Face lift surgery remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures performed throughout the world today. Here is a basic outline of how the procedure is performed, assuming you have a qualified and board-certified surgeon working on your face.

Anesthesia is administered

This is always the first step on any surgical procedure because no incisions can be made when a patient is fully awake. When it comes to rhytidectomy, some doctors would prefer to have general anesthesia used, while others would prefer combining local anesthesia, IV sedation and mild sedatives. Your anesthetist and surgeon would be in a good position to advice on the best type of anesthesia to use based on your condition as an individual.

Incisions are made

The next step that follows is making of the incisions which basically start from the temple area just behind the hairline, towards the front part of the ear, all round the ear lobe before going back up to the scalp where the first incision was made. Your surgeon would take utmost care when making the incisions so that they would fall under a natural skin fold so they will not be visible.

Actual process of repositioning and tightening the muscles and connective tissue

Once the skin has been slit open, the surgeon will pull out the skin so as to gain direct access to underlying connective tissues and muscles. The surgeon would reposition the muscles and tauten the connective tissues. Once they are re-positioned, they would be secured in place with the use of tissue glue and/or sutures. It is at this point that excess fat can be extracted or repositioned as well to allow the muscles and connective tissues fall in their new positions perfectly.

Trimming excess skin

The moment the underlying tissues are tightened, there would be loose skin left hanging, meaning it would also need to be trimmed off. Again, utmost care would need to be taken so that the facial features would not be altered in the process.

Closing of incisions

With the use of sterilized staples, fine sutures and tissue glue, your surgeon would then be able to close all incisions for the healing process to start immediately.

Dressing

After incisions are closed, the incisions would be fully draped in sterilized bandages which should remain in place for a period of 1-2 days to facilitate healing and reduce pain and swelling. In case a drainage tube was put in place to drain off excess fluid, it would also be removed alongside the bandages in a day or two after the procedure. The sutures would remain for a week or so before they are removed as well. Rhytidectomy New York is a procedure that takes at least 1-3 hours if there are no other procedures being performed together.

The best thing with these proprietary non surgical face lift procedures is the fact that although their long term effects are still to be verified, they have proven very effective in treating the face and other parts of the body. They have particularly shown their efficacy on the jaw line and neck areas as well as on sagging skin on the upper arm, abdomen area, thighs, and butt. If you have a problem with cellulite, these two technologies have also shown some promising results in reducing the appearance of the same.

Unlike with the use of other non invasive face lift techniques such as chemical peels or the laser technology, the procedures do not peel off the skin’s top layer, meaning there is a considerably low risk of skin discoloration and pigmentation issues, hence is ideal even for patients with dark skin tones.

The second notable benefits of this non-surgical face lift new York proprietary technology is the obvious fact that it is much more affordable than a surgical face lift procedure and because it is a non-invasive procedure in nature with no cutting, there is usually no downtime and no need to take months off from work. You might however decide to take a few days off unless you are ready to explain the paleness and redness on your face to every Tom, Dick and Harry that you meet.

When it comes to pain management during recovery, it would be no issue because the procedure would only use a local anesthesia meaning basic OTC pain killers would help ease the pain. Some people even use no pain killers at all. Generally, most non surgical face lift procedures incorporate a sort-of skin cooling technique. Note however that some people may react with excessive redness or swelling, and sometimes a short-lived skin blanching episode immediately after treatment. Serious risks and complications, although very rare include blistering, bumps, skin depression, permanent skin pigmentation etc.

The main difference between these two techniques for rejuvenating the skin is the mechanism by which the underlying layers of skin are heated. While Titan would employ infrared energy, thermage relies on radiofrequency energy to heat the dermis. Note that these are relatively new technologies in the Face lift Industry, and no conclusive studies have been done on their effectiveness and safety. However, if the current statistics are anything to go by, then they are very promising non-surgical facelift techniques in New York and throughout the world.

According to the leading national organization of certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery, finding the right plastic surgeon often always guarantee a success rate of 98%. Remember so much can go wrong in the operating room but by working with the most reputable plastic surgeon in New York, you would be guaranteed of the best possible treatment and approach to the problem at hand. Here are some steps as suggested by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) to help you make an informed decision.

Verify their board-certification

All New York Plastic Surgeons are supposed to have a board-certification that indicates their training and specialty in surgical procedures. A board certification is also an indicator of experience and reputation because before a surgeon or doctor is certified by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, they are always expected to have completed a specified no. of hours practicing in real working environments in addition to completing their coursework.

Verify the candidates’ ASAPS Membership

Getting certified is one thing and being experienced in plastic surgery is another thing altogether. You just don’t end your search when you confirm that a plastic surgeon is board certified. Take the campaign a step further and check their ASAPS membership to know of their level of experience during their practice as plastic surgeons.

Verify the facility or hospital accreditation

Surgicenters, surgeon’s office, and hospitals are all places where plastic surgery can be performed. An accredited surgeon’s office or office-based operating facility maintains the same safety measures as those of a hospital setting. Be advised though that not all office-based operating facilities are accredited. Ensure there is documentation to show accreditation of the facility where your doctor plans to take you for the procedure. The good thing is that all ASAPs members are expected to operate in state-licensed facilities so choosing one would be a guarantee that their facility if choice is accredited.

Verify hospital privileges

By the same token, you want to work with a plastic surgeon that has operating privileges in recognized hospitals in New York. This way, should anything go wrong at the surgicentre or the office-based facility, you can easily be transferred for more specialized attention and care.

 Know how much the surgeon is charging

Knowing how much a plastic surgeon charges for their services could also be a good indicator of an ideal plastic surgeon. Be wary of surgeons who charge way above or way below the national averages. Although the cost of plastic surgery would vary a great deal depending on different variables, a doctor who has an outrageous figure may not be as qualified or as competent as you would want them to be.

 What are the major risks associated with the surgery?

It is a well known fact that every surgical procedure carries with it some degree of risks and complications, some which are avoidable and others which are just common to all procedures. The most serious surgery risks include infection, excess blood loss and adverse reaction to the anesthesia used, all which is life threatening to say the least.

Some other risks and complications are unique to the patient and to the procedure being performed. Also worth mentioning is the fact that some surgical procedures tend to carry higher risks than others although with the latest technological advancements experienced in the medical field continue to make risks and complications of surgery less. Ensure your plastic surgeon discusses with you the risks and risk of complications of the procedure that you want to undergo.

What is your risk rate with the surgical procedure that I want?

While surgeons are bound by professional codes and ethics not to violate the privacy of their patients, a surgeon should be able to give you an overview of the number of complications they have had with the surgery that you are considering, and the severity of the complications. Your surgeon can present the information as a percentage or a definite count of the all the cases handled. A good doctor should be more than willing to discuss this critical information with you for you to be able to make a wise decision for your own safety and health.

What is the fee breakdown for the procedure that I want?

Most people do not realize but there is always a lot more that goes into plastic surgery fee than simply the surgeon’s fee. This is probably because of the fact that the surgeon’s fees always take the lion’s share of the total plastic surgery fee. There is anesthesia fee, facility fee, medical and supplies fee, lab tests fee etc, all which can affect the bottom line. A good long island plastic surgeon should be in a position to give you a written breakdown of the total cost of the surgery so you will not face any surprises later on when all would be said and done.

There are so many questions that you can ask a plastic surgeon when considering plastic surgery, but the above are just pointers to the right direction. How the surgeon answers the above questions should shed some light on their competency, experience, and confidence levels in handling such cases.

There are several techniques that are used today during a nose reshaping surgical procedure. They include:-

Open Rhinoplasty – this is the most common technique used when rhinoplasty is mentioned. During the procedure, the surgeon makes incisions along the vertical strips of the skin that separates the nostrils i.e. the columella. The skin, alongside the underlying soft tissue would then be lifted to allow reshaping of the nose from the inside, after which the incisions would be closed.

Closed Rhinoplasty – this is a technique that is often employed for minor nose jobs. During the procedure, the surgeon would make incisions inside the nose and the skin would be separated from the cartilage and bone. The exposed cartilage/born can then be augmented, reshaped, rearranged, or even removed before the incisions are closed.

Revision Rhinoplasty – as the name may suggest, this is a secondary procedure that is often performed to make corrections after a previous rhinoplasty procedure. The revision procedure can be a minor one, just requiring some touch-up, or it could be a major one, which means the revision procedure may be risky, complicated, and sometimes even costly.

Filler Rhinoplasty – this is what is mostly referred to as non-surgical rhinoplasty. It is where injectable fillers such as restylane and Juverderm are used to fill the depressions, create balance, and correct other underlying imperfections on the nose. Note that the results are often not permanent.

Ethnic rhinoplasty – last but not least is a surgical procedure that is growing in huge popularity today more than ever before. This is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures among Asians, African-Americans, and Hispanic-Americans. It is mostly taken by people who want to ingeniously enhance their ethnicity in the subtle of ways possible without obscuring it altogether.

Having said that, it is important to mention that all surgeries have their share of risks and complications worth mentioning, and rhinoplasty in New York City is no exception. As always, the risks are significantly minimized when working with a qualified and board-certified plastic surgeon and of course by following the before – and – after instructions and recommendations.

Notable risks include breathing problems because of nasal obstruction

-          Bleeding

-          Infection

-          Anesthesia reactions

-          Sinusitis

-          Implant or grant migration in case they are used during the procedure

-          Dissatisfaction with the results

-          Septal perforation where a tiny hole remains on the septum which ends up making a whistle when singing or during speech

-          Lung and heart complications

-          Deep Vein Thrombosis

-          Death

The need to work with a board-certified and reputable Rhinoplasty surgeon can never be overemphasized enough so as to reduce the occurrence of the above-mentioned risks and complications.

While most face lift procedures in Manhattan have had very high success rates, which is attributed to experienced and reputable plastic surgeons, it is always advisable to have realistic expectations of the outcome of the procedure, which should be discussed with the plastic surgeon before the surgery. Keep in mind though that a plastic surgeon is a doctor specialized in cosmetic surgery, and not a magician to transform you into all that you envision.

Here are some of the things you should expect after the procedure. Keep in mind though that people react differently to treatment so these are just an overview.

-          You should expect the situation to worsen before you can look better, which is a perfectly normal phase of healing. Expect some bit of swelling and bruising as well which would fade with time as you start to see the results of the surgery.

-          It is advisable that you keep your head at an elevated position during the first 3 or so days so as to speed up the recovery process and reduce swelling. Never underestimate the importance of elevating your head after a face lift surgery; it normally reduces the recovery period.

-          You should also expect to have a better part of your head covered in bandages immediately after surgery. Although the bandages may feel a little bit tight in the beginning, they would loosen up over time as they are supposed to exert pressure on the incisions so as to reduce swelling and bruising. The bandages would be removed within 24-48 hours after surgery.

-          Once the bandages are removed, you can take a shower although you should be careful not to infect the incisions.

-          It is also normal to feel tight and numb on the affected areas. The tightness normally disappears after one or two months once the swelling subsides. The feelings of numbness on the other hand may persist for a few more months and would improve gradually as you heal.

-          It is highly recommended that you monitor the incisions for infection signs, excessive swelling, redness, drainage or pus, excessive tightness, increased warmth or excessive pain. Any fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit may be a sign of infection so urgent medical attention should be sought.

-          In order to have the best possible results after the surgery, you should also avoid certain things such as smoking which can interfere with the healing process. Nicotine found in cigarettes can significantly reduce the rate at which blood flows to the skin, which may lead to skin loss.

-          Facelift Manhattan after-care is also about avoiding lifting or pushing of heavy equipment, especially within the first month of surgery. Heavy lifting sometimes leads to hematoma, a condition which often calls for another surgical intervention.

On average, the latest news on the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, suggests that the cost of the surgeon’s fee for rhinoplasty is $4,314, excluding anesthesia, facility, medications and supplies used, and pre-operative tests done. Of course when these are added it will increase the total amount of money you will end up paying. Anesthesia fees typically ranges between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the reputation of the anesthesiologist and procedure performed. Facility fee on the other hand would range between $1,000 and $1,500 depending on the facility used i.e. whether it is the doctor’s office or a hospital.

It is also worth mentioning that if you have more than one procedure scheduled to be done at once, the cost may reduce in overall than if you were to take each procedure individually, because most surgeons would combine the costs into one. In other words, rather than pay for rhinoplasty, eye lift surgery, and face lift separately and they can all be performed at once, the fees would be combined to come up with a single, affordable and reasonable figure. Besides, you will only need to pay for anesthesia and facility fee once.

Also worth mentioning is the relationship between rhinoplasty and health insurance. Unless the procedure is done for medical reasons, and your surgeon proves to your health insurance service provider beyond any reasonable doubt that it is purely for medical reasons, you will have to foot the full rhinoplasty cost in New York on your own.

Medical tourism

Having said that, it is worth mentioning medical tourism i.e. the process of migrating from one state or country to another in search of affordable cosmetic surgery. Medical tourism has become a very popular and attractive choice for most people today, especially when cost savings are involved. However, there are many factors that would need to be put into consideration. Basically, unless you are familiar with where you are going or are visiting a known referral that has a proven track record for success, it would be pointless to go abroad or to a different state to have rhinoplasty done.

The reason for this is because of the many costs and fees involved, such as accommodation, travel etc, and with the costs significantly increasing when there are complications involved. While most countries today have achieved great milestones in terms of medical standards and plastic surgery techniques and equipment, it means the chances of getting satisfying results are often very high. Note however that some countries are yet to set strict measures for medical cleanliness and training, thus increasing the risk of complications.

Take the time to factor in all costs involved when thinking of medical tourism; hotel stays, plane tickets, follow-up visits etc. Travelling abroad may not be a viable option if you are going for only a single procedure and expect to get back to work immediately, because like any other cosmetic surgery, the outcome is always unpredictable.

Prior medical tests done on you before the surgery could also add up to the cost of Facelift that you will end up paying. Of all the costs of a facelift, the surgeon’s fee often takes the lion’s share, and is often the hardest to estimate without first knowing the experience and reputation of the surgeon, their qualifications, and extent of the surgery required for the desired results.

Some extensive procedures such as the deep plane facelift and the SMAS (superficial musculoapeneurotic system) facelift would be more expensive compared to less invasive procedures such as the short scar procedure. By the same token, technologically advanced procedures such as the endoscope technique would also cost more than the “skin only” and the deep plane procedures.

This is the reason why you need to discuss with your plastic surgeon on the most effective technique based on your facial features, your aesthetic goals, and the extent of surgery required to find an accurate estimate of the facelift cost in New York.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the location where the procedure would be done would significantly affect the cost of the procedure. You should expect to pay more in New York City being a busy urban area than in a rural area. This is largely attributed to the expensive overhead costs and the huge demand for plastic surgeons in the region than in less populated areas.

Generally, you should have a budget of between $6000 and $15000 when planning to have a facelift done. The average cost of surgeon’s fee today is $6, 881, that of anesthesia is around $1,300 and the facility or hospital fee around $1,500. Again, this would vary a great deal from hospital to hospital and from surgeon to surgeon. Remember also that if there would be more than one procedure done in combination with the facelift, while you will cut down on the anesthesia and facility fee, the cost of operation and surgeon’s fee would increase significantly.

Additional fees to be aware of

There may some additional fees that would appear hidden to many people as they are rarely included in the initial estimate for the procedure. Such fees include:-

-          Medical tests before the procedure

-          Prescription medications such as antibiotics or painkillers

-          Physical examination by your general practitioner

-          Diagnostic tests such as X-rays

-          Special bandaging garments

-          Revision procedures

-          Follow up appointments

-          The cost of overnight stay in the hospital

Always protect yourself and your wallet by asking as many questions as you could about the cost of a facelift before you schedule the procedure.

The “skin only” lifts technique – this is the oldest technique where a plastic surgeon would simply slit the skin open and pull it back. The technique however, was not the most reliable and the aesthetic results were not always predictable. It was more of a trial and error technique because the skin kept falling off since there was nothing to support it on its new position. Thanks to technological advancements though, plastic surgeons have honed their skills and craft and are today digging deeper in the tissues in ways that guarantee positive results.

The Deep Plane Lift technique – for those looking for more permanent results, those with severe skin sagging on the face or skin laxity, then this is the most ideal technique. The surgeon often lifts, releases, and repositions the superficial musculoaponeurotic system layer that is often found beneath the skin surface. This is the layer that surrounds the facial expression muscles i.e. muscles for smiling and frowning. The cut would go all the way to behind the ears.

Short Scar Lift Technique – this is a general term used to refer to several face lift procedures that revolve around shortened scars. A perfect example is the S-shaped incision made in front of the ear or at the face’ temple. Unlike most other facelift procedures, the incisions for the short scar lift technique do not go past the ears. The other perfect example is the cranial suspension lift where incisions made stop just at the ear lobe.

Cheek or Midface Lift Technique – these are facial lifts that target the mid section of your face. The incisions would be made on the hairline and in your mouth to facilitate lifting and repositioning of natural fatty layers over the cheekbones. This technique is ideal for people with sagging cheeks and the unsightly nose-to-mouth lines that often form over time.

Endoscopic Facelift – the other common technique is the endoscopic facelift technique where the plastic surgeon uses a pencil-like tool attached to a tiny camera (read endoscope), to transmit live video images of the underlying facial structures on a computer screen in the theatre. The endoscope would be inserted through tiny incisions made on the face. The plastic surgeon would then manipulate the video to make changes and corrections on the face.

This is the most advanced facelift in New York technique today in that it is mostly done on outpatient basis with Intravenous or local sedation being less invasive. It causes minimal scarring and has reduced chances of complications due to the tiny incisions made.

When thinking of giving your breasts the much needed lift, it is important to educate yourself on all the options available at your disposal, and discuss with your surgeon on the most ideal technique before you finally make up your mind. Knowing what incision patterns are ideal for your body type as an individual would be paramount to the success of your plastic surgical procedure. Here are some of the most commonly used techniques.

The ‘Anchor’ Incision

This is the oldest technique known to man and is mostly used in combination with a breast reduction procedure. Under this technique, the incisions are made around the areola’s perimeter, vertically downwards from the areola all through to the breast crease, and then horizontally on the breast crease, thus forming an ‘anchor’ so to speak. Be advised that this technique has the most scarring effects, no wonder it is only recommended for people with a very severe sagging who may not benefit much from other less invasive and less scarring techniques.

 The “Donut” incision

Otherwise referred to as the ‘peri-areolar’ incision, or a ‘Benelli’ lift, it is whereby the incision is made only around the areola’s perimeter. It is ideal for patients who have mild-moderate sagging of breasts. Note however that when used by an experienced and skilled doctor in combination with breast implants, it can have greater results for those with severe sagging.

The “lollipop” incision

Otherwise referred to as a ‘keyhole technique’, this is an incision that is made on the areola’s perimeter downwards from the areola all through to the breasts crease. It is ideal for patients with a moderate degree of sagging.

The ‘crescent’ incision

This is a less common technique whereby the incisions are made only on the upper part of the areola, where a crescent-shaped piece of skin is extracted above the line before the surrounding skin and tissue is re-attached to the areola.  It is mostly done in combination with a breast augmentation, and is ideal only among patients with a significantly smaller degree of sagging.

The “Scarless” Incision

This is a technique that is ideal for patients who are more concerned with the loss of breast volume than they are concerned with breast sagging. These are procedures that would lift the physical appearance of the boobs by utilizing a number of procedures such as breast implants, smart lipo, thermage and ‘quill threads’, thus giving the breasts the much needed lift with minimal to no scarring. Note however that there is no surgical procedure that does not require an incision of some sort, regardless of how concealed or tiny it is, hence may not really qualify for the term a 100% ‘scarless’ incision.