Surgery, Injectables or Both?

Educational Messages from Dr. Menachof

Many things happen to our face and neck as we age. Changes occur slowly in the skin, fat, muscle and bone of our faces, causing an older appearance to develop over the years. In some people, these changes can occur early, while others can continue to look young until they are much older. The speed at which this happens is due to a variety of factors, including heredity, gravity, environmental conditions (sun exposure, sun exposure, sun exposure), and stress. Surgery is one way to remove or reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging of the face caused by these factors. A great facial surgery involves repositioning the fat and muscle in the face back into a more youthful position. In these situations the skin is being smoothed, not from pulling on it, but rather by the movement of the muscle as it moves to its more youthful position. Because of this, the skin should never look stretched, pulled, or “done” (if it does you are looking at an example of poorly done facial surgery). A well performed facial surgery should not change your fundamental appearance and (alas) cannot stop the aging process; however, it will make you look refreshed, youthful and healthy.

Should I consider cosmetic surgery?

Cosmetic surgery includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures. These procedures improve appearance and self-esteem. It is important for each patient to have a positive outlook and realistic expectations when deciding to proceed with surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice and should not be done to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit an ideal image. There is no doubt in my mind that when you know in your heart of hearts that a surgical procedure is the right thing to do, at the right time, and with the right surgeon, everything always turns out well.

Finding the right surgeon

I have studied and performed facial procedures exclusively for 22 years. I am a board certified head and neck surgeon because it’s what I love to do! Many patients look for “board certification” as a credential but might not know exactly what it means. Board certification signifies that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school (4 years), completed an approved residency program of at least six years in their specialty, and passed a certifying exam (both written and oral). This 10+ year, 100+ hour/week journey ensures that we are very well trained, having already dedicated a good portion of our lives to our specialty.

In my case, I am not only an expert in almost everything “from the neck up,” but am really fortunate in that I love what I do and am passionate about getting better at it every day. A few of the surgeries I regularly perform include: face, brow, and neck lifts, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (including a lot of revision rhinoplasty surgery), surgeries involving the nose for breathing, fractures, sinus infections, and sinus headaches, and chin, cheek, and lip implants.

Non-surgical procedures

While there is no cream or magical non-surgical procedure that can instantly make you look 10 years younger, there are a variety of non-surgical procedures which, in a very short period of time, make you look obviously refreshed, healthy, and energized. These non-surgical procedures are great for people who are not interested in (or ready for) surgery, as well as patients who have had surgery and would like to preserve and often enhance their results.

Some of these options include injectable fillers, which can either add back volume lost as soft tissue has thinned over time or can be used to re-establish a more youthful facial structure caused by the aging changes that occur to the facial skeleton. Some injectable fillers include:

• Botox^®, which is used to smooth wrinkles caused by age
• Kybella^®, which removes fat under the chin and contours the neck
• Lasers, which help tighten loose skin and even out skin tone (one of the most identifiable signs of aging in most studies).

Can I reverse my skin damage?

With age, skin undergoes several changes. Skin becomes thinner, drier, has less elasticity, produces less collagen and is likely to wrinkle and sag. Skin aging, like most physiological phenomena, is the result of many things. But did you know only about 20 to 30 percent of the process is genetically determined? This means that there is more you can do to control it than you might have thought. And since we know you already wear your sunscreen every day to fend off those UV rays (please tell me that you are), there are several in-office treatments we offer that can help reverse damage and refresh and renew the tone, texture and vibrancy of your skin.

Chemical peels, for instance, are known for their ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging, mild scars, certain types of acne, age spots, freckles, and dark patches (such as melasma caused by pregnancy and birth control pills) while improving the overall look and feel of skin.

So, you want to learn more…

The point of all this? Our URL for our website is TheFaceExperts.com because, well, we are the face experts. Whether you have been thinking about surgery, considering injectables, or are just wanting some information, give us a call. We want you to feel healthier, more refreshed, and energized – and we love talking about things we know a lot about!