The alternative face-lift, eyebrow lift or eyelift

Unlike the traditional cosmetic surgery involved when giving a face-lift, eyebrow lift or eyelift which all require a general anaesthetic you can gain the same benefits from these procedures with a combination of botox cosmetic injection and fillers. This procedure will normally take around an hour to complete and is virtually painless and depending on the type of filler used, the results can last for up to two years depending on the type of filler used in the injection.

Alternative chin and cheek augmentation

This type of alternative to the chin and cheek surgery involves the use of an injectable material that stimulates the body to produce more collagen, the area in which the injection is given thickens and softens which increases the volume and smoothes out creases and wrinkles.

Skin products to help reduce wrinkles due to aging

There are many different skin treatments which are cream based and can be bought over the counter at drug stores and chemists or online, these all claim to help with anti-aging to some degree or other.

Skin care products in this category range from

• Anti-aging face serum – this is said to help reduce wrinkles and fine lines due to the natural aging process.
• 3d lifting serums – these are used to help tone and firm the skin.
• Re-sculpting lift cream – these products lift and firm the skin giving it a much younger appearance.
• Anti wrinkle pens – these are used to help decrease wrinkles and some are said to start working in as little as one week.
• Facial emollient – this is said to work overnight and helps with achieving a healthier brighter younger looking skin.
• Face firming activators – this is said to be a unique anti-aging product which tones, Lifts and firms the skin.
• Facial contour creams – this is a cream which claims to lifts, firms and contours the skin.
• Lifting cosmetic treatment – this treatment is said to reduce wrinkles by up to 25% in just one hour.
• Botox substitute gel – this is an injection free alternative to botox and claims to do what a botox treatment does which is to fill wrinkles and imperfections on the skin.

Whom is the surgery suitable for?

This type of surgery is suitable for those who need to improve their shape due to problems of low self-confidence and for reasons such as those described above, the surgery however can also be done purely for cosmetic reasons and some surgeons will do this surgery for cosmetic reasons alone while others insist on there being a medical reason.

How is the surgery performed?

During the surgery, an implant will be put into place behind each breast and the implant used is made from silicone which is filled with either silicone gel or saline water. However due to safety issues and concerns of the silicone gel based implants these are now only used in those participating in studies, if you have any concerns over the safety of breast augmentation then you should talk these over with the surgeon at the initial consultation.

Are there are any risks from the surgery?

One of the most common problems that can occur as a result of this type of surgery is if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten, when this happens it can lead to the breast feeling hard. A very small number of women have been known to develop an infection around the implant and this usually occurs within a week of having the surgery though it can happen at anytime also.

In severe cases of infection the implant may need to be removed for some months but after that a new one can generally be fitted. Some women have also reported problems with the nipples and these ranges from hypersensitivity, under sensitivity and even numbness, with small patches of numbness occurring near to the incisions also.

On the odd occasions the breast implant has also been known to leak, as mostly saline implants are being used now which are filled with nothing more than harmless salt water, should a leak or rupture occur then water is absorbed harmlessly into the body. When this happens, the implant will deflate over a period of hours. Should you have any fears or concerns over the implants or the type of implant and safety issues then discuss them openly with your surgeon.

The surgery and recovery

This type of surgery is generally performed on an out patient basis and you will be up and about in a few hours after having the surgery done. You will of course as with any surgery, feel tired and sore for a few days afterward but you should be able to return to normal daily activities and work within a few days.

After several months, the scars will begin to fade and lessen although they will never disappear completely. If you are of the age when you attend mammograms, then you should continue with these as discussed by your doctor or surgeon.

Sometimes after pregnancy the women’s breasts can lose volume, if this is the case the surgeon might suggest implants along with the mastopexy as a way of increasing size or volume and also firmness.

Who is mastopexy suitable for?

Excellent results are seen in women who have small breasts which have sagged though any size breast can be lifted the results don’t usually last as long in the woman who has larger and heavier breasts. Many women who seek this type of surgery do so after having children and breast-feeding has left them with stretched skin and lack of volume.

It is usually advisable to wait until you have finished child bearing before having the surgery as even though the surgery doesn’t affect breast-feeding or pregnancy, future pregnancies can undo the surgery in that the breasts may droop or lose volume again.

What to expect from the surgery and recovery time

Usually before the surgery, the surgeon will ask you to take a mammogram test once this has been done and the surgeon has the results the surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis under general anaesthesia.

The surgery will take around one and a half to three hours depending on the amount of work and the technique the surgeon chooses to use. The most common procedure involves making an anchor shaped incision around the underneath of the breast and up to the nipple.

During the surgery excess skin will be removed which tightens the breast and the nipple is relocated with the stitches usually being made around the areola. If your surgeon has suggested that you have an implant then this will be inserted directly under the breast tissue in a pocket.

After the surgery an elastic bandage or special surgical bra must be worn to cover the gauze, the breasts will feel sore and probably will be swollen for a few days after the surgery.

The elastic or surgical bra will be exchanged after a few days for a softer support bra and you will need to wear this bra for 24 hours a day for around four weeks.

Some numbness and tingling may be felt in the breasts and nipples for around six weeks and this is only natural and is caused by the swelling, however a very few women find that this feeling does last longer and for some it is even permanent.

You should feel fit enough to return to work after the first week but you shouldn’t lift anything above your head for about a month after surgery.

Who makes a suitable candidate for the breast reduction?

A breast reduction will normally be performed for medical reasons rather than cosmetic ones and they are usually only performed on women whose breasts have fully developed, although in certain cases it can be done earlier if they are causing a great deal of discomfort.

The usual candidate for this type of surgery is the woman who is having severe problems with their health due to excessively large sagging breasts which are causing severe discomfort physically and problems with low self-esteem.

The surgery and recovery

The surgeon will probably want you to have a mammogram before they perform the surgery and the techniques for the surgery will vary from surgeon to surgeon but the most common procedure involves an anchor shaped incision being made around the nipple down the breast and following the natural outline of the breast.

The surgeon will then remove any excess glandular tissue, fat and skin and will move the nipple and areola to their new place on the breast. During this procedure, the surgeon might use liposuction to draw out any excess fat especially around the underarm area.

Sometimes when the breasts are extremely large then the nipples may have to be completely removed when this happens they will be re-grafted back and when this happens the areola and nipple will lose their sensitivity.

After the surgery you will be given a special surgical bra which you must wear for several weeks afterward, your breasts may feel sore for a while afterwards but this is only natural.

The bandages will be removed in a couple of days but you must wear the special support bra around the clock, the stitches will be removed around one to three weeks and the first time you get your period following the surgery your breasts may swell and hurt.

You should avoid doing anything strenuous such as lifting or pushing anything heavy for three to four weeks after your surgery but you should be able to return to work within a week. Much of the swelling and bruising should disappear in the first few weeks but it could be up to 12 months before your breasts settle down into their true shape.

You should always talk it over with the surgeon at the initial consultation and they should make you fully aware of how the surgery could affect you and give you realistic expectations that the procedure could bring.

The tummy-tuck

This procedure removes excess fat and can lead to a flatter, trimmer stomach and tighter abdominal walls. The length of the surgery is roughly around 2 hours and a general or local anaesthetic can be used during the procedure. Side effects can be bruising, swelling, pain, soreness and general tiredness for some months after the surgery.

Breast enlargement

This procedure can enhance the breast size using implants filled with a salt water based saline solution and takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete. It is performed either using a local or general anaesthetic and there can be temporary soreness, swelling, changes in nipple sensation, tingling and numbness and bruising for a couple of weeks after the surgery.

Breast lift

This procedure raises and reshapes sagging breasts and it usually takes around 1 to 2 hours to complete. Both a local or general anaesthetic can be used and swelling, general discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin and temporary bruising can all be felt for up to a month after the surgery.

Chemical peel

This procedure helps to restore blemished, uneven, wrinkled or sun damaged skin and usually takes around 1 to 1 ½ hours and can be performed just using a sedative. Temporary swelling, tingling, redness and acute sensitivity to the sun can all be side effects.

Dermabrasion

This type of procedure requires the surgeon to scrape off the top layer of skin using a rotary wheel; it is used to soften the edges of scars, surface irregularities, fine wrinkles and acne scars. It can take anything from a few minutes to an hour depending on the work needed and usually a local anaesthetic or numbing spray will be used. Side effects following the surgery can include redness, itching, swelling, burning and extreme sensitivity to the sun.

Face-lift

This type of surgery helps to improve facial sagging, loose jowl and neck skin and can take several hours depending on the area to be treated. Surgery is usually performed with a general or local anaesthetic depending on the extent of the surgery and side effects can be swelling, bruising, numbness, pain and general tenderness of the skin.

Forehead-lift

The forehead-lift is used to help minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, frown lines and forehead furrows by removing excess tissue. The surgery is normally done under local anaesthetic with some sedation for relaxation and can take around 1 to 2 hours to complete. Temporary swelling, numbness, headaches and bruising are all common side effects.

Resurfacing

This type of surgery is used to smooth fine wrinkles from the face using a laser device that only treats the damaged areas of skin. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more to complete depending on the area to be treated and more than one treatment may be necessary.

Local anaesthetic with sedation is normal though if the treatment is over a large area then the surgeon might suggest a general anaesthetic. Side effects are temporary swelling and discomfort, pain, pinkness or redness of the skin for several months following the surgery and acute sensitivity to the sun.

Liposuction

This type of surgery removes fatty deposits by way of a vacuum type device which sucks the fatty deposits from small insertions made into the skin. The surgery will take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours or more and can be performed using either local, general or epidural anaesthetic. Side effects common after the procedure are bruising, numbness, soreness, swelling and a burning sensation.

Nose surgery

This type of surgery can be used to reshape the nose, making it bigger or smaller or change virtually any other aspect of it. The surgery can vary from 1 to 2 hours or more depending on the work involved and is usually performed under general or local anaesthetic with sedation. Common side effects are heavy bruising around and under the eyes, soreness and tenderness, headaches and bleeding from the nose.

It is also sometimes used to remove pre-cancerous growths and is more commonly used in the treatment of deep acne scars. This type of surgery can be done on single areas of the skin or larger areas and used in conjunction with various other forms of cosmetic surgery such as face-lifts and chemical peels.

Who is a suitable candidate for Dermabrasion or dermaplaning?

This type of surgery can be performed on anyone at any age although older people tend to heal more slowly than do younger ones, people with dark skin may also find that the skin becomes discoloured or takes on a blotchy appearance after Dermabrasion or dermaplaning and this will of course be discussed at the initial consultation. If the treatment is being given due to acne then you will have to wait for any flair up in the acne to reside before having treatment for it, as there is a greater risk of infection at this time.

Surgery and recovery times

Dermabrasion is generally performed under a general anaesthetic which will numb the area and will normally last from around a few minutes to roughly an hour and a half depending on how big an area is being treated. Sometimes and in some cases, the surgery may have to be repeated more than once for it to be successful, this is usually true of scarring that is deep or when there are large areas to be treated.

During the procedure, the surgeon will scrape away the outer most layer of skin with a wire brush or use what is called a burr which contains diamond particles. In Dermabrasion, this is continued for as deep as the surgeon feels comfortable without doing damage to the underlying skin.

When using dermaplaning the surgeon will use a hand held instrument called a dermatome, this has an oscillating blade rather like a razor which evenly skims off the surface skin, this treatment is continued until the lowest part of the scar becomes even with the surrounding area.

Immediately after the treatment the skin will be inflamed and sore, you could also feel some tingling to the area or a burning sensation and this is treated with pain medication. Just as with any type of scrape or cut, the areas which have been treated will form a scab or crust as the skin beneath begins to heal.

Once healing has taken place the scab will fall off and reveal new pink skin beneath, when this happens the skin may itch, try to refrain from scratching it and the surgeon will have given you cream to apply at this stage.

Your skin might remain swollen, sore and itchy for several weeks but you can expect to return to work after around a couple of weeks. However it is important that you protect your skin from the sun until the pigmentation has returned and this could take anywhere from around 6 to 12 months.

However if you are having the surgery due to medical reasons this is another story and while the decision will be a little easier to make you will probably still wonder if you are doing the right thing by having it. Anyone who is thinking of having cosmetic surgery should ask themselves a few questions before taking the drastic step.

Questions you should ask are

• How will the surgery change my life, will it make a difference to how I feel about myself?
• Am I only considering surgery for reasons of vanity?
• Can I afford to have the surgery?
• Where does cosmetic surgery fit on my priority scale?
• Do I have realistic expectations of the change the surgery can make to my life?
• Will I be able to stop with just the one procedure?
• Am I aiming for perfection due to vanity?
• Will the surgery give me what I need?

Of course even after having asked and answered these questions you still might be unsure if you should have cosmetic surgery or not, listed below is a questionnaire that you can take. There is no right or wrong answers and you will only benefit from taking the questionnaire by being absolutely honest with your answers.

1. What do I actually dislike about my appearance?
2. Why does this particularly bother me and does it bother me at times more than others?
3. Do my feelings about my appearance stop me from taking part in a normal healthy relationship?
4. Do my feelings stop me from taking part in normal activities?
5. Do I hide the feature I dislike from others?
6. Why have I decided to have the surgery now?
7. What expectations do I have for the surgery?
8. How do I see my life changing after the surgery?
9. Can I think of any disadvantage to the surgery?
10. Do I think people will act differently to me after the surgery?
11. What have my friends and families reactions been to my surgery?
12. What problems does your dislike cause you now?

It is worth taking time going over the questionnaire and answering as honestly as you can, if you have a close friend or family member then you could discuss it with them too. You should certainly talk over any concerns you have with the cosmetic surgeon at the initial consultation and talk with them about your expectations for the outcome of the surgery.

What can a facial implant do?

Facial implants can be performed for a number of different reasons ranging from purely cosmetic reasons where the person has a strong dislike of a particularly facial feature such as a protruding jaw or for medical reasons where damage has been done to the face through an accident or birth defect. Implants can also be used in conjunction with a facelift or any other type of cosmetic surgery as an aid to boost self-confidence and help to achieve a more youthful appearance.

The type of facial implants and recovery time

This type of surgery very rarely requires an overnight stay; perhaps the only time when a hospital stay might be necessary is if you are having other cosmetic surgery at the same time as the facial implant. Most implants will be performed under a local anaesthetic which will numb the area and a sedative is usually given to help you relax during the surgery.

Chin surgery

Chin implants can take anywhere from a half hour to an hour and a half depending on the amount of work which is to take place, the proper shape and size of implant will be chosen to enhance the chin and this is fitted into a pocket over the front of the jawbone. The incision made will usually be inside the mouth and the chin will normally be taped after surgery to help prevent swelling, with the stitches being removed in around seven days. It is normal to feel some pain and there will be some bruising and swelling with bruising showing under the chin and on the neck.

Cheek surgery

Implants in the cheek will normally take around 45 minutes and the incision will be made in either your upper lip or your lower eyelid, a pocket will then be formed in the correct place and the implant inserted. A dressing will then be applied to the area in order to help minimize the swelling and the stitches will normally dissolve in around 10 days.

Lower jaw surgery

An implant in the lower jaw will normally take around one to two hours and incisions will be made on both sides of the lower lip, a pocket will then be created for the implant and dissolving stitches will be used to close the wound. There will be significant swelling to the area and this should reach its peak around 48 hours after the surgery.

Swelling will gradually subside over the next several days and some mild swelling can remain for up to several months. You will find that you may be restricted when talking, eating or being able to mouth your mouth properly for a few weeks following the implant but this will gradually ease.

The prices of cosmetic surgery vary from procedure to procedure and from clinic to clinic which will offers the surgery, what you will pay will depend on several things such as:

• The surgeons fee – charges for the surgeons fee will vary considerable depending upon factors such as their experience and the facility in which they work.
• The hospital of facilities fee – it doesn’t matter if you have your surgery in the surgeons clinic or a hospital you will still have to pay a fee and depending on whether the surgery requires a stay in the facility or hospital there may be an additional fee for that.
• The aesthesia fee – if you have to have a general or local anaesthetic then you will be required to pay the fee for the aesthesia.

Will the surgery be covered by my health insurance policy?

Normally most health insurance policies don’t cover cosmetic surgery, however if the surgery is for medical reasons then it would be worth asking if your insurance would cover this before going ahead with the surgery. If cosmetic surgery is listed on your policy then you should get all the details as to what this exactly means as definitions for “medical” and “cosmetic” reasons vary from company to company.

How do I know if the cosmetic surgeon is qualified?

Choosing a well-qualified cosmetic surgeon is the most important decision you will have to make with regards to your surgery and should be chosen very carefully, there are several ways you can go about finding an experienced qualified cosmetic surgeon and these include:

• Checking for board certification – this is a board that only certifies a fully trained, experienced cosmetic surgeon who has several years training.
• Do they have professional membership? – this is usually a professional society which promotes standards and education in the profession of cosmetic surgery.
• Look for hospital accreditation – check to make sure the cosmetic surgeon is on the staff at an accredited hospital.

Will my cosmetic surgery be obvious to family and friends?

Cosmetic surgeons are continually striving to ensure that procedures are carried out to give the end result which is as natural as possible. Of course the whole point of having surgery in the first place will have either been to correct a medical condition to make you more self confident or make you look younger, so it would be pointless if nobody noticed the difference after having gone through the surgery.

How long will the effects of the surgery last?

This of course will depend greatly on the type of surgery you had and the reasons for having it done, if you had surgery to correct a problem such as nose reshaping or cheek or chin enhancements then of course the surgery will be permanent.

How does the process work?

The principle of the surgery works virtually identical to that of using lasers in cosmetic surgery, the light energy is converted to heat energy and this heat causes damage to the specific targeted area of the skin. The main difference between the laser and IPL is that there are many wavelengths instead of just one in laser therapy, with most systems relying on the refining of the energy output for the treatment of specific areas.

This type of surgery is called a non-ablative resurfacing technique, which means that is specifically targets the lower layers of skin without touching the top layers in any way. There are a wide range of IPL machines and they are used for certain problems and many patients can have this type of procedure done in their lunch break and return to work immediately afterward.

What does the treatment involve and are there any side effects?

The surgeon or doctor should have outlined the procedure to you at your initial consultation and you should have discussed your expectations of the procedure with them. The surgeon or doctor should have explained that the treatment is fairly straightforward but there are however certain precautions that you should take after the procedure.

• Avoid skin exposure to the sun before and after the treatment.
• Although an anaesthetic usually isn’t needed a topical one may be used.
• Sessions normally last around 20 minutes with 4 to 6 sessions being needed every 3 to 6 weeks to achieve the desired effects.
• Most patients can return to work straight after the treatment.

The side effects of the procedure are usually minimal but can include

• Slight pain during the treatment.
• Skin may be a little sore and pink after the treatment.
• You could have the sensation of mild sunburn after the treatment.
• Very rarely slight blistering can occur.
• Slight bruising occurs in roughly 10% of those treated.
• Hair loss can occur in rare cases.