I appreciate your taking the time to view this presentation.
When I see patients for consultation regarding cosmetic
surgery procedures it helps that they know something
about the surgery that interests them. It allows me
to better explain specifically what can be done for
them. Thus, the information you may obtain now will
hopefully be helpful to both you and to me.
To start one must understand that there are differences
in how aging the face affects each individual's appearance.
And for this reason there is no specific surgery that
applies to all. In other words, a "cookie cutter"
facelift is not the answer to aging facial skin. For
example, the eyes and eyelids may be the primary visual
effect of aging yet patient may focus on the neck. To
lift the neck without operating the eyes would not produce
a more youthful or rested appearance. And for the face
there are several features that must be taken into consideration
and understood in order to tailor the surgical procedure
to obtain the best possible result. Sometimes a simple
task, sometimes more complex. As an example in the neck
there are folds of skin sagging near the middle they
must be pulled back with the bulk of the surgery behind
the ear. This surgery would usually, but not always,
produce a fold in front of the earlobe which must be
corrected with an incision (well hidden) in front of
the ear. Conversely, jowl sags and creases around the
mouth are lifted with incision's and surgery above and
in front of the ears, but this may create folds below
the earlobe which must be hidden behind the earlobe.
We usually see the separate problems, neck alone or
cheek alone, in the younger population. As we age and
sags continue the standard facelift which encompasses
both the cheek and the neck is necessary. The surgery
scars are hidden in the hair behind the ear, in the
crease behind the ear, and in front of the ear around
the tragus, the cartilage area in front of the ear canal.
But that is not all that is done or can be done. The
muscles of the neck are tightened in order to smooth
the large folds in the neck. The deep tissues in front
of the ears are also tightened. The fat deposits in
the neck and below the earlobe are removed during the
surgical procedure. If there are fine lines around lips
and chin lasering may be performed to smooth these areas.
Facelifts are performed under general anesthesia.
On occasion, if one has good health with absolutely
no high blood pressure problems, the anterior facelift
may be performed under intravenous sedation with local
anesthesia. The neck lift requires general anesthesia.
The anesthesia group I use are all board certified physicians
who work in the major hospitals in the Oklahoma City
area. The surgery is performed in my outpatient surgery
center which is a licensed outpatient hospital, certified
and inspected by the federal and state govemment medical
licensing boards. We have three major operating rooms
and eight bed recovery room. All care is given by experienced
personnel. Overnight hospitalization is not required,
however one must have a relative or friend to spend
the night with you at your home or at a local hotel.
My office can provide professional care for the evening
stay if necessary. I will see you the day after surgery
for the dressing change and to go over again the post-operative
care.
I say "again" because there will have been
considerable time spent with me and with my nurses prior
to surgery to learn what to expect. In fact you'll be
given a small book outlining each phase of your total
care.
As to recovery time, usually one can generally on
returning to work, facing the public, approximately
two weeks after surgery. Less invasive surgeries, such
as an anterior facelift alone, or neck aione, will result
in much faster recoveries. Of course as in all life
there are a few instances where swelling or bruising
may lengthen this time, but, fortunately, these instances
are quite uncommon The two-week time for recovery includes
the time for the laser of the lips and chin to heal,
albeit special makeup will be required to cover the
redness which lasts in the area of lasering for several
months. This makeup is easy to apply and as time progresses
one will use less and less of the a covering makeup.
But remember sunblock is necessary -- whether you have
this surgery are not-- sunblock use is a must.
If you desire further information please call my office.
My secretary or my nurses will be happy to help you
in any way.
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