What is Rhytidectomy?

October 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

People grow old. It’s a fact that we will all have to deal with, eventually. Aging does a lot to our body and most of these involve drastic changes in our appearance. Our facial skin will begin revealing signs of aging, wrinkling little by little until it reaches the jawline.

Most of the contributing factors to the aging of our face include the environment, sun exposure, lifestyle, and the pull of gravity.

Aging contributes a lot to a person’s self-esteem. As a matter of fact, the older you look, the more your self-confidence starts dwindling. Thanks to modern medical science and dermatology, however, avenues for keeping the signs of aging away have been created. One such procedure is rhytidectomy.

Rhytidectomy?

Probably one of the oldest facial surgeries ever known to plastic surgery is the face lift, although this procedure is technically called the rhytidectomy surgery. This is a type of cosmetic surgery operation that involves the removal of facial skin, either tightening or loosening the tissues beneath, and fixing the skin on the face and the neck of the patient. Basically, it simply aims to remove the signs of aging from the face, such as wrinkles.

Through this procedure, millions of individuals have been able to bring back youth to their faces, helping them look closer to the way they did several years before. This is the best procedure that can be used to correct many facial blemishes and flaws, plus premature aging.

The Process

Rhytidectomy surgery is a tedious process. The surgeon initially lifts your skin by making an incision the hairline in the temple, circling around the ear, and going back to the original point. The skin is then lifted outward as the surgeon shifts the position, and tightens muscles underneath, as well as the connective tissue, all the while removing fat and excess skin.

Beard lines are considered for men, but all the same, incisions are positioned throughout the skin’s natural creases. The skin is closed with the use of fine metal clips or sutures after trimming the skin. When all is complete, bandages will be applied to protect the incisions made.

Is Rhytidectomy for You?

The most basic thing that you need to think about before considering this surgery is whether or not you really need to go through with it to enjoy your life even more. You should be able to understand the limitations of rhytidectomy, and your composure if the results are not exactly what you wished for.

The objective of this treatment really is to improve the appearance of your skin. A lot of factors such as ethnicity, skin type, skin elasticity, body healing mechanics, bone structure, and attitude are considered prior to this surgery, and can become points of concern during your consultation with your plastic surgeon.

Although it can be performed on patients in their thirties, rhytidectomy is most successful among patients with advanced years, since the likelihood of wrinkles are bigger then. It must be remembered that this will not stop aging; it can only help your face look healthy and more youthful.

Filed Under Face Lift, Facial Procedures Tagged With rhytidectomy, rhytidectomy surgery

Cosmetic Dentistry

August 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Traditional dentistry deals with oral hygiene and treatment, and the diagnosis for oral disease. Going to the dentist regularly has been a very essential part of every person’s health maintenance. Thanks to new technological innovations, along with the human desire to feel good and better about himself, dentistry started to involve itself not just in dental health maintenance, but also in the enhancement of physical appearance. And thus, recent innovations in the field of dentistry eventually paved the way for the birth of the cosmetic dentistry niche.

Cosmetic dentistry is a term coined to simplify the conglomerated discipline of cosmetic and dental surgery. In other words, this is a practice that uses dental work to give better appearance and utility to an individual’s set of teeth. It concentrates on improving a person’s teeth, smile and mouth. As differed from traditional dentistry that deals with treatments that are restorative and are really needed, this field focuses on elective or desired services. Wearing veneers, braces, and whitening of teeth are some examples of the workings of cosmetic dentistry.

The beginnings of cosmetic dentistry only concerned itself with the improvement of the smile by whitening teeth, putting braces to straighten misaligned teeth, and replacing lost teeth with veneers. In the event that all the teeth are gone, an artificial veneer is made. Eventually, the scope of cosmetic dentistry moved away from the smile; the teeth, after all, weren’t just concerned with the smile alone. The whole set also worked as supporters and shell of the face.

Replacing teeth with veneers cannot replace the support that the face gets from teeth. Fortunately, current technology has now realized that the importance of the teeth’s proper placement means a better, more pleasant smile. This was a developmental milestone in the development of the dental facelift.

The dental face lift can also be called the face lift dentistry. It is a restorative and bite reconstructive treatment that is intended to actually improve facial appearance through the restoration of the teeth. This took off from a study that proposed that the wearing out, loosening, and weakening of the facial muscles might be caused by the loss of teeth. This works on the premise that the teeth and the bones in the face support facial tissues and muscles. Other issues which did not usually bother many dental practitioners such as TMJ problems, thin lips, facial wrinkles and a short lower face, are now being addressed by this surgery.

Face lift dentistry’s most special aspect is the geometrical, functional and three-dimensional analysis of the face. The whole face, not just the smile, is treated by this specialization. Through the manipulation of certain teeth arrangements, the face is rejuvenated.

Short dark yellow teeth placed with old fillings and crowns which are inappropriate exaggerates our age. Within two visits, the old fillings and crowns would be replaced via dental face lift. Bite reconstruction, on the other hand, can restore facial height and support.

Normally, this procedure has an easy recovery period. There are no stitches and facial surgery, enabling the patient to get back to work the day after the operation, provided that the dentist is efficient, patient and concerned.

Filed Under Facial Procedures Tagged With cosmetic dentistry, dental face lift, veneers

Nose Surgery

July 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Many people are self-conscious with their nose. The shape of their nose maybe is a result of heredity or may have been changed due to an injury or prior surgery. From the time nose surgery became popular, thousands of people have considered this surgery.

Nose surgery, also referred to as rhinoplasty or nose job, is one of the five cosmetics plastic surgery performed every year. it is a surgery that enhances the appearance and proportion of one’s nose adding facial harmony and self confidence to an individual. Other than for cosmetic reasons, this surgery may alleviate breathing problems and correct deformities from birth or injury.

Rhinoplasty can modify many things, including nose size, width at the bridge, large or upturned nostrils, nasal asymmetry and deviation, drooping nasal tip, as well as visible humps on the bridge of the nose.

Nose surgery has the same risks as any other surgery. Risks include infection, poor wound healing, hematoma, and anesthesia as well as rupture of small surface vessels, scarring, skin contour irregularities, and many others

Before deciding to have this procedure, these are important factors to discuss with the surgeon. This is done to find out of this kind of surgery is suited for the patient. This includes medical history, physical examination such as laboratory tests to know what changes need to be done, photographs for reference, and patient’s expectations.

In preparation for this procedure, surgeons give a list of instructions to be followed strictly.  In general, no eating or drinking after midnight on the evening before is discouraged as well as smoking cessation, drinking alcohol, and discontinuing of certain medications.

Types of Nose Surgery

There are two major types of nose surgery.  One is open nose surgery.  This is for major nose reshaping in which incisions are made in the vertical strip of skin separating the nostrils.  The other major type is closed nose surgery which is for minor reshaping, incisions are made within the nose.  These two primary nose surgeries can take one to three hours in surgery.

In addition to closed and open surgeries, there are also other types of nose surgeries.  One is the revision nose surgery which is performed to correct problems after a previous nose surgery and this surgery is more difficult.  This can be done either open or closed procedure and the procedure can take much longer.  The next type is the filler nose surgery.  Injectable fillers are used to fill depressions, smooth out sharp angles, or change the angle of the tip of the nose.  This can take only 15 minutes, but the results are not permanent.

It is strictly advisable to follow physician’s instructions to achieve the success of the surgery.  Doctors will give specific instructions on proper care such as how to care for the surgical site, medications, and follow up consultation, to name a few.

The patient may not be able to breathe through the nose because of nasal packing for the first day.  Soreness can be experienced as well as nausea and pain but can be controlled with pain medicine.  Applying cold compress can be done to reduce swelling.  Nose blowing is strictly prohibited.

The key to nose surgery is patience.  The results are satisfying.  Even minor changes can have pleasing results, although complete results are not seen immediately and it is fully evident up to a year.  Only 85% of swelling may have gone down by a month and the remaining swelling may take up to one year.

Cost of Nose Surgery

Cost wise, nose surgery varies, such as surgeon’s experience and geographic location.  It can also include surgeon’s fee, hospital or facility costs, anesthesia, medications, and laboratory tests.  The average cost for nose surgery is between $3000 to $8000 which comprises surgical fee, anesthesia, and facility fee.  The secondary nose surgery costs three times as much because of its complexity.  Financing plans are also being offered by surgeons.  Like other cosmetic surgery, it is not covered by insurance.  On the other hand, insurance can cover this if it is done as a reconstructive surgery, for instance, to correct or improve major deformity or injury and breathing problems.

Filed Under Facial Procedures, Nose Job Tagged With Nose Job, nose surgeries, nose surgery, nose surgery cost, types of nose surgery

What Is Permanent Cosmetics?

May 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Since time immemorial, make up has been a part of human civilization. From the time of Cleopatra, the very first recognized most beautiful woman, to modern cosmopolitan females, makeup has traversed the history of man. In the same manner, tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the skin) have also spanned the millennia. Though it only became fashionable in the 1930′s, this cosmetic technique of employing tattoos to enhance a female’s beauty, permanent makeup, dates back to the start of the 20th century.

Permanent makeup is also called micropigmentation, and also known as permanent cosmetics. It is usually employed to improve or sometimes create facial features such as eyebrows, eye lashes, lips, even delicate areas like the nipples and areola of a woman’s breast. Permanent makeup saves a woman from applying her makeup everyday. Though the majority who undergo micropigmentation do it for cosmetic reasons, there are also practical reasons why people opt for permanent makeup.

Cosmetic Reasons for Micropigmentation

As a person grows older, his or her once beautiful facial features deteriorate. Eyebrows become thinner, eyelashes fall off, lips change into dull, lifeless color. Sometimes, these result from traumatic accidents, too. Micropigmentation can restore – and even enhance – these features back to normal.

Permanent makeup is also used to have natural-looking beauty features such as rosy cheeks, natural-looking colorful, luscious lips, and more.

Practical Reasons for Micropigmentation

One of the most common reasons why an individual, a woman in particular, would resort to permanent makeup is because permanent cosmetics gives her an alternative to applying makeup every day. This extreme can also be a welcome solution if her skin is very sensitive and is easily gets irritated by makeup. With micropigmentation, she no longer needs to paint her face daily, thus, saving her time, effort and money. Permanent makeup never wears off and and doesn’t need to be removed before going to bed each night.

An individual may undergo micropigmentation for whatever reason, but one thing is for sure – normal, ordinary makeup cannot provide the enhancing effects that permanent makeup can.

How is it Done?

The process of micropigmentation is very similar to tattooing. A cosmetic surgeon injects color in a layer between the skin called dermis and into the surface of the skin. Small, inert pigments are also inserted below the epidermis to prevent allergic reaction. Once the desired color is achieved, the process is complete and the results can be seen right after.

The procedure is relatively quick, easy, and almost painless. There may be some mild discomfort because of swelling, but it’s no more painful than plucking one’s eyebrows. An anesthetic can be used to numb any discomfort during the procedure.

Filed Under Facial Procedures, Permanent Cosmetics Tagged With micropigmentation, Permanent Cosmetics, permanent makeup

Face Lift

March 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cosmetic surgery has been well known to provide a youthful appearance to men and women alike. One of the most renowned cosmetic procedures is the face lift.

Face lift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that is used to treat and reduce any signs of skin related aging effects like wrinkles. The procedure involves the removal of facial skin folds around the face, cheek and jaws area which include tightening the facial muscle. Other procedures may be included like eye surgery, liposuction, brow lift, cheek implants or lip augmentation. These are used together with face lift surgery so as to obtain more desirable results.

Before undergoing face lift surgery the patient will be asked by the surgeon to provide medical history, physical examination and blood testing. It is done as to prevent any complications during and even after the surgery.

The face lift procedure includes the use of anesthesia. While the patient is anesthetized the surgeon then makes an incision near the ear which extends up to the hairline, this method helps in minimizing the visibility of the scars after the surgery. After the incision the skin is then separated from the underlying tissues with the use of a scalpel. Then fats and excess skin are removed depending on the facial contours and the judgment of the surgeon. After the necessary procedures are done, the incisions are then closed with sutures or staples. Bandages are then placed to prevent unnecessary and/or excess movement and to prevent any infections from occurring.

Filed Under Face Lift Tagged With Cosmetic Surgery, Face Lift, face lift procedure, face lift surgery, rhytidectomy