include fat injection and filler injection, which can improve the plumpness and volume of the lips.

Procedure

Nowadays, injectable filler is the most commonly used options of lip augmentation. Fillers made from natural or synthetic biocompatible material act as a fat substitute to improve the shape, structure and volume of the lip. This option is the most recommended method that produces the desired result. The duration of filler injection outcome depends on the type of filler used. Lip injections are generally performed as a day-case basis. The surgeon will use a topical numbing cream or dental block prior to the procedure.

Fat Injection is the method using fat from the patients own body can be removed with liposuction from another area of the body and injected into the lips. Injection may need multiple injections until the desired result is achieved.

Post-operative care

The patient may experience a significant amount of swelling after the procedure and may take approximately 2 weeks to subside. Ice packs can be applied to reduce the swelling and bruising operative site. A soft diet that requires little chewing is recommended for a few days.

Risks

After the procedure, swelling, bruising, and redness at the site of injection may occur and last for a few days. Since the injection is performed as an out-patient basis. If you experience or develop a fever, you are suggested to contact the doctor immediately.

Cheek Implant

The natural aging process and sun damage cause flatter cheeks and decreased facial volume. As a result, cheek implant is a cosmetic method to add volume and highlight the patients bone structure by accentuating the cheekbones. Alternative types of cheek implants involving Silicone Implants, Fast Transfer, and Filler are available.

Preparation

In case of cheek implant made of silicone, the procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. The patient must stop taking aspirin products under doctor supervision and avoid herbal supplements at least 7 days prior to the surgery. In addition, the patient will be needed to carry out lab tests before the procedure.

The doctor will instruct the patient to quit smoking 7 days prior to the surgery as cigarette products impair the bodys ability to heal.

Procedure

• Fat Transfer is the natural option for cheek implant with the use of the patients own fat. It is harvested from the patients body and is injected into the area along the cheekbone. This method can be performed under local anesthesia. The result will last for a few years as the body reabsorbs the fat.
• Fillers are injected to the cheek area for adding volume and giving a more youthful appearance.
• Silicone implants are prosthetics that can be used to enlarge the cheek area. The implant materials are available in different shapes. The doctor will evaluate the patient in order to determine the size of silicone for balancing the proportion of the face.

The surgeon makes a small incision in the mouth, placed above the gum line. The implant is inserted in a pocket, which is created above the bony surface of the cheek.

Post-operative care

To avoid the risk of damage to the suture line, the patient is recommended to use antiseptic mouthwash instead of brushing. Food that is soft in texture and easy to chew is required in the first week after surgery.

Risks

The patient may have mild soreness and swelling in the surgical area. The cheeks may feel tight due to the increased volume from the silicone and the face will feel numb or have half full feeling from the incision. However, the sensibility in the surgical site gradually returns. Infection from the implants may arise. In that case, the silicone may need to be removed. To minimize the infection, the patient should avoid contact to the implant area at least 4 weeks.

Buttock Implant

Buttock implant is a surgical procedure to the use of silicone implant to gain a firmer and defined look. The procedure is similar to breast augmentation and is required to be admitted as an inpatient for 2 nights.

Preparation

The patient is asked to quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to the surgery as tobacco products can impair and delay healing. In addition, all aspirin containing products, medications containing blood thinners, and herbal supplements must be stopped 2 weeks before the procedure.

Procedure

During the buttock implant surgery, two modest incisions are performed in the crease of the buttocks where the scars will be hidden. The implants will be placed in a space where is created underneath the skin and muscle. The implants are located under or within the tissue in order to conceal the outline of the implant. Deep sutures within underlying tissues help support and form the newly shaped contours.

Similar to breast augmentation, there are 2 types of prostheses, which are round or oval implants. Therefore, the doctor will discuss the appropriate option that suit the patient best as the implants exist in different shapes, volumes and surfaces.

Post-operative care

The doctor will instruct the patient to avoid applying direct pressure on the buttock area, including sitting, for at least 2 weeks. The patients are allowed to stand, lie on their tummy or lie on their side. Significant swelling will arise in the first few days which make the buttocks feel tighter. The pain medications may be prescribed.

There might be numbness of the skin in the surgical site after the surgery, which will return to normal but it may last a few months after surgery.

Risks

The potential risk is the development of infections or abscesses which can lead to severe illnesses. To avoid infection, it is necessary to keep the surgical site clean. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics to prevent an infection. If severe infection occurs, the patient needs to contact the surgeon at one as it can trigger other complications.

Furthermore, the patient may experience the possibility of excess bleeding, which could require additional surgeries to stop the bleeding.