Procedures

Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons specialize in surgery of the face, head, and neck. They perform a variety of facial plastic surgery procedures both for cosmetic reasons (to improve appearance) and reconstruction (to restore form and function).

Facial Rejuvenation

Facial rejuvenation today encompasses the broadest range of options for patients seeking to look fresher, more attractive, and more youthful. Office-based treatments include facial injectable fillers to help with volume loss or thin lips, neuromodulators (like Botox) to help with wrinkles, photofacials and various lasers to help with sun damage, and a host of other treatments that can be done oftentimes with little to no downtime. Surgical options to rejuvenate the face have become much more advanced now in the skilled hands of a trained facial plastic surgeon whose knowledge of the facial and neck anatomy can provide wonderful enhancement of your appearance in a safe manner with often less downtime than in the past. Surgical treatments for facial enhancement include facelift, brow lift, blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery), cheek and chin implants, rhinoplasty, hair transplant, and many other treatments. Ask your facial plastic surgeon what options he or she recommends for you based on your desires, recovery time, and preference for surgical and non-surgical therapies.

Facial Rejuvenation
 

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a plastic surgery procedure performed on the nose. A Cosmetic Rhinoplasty seeks to improve the overall appearance and balance of the nose. Many different techniques exist to achieve these goals, which are often highly individualized to each specific patient. Reconstructive nasal surgery is often geared towards improving the form and function of the nose. Reconstructive procedures, such as a Septoplasty or Deviated Nasal Correction can typically be combined with a cosmetic procedure if medically indicated.

Rhinoplasty
 

Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgery is performed to restore the form and function of the face, head and neck. Trauma, tumors, scars, infection or congenital anomalies such as cleft lip or cleft palate can affect the appearance and normal functioning of surrounding structures such as the eye, ear, nose, mouth, cheek, scalp and neck. Reconstructive surgery is highly individualized and may require several stages to obtain the most optimal result. Restoring the appearance and function through reconstructive surgery can improve your self-esteem and confidence.

Reconstructive Surgery
 

Definitions of Procedures

Click below to view brief definitions

Terms & Definitions

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

Blepharoplasty (blef-a-roe-plasty) is surgery of the eyelids where fat and excess skin, bags, pouches, wrinkles in the eye area are removed to make the eyes look less tired. Recovery time is approximately one week.

More

Facial Implants

A facial implant is a procedure in which synthetic materials, such as silicone, are used to provide cosmetic definition to the face, and typically performed on a patient's chin, cheeks, and/or jaw.

More

Genioplasty (Chin Augmentation)

Genioplasty (jeen-e-o-plasty) or mentoplasty (men-to-plasty) is surgery to augment a small chin or reduce a prominent chin. Recovery time is about one week.

More

Hair Replacement

Hair replacement surgery involves the surgical movement of “permanent” hair along with its roots to an area of bald or balding skin.

More

Injectables & Wrinkle Treatments

Injectable fillers are substances that are used by your physician to replace lost volume in certain areas of your face. Injectable wrinkle treatments are an effective, temporary treatment to minimize facial lines.

More

Laser Surgery

Lasers are medical devices which produce high-energy, focused beams of intense, “single-colored” light and heat which have been found – through ongoing research and extensive clinical experience – to selectively interact, in very useful ways, upon various tissues within the skin and body.

More

Lip Augmentation

Lip enhancement (also knows as lip augmentation) use absorbable fillers to obtain a fuller, more youthful lip. Surgical options are also available for those interested in a more permanent solution.

More

Otoplasty (Cosmetic Ear Surgery)

Otoplasty (oh-toe-plasty) is surgery to “pin back” the ears by reshaping the cartilage. Recovery time is about one week.

More

Rhinoplasty (Nasal Surgery)

Rhinoplasty (rye -no-plasty) is surgery of the nose–where cartilage and bone are reshaped and reconstructed and excess bone or cartilage may be removed. Recovery time is approximately one week.

More

Rhytidectomy (Facelift Surgery)

A rhytidectomy (rit-id-ek-tomy) is surgery to remove excess skinand tighten muscles in the neck and lower part of the face. Recovery time is approximately two weeks.

More

Scar Revision

Surgical techniques designed to make scars as smooth and invisible as possible.

More

Skin Resurfacing & Peels

Chemical peels and dermabrasion work by removing layers of skin. The skin that grows back is often smoother, with fewer wrinkles and less discoloration.

More

Medical content written by the AAFPRS Multimedia Committee
Medical content reviewed/approved by Dr. Samuel M. Lam and Dr. Albert J. Fox