Our Neck is often one of the first areas to show early signs of aging. Tissue changes include loose, wrinkled or hanging skin. Hereditary conditions cause excess fat in the neck creating  a double chin. The combination of tissue decent, fat accumulation and exposure to the elements can have a profound impact on neck contour and skin quality. When the skin becomes slack under the chin, it can create an unattractive “waddle” or “turkey” neck. Occasionally the muscles of the neck become more prominent and sometimes appear as vertical cords. Loose skin and fat deposits can also produce jowls or jowl line contour deformities.

In order to correct these problems, surgical intervention is required. Frequently a full face lift is most effective. My patients are shown that the face and neck are in continuity and in order to achieve facial harmony, neck and facial tissues must be tightened together.

However depending on the degree of neck and facial skin aging, selected patients can undergo isolated neck lifts. In these patients, hair line incisions are made behind the ear which is unnoticeable. Some patients with minor degree of neck loosening can undergo temporal or short scar lifts. Essential to these procedures are the patient’s desires and expectations. Patients with neck fullness can undergo liposuction alone which allows for secondary skin contraction and tightening.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pm and is filed under Facelifts.

The nose is a very prominent part of our face. A nose that is long, short, narrow or wide can be considered attractive. The most important aspect in judging the aesthetics of a nose is whether it fits one’s face in a complimentary way. A nose that is in harmony with other facial features blends in.

Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) can be done for cosmetic or reconstructive (breathing issues or trauma) purposes. Insurance will cover breathing impairment or a traumatic nasal deformity. Not uncommonly, patients request a combination of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

The patient must be extremely be extremely diligent in finding a nose surgeon. The skill of the plastic surgeon is the key factor in achieving the type of result that each patient desires. I many instances, the best results are those that are subtle. A surgeon who has performed several hundred rhinoplasties is best suited to perform this surgery. Even with extensive experience, revisional nasal surgery may be needed. The number of re-operations tend to be markedly higher in the untrained hands.

Dr. Wald

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 at 9:40 am and is filed under Rhinoplasty.