Facial Plastic Surgery

Many cosmetic surgeries exist to enhance the appearance of the face, neck and ears. Common types of facial plastic surgery include lip, chin and cheek enhancements; eyelid, eyebrow, and face lifts; and rhinoplasties (or "nose jobs.")

Face Lifts

A face lift, also known as a "rhytidectomy," is a plastic surgery procedure that is designed to address sagging skin on the face and neck. During a face lift, excess fat and loose skin is removed and muscles are tightened. The remaining skin is re-draped over the face.

Face lifts are usually done on people over age 40. The procedure uses local or general anesthesia and patients can generally return home directly after the procedure.

Side effects include bruising, swelling and tenderness of the skin for a few weeks after having a face lift.

Chin Augmentation

A chin augmentation (also called a "genioplasty" or "mentoplasty") is often preformed in conjunction with a rhinoplasty to enhance a person's profile. The chin can either be reduced in height or augmented. Chin surgery is often preformed by a surgeon that specializes in oral and maxillofacial work.
 
Tenderness, swelling and limitations in chewing ability are expected in the first few weeks following a chin augmentation.

Facial Fat

Facial fat can be grafted and altered to fill in facial wrinkles and lines and alter the appearance of the face in general.

Facial fat procedures can alter almost any facial type, including:

  • Asymmetrical faces
  • Bottom-heavy faces
  • Facial flatness
  • Fat or chubby faces
  • Long faces
  • Thin or gaunt faces.

Facial fat procedures use a person�s own facial fat, which is removed or redistributed as necessary. The procedure is minimally invasive, but side effects and recovery depend on the extent of the procedure and how much alteration occurs to the facial fat.

Resources

A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (2007). Plastic surgery risks. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www.aboardcertifiedplasticsurgeonresource.com/plastic_surgery/risks.html.
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). Cosmetic surgery: Procedures at a glance. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www.plastic
surgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/CosmeticPlasticSurgery.cfm?CFID=88926282&CFTOKEN=65265380.
 
Beverly Hills Body (n.d.). Fat grafting and facial reshaping. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www.beverlyhillsbody.com/
beforeafter/fatgraft01.html.
 
Facial Plastic Surgery (2007). Surgery of the chin. Retrieved October 23, 2007, from http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/mentoplasty.
htm.