Cosmetic Surgery - Plano, Texas - American Institute For Plastic Surgery

Facial Procedures

Our faces are the source of our physical expression. You have heard the saying, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” or you may hear, “I don’t feel my face matches how youthful I feel inside”. Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael can advise you on the many surgical and non-surgical methods to rejuvenate your face and restore what Mother Nature and age have taken away. The surgeons will address your concerns individually to help achieve a look that is more refreshed, youthful, and more importantly, “natural”.

FACIAL REJUVENATION

We approach the face with the concept of "facial rejuvenation", a term that embodies a multitude of procedures from which we can choose in order to achieve the facial changes we are striving for. These procedures may include face/neck lift, browlift, eyelid surgery, nasal (rhinoplasty) re-shaping, lip augmentation, lip lift, cheek augmentation, use of fillers for volumization of the face, and laser resurfacing of the facial skin.

FACE/NECK LIFT

As we age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of life can be seen in our faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line becomes loose and jowls may appear; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. Incisions are made along the natural line of the ear; curve behind the ear and into the scalp. The excess skin and fat are removed and underlying muscles are tightened. A facelift takes 1-3 hours and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Bruising may persist 2-3 weeks and swelling will last a few weeks and even for a few months, but subsides enough to go out in public by 7-14 days. Plan on waiting 2-3 months before being ready for photographs, e.g. weddings, family pictures. The final result may take up to 1 year.

EYELID SURGERY

Do people ask you if you are tired or angry? People of all ages can have problems with aging eye area. The upper eyes become heavy and the lower eyes develop bags and dark circles, leaving a hollow/sunken appearance. Eyelid surgery can be a useful procedure to correct these issues. Incisions are typically made in the creases of your upper eyelids and just below the lashes of your lower eyelids, making scars virtually invisible. After the underlying fat and excess skin are removed from the upper lids, the incisions are closed with fine sutures designed to leave nearly invisible scars. Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael also combine a tightening of the lower eyelid muscle to give additional improvement to the sunken appearance of the lower eyes. Eyelid surgery usually takes between 1-2 hours and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Stitches are removed in about one week and you can return to work in 7-10 days with make-up to help camouflage any residual bruising that may persist.

In addition to or in conjunction with eyelid surgery, fine lines and light wrinkles around the eyes can be improved with the CO2 laser procedure.

LASER RESURFACING

The procedure is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines, especially around the mouth and the eyes. However, it is also effective in treating facial scars or areas of uneven pigmentation. Laser resurfacing may be performed on the whole face or in specific regions. Laser resurfacing is performed using a beam of laser energy, which vaporizes the upper layers of damaged skin at specific and controlled levels of penetration.

However, laser resurfacing isn't for everyone. Patients with olive skin, brown skin or black skin may be at increased risk for pigmentation changes no matter what type of resurfacing method is recommended. Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael will evaluate your skin characteristics and make recommendations accordingly.

BROW LIFT

Have you heard, “The eyes are the window to your soul”, people of all ages can have problems with aging eye area. This can be related to eyelid skin as well as having a heavy brow. Brow lift can combat the effects of time, stress and heredity, while yielding a younger and more refreshed appearance.

The brow lift procedure is to help minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrow, hooding over eyes, and furrowed /frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the forehead skin. There are several different options for the location of incisions. Dr. Harris and Raphael will discuss your options with you at your consultation to determine what is best for you. Bruising and swelling is mild and should begin to disappear in a week or so. Initially the brow and top of the scalp will be numb, but this will be replaced by itching as nerves begin heal. Vigorous activity should be avoided for 2-3 weeks following surgery, walking is encouraged.

RHINOPLASTY

Did you know that your nose grows with age? Yes, it’s true! Becoming more bulbous, sometimes a hump becomes more prominent. Because every nose is different, Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael customize each rhinoplasty procedure to meet the individual needs and desires of each patient. After accessing the cartilage, tissue and bone structure of the nose, the surgeon will work meticulously to enhance the underlying framework to create a well-proportioned, symmetrical nose that will complement the surrounding features of the face. Having nasal surgery can offer patients greater confidence and self-esteem, as well as improved appearance.

Rhinoplasty surgery usually takes between 1-2 hours and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Stitches are removed in about one week and you can return to work in 7-10 days with make-up to help camouflage any residual bruising that may persist.

LIP AUGMENTATION

As we age, our lips lose collagen and fat just like the rest of our skin, and environmental factors such as sun exposure, repeated sipping, pursing and smoking make matters worse. A smooth set of lips is within your reach and a plump pout isn’t far behind thanks to quick product fixes and other procedures to increase the volume of the lips.

CHIN AND CHEEK IMPLANT SURGERY

The chin is one of the major defining features of the face. Having a good, strong jaw line and cheekbones can help in maintaining good facial aging. Minor adjustments to these areas can have a powerfully dramatic effect on the jaw line. Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael use facial implants to improve and enhance facial contours. Frequently, these implants will help provide a more harmonious balance to your face. They may help strengthen a jaw line or bring the chin or cheekbones into balance with the rest of the face.

There are many implants available, manufactured from a variety of materials. Dr. Harris and Dr. Raphael will discuss these options with you at your consultation. Facial implant surgery usually takes between 1-2 hours and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. You can return to work in 7-14 days with make-up to help camouflage any residual bruising that may persist.

OTOPLASTY

Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is usually done to set prominent ears back closer to the head or to reduce the size of large ears. The operation is done on children between the ages of four and 14. Ears are almost fully grown by age four, and the earlier the surgery, the less teasing and ridicule the child will have to endure. Ear surgery on adults is also possible, and there are generally no additional risks associated with ear surgery on an older patient. The otoplasty procedure usually takes 1-2 hours and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. You can return to work in 7 days. A headband is worn for many weeks following the procedure.

Prior to your surgery, you will be given specific instructions on how to care for your skin immediately following your laser treatment. We also recommend you maintain good skin care to assist with maintenance and to maximize the benefits of the procedure. It usually takes anywhere from a 30 min to 1 1/2 hours, depending on how large of an area is involved, on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.
Your new skin will usually remain bright pink to red in the weeks following the procedure. After about 1-2 weeks or so, most patients can safely apply makeup to conceal this temporary color change. However, some pinkness may remain for up to six months. It's important to protect the treated area from the sun until all the color has returned to normal. Using sun protection regularly will help to maintain your results and reduce the chance of any new sun damage to your skin.

LIP LIFT

A lip lift is designed for patients that have a greater distance between the base of their nose and their upper lip, either due to genetics or the effects of aging. A noticeable sign is a lessening of “dental show” where the upper lip is so low that it conceals the teeth to some extent when the patient smiles.

The lip lift procedure usually takes about 1 hour and is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Superficial skin between the bottom of the nostrils and a point above the upper lip (each patient will vary) is surgically removed. Once the flap of skin has been removed, the bottom portion of the open area, located just above the lip, will be sutured together with the upper portion of the open area, located just inside of the nostrils, thus “lifting” the upper lip. Stitches are removed in about one week and you can return to work in 7-10 days with make-up to help camouflage any residual bruising that may persist.