Facial Surgery in New Jersey

• Face lift
   
• Necklift
   
• Eyelid surgery
   
• Forehead (brow lift)
   
• Nasal surgery (Rhinoplasty)
   
• Other Facial Surgery

 

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Eyelid Surgery/Blepharoplasty

       

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Face Lift

A face lift is a procedure that can make your face look younger and fresher. It can turn back the hands of time by lifting your sagging cheeks, smoothing your jawline, tightening the loose skin of your neck, removing excess fat below your chin and improving a "turkey gobbler" appearance of your neck. It will improve the jaw line (jowls), changes in the neck that occur as a natural result of aging or heredity, and changes resulting from the skin's loss of tone and elasticity. Complimentary procedures involving skin care and ancillary services will help to further improve the negative effects of gravity, sun exposure and daily stress, as well as to help you maintain your result. Face lifts are chosen by men and women and can enhance self-confidence in those who decide to have them.

Dr. Friedlander will customize the procedure for you and address your areas of concern. You may choose to add eyelid surgery or other ancillary procedures to create a balanced look. The description which follows is the "classic" face lift. There are others, such as a neck lift and a mid face lift, which Dr. Friedlander also performs and will advise you if you are a good candidate for them. Dr. Friedlander will carefully review your medical history and the medications which you are taking. There are conditions which could conceivably cause problems during surgery such as  uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, and others which will be discussed if they apply to you. If you smoke, she will counsel you on the increased risks associated with smoking. This is true for all surgeries, not only face lifts.

During the surgery, incisions are classically made in the hairline, as well as in front of and behind the ears. Newer techniques may not use an incision behind the ear. A small incision may also be made under the chin. These incisions result in minimal scarring which can be easily covered by hair or makeup. The skin and underlying fat are separated from the muscle. The fat may be thinned or suctioned to improve the overall contour of the face, neck and jaw line. The muscles of the face and neck will be tightened to provide longer lasting correction. The skin is lifted and redraped by pulling it upward and outward, and the excess skin is removed. Stitches around the ear are removed 5-7 days after the surgery, and stitches or staples hidden within the hair are removed 10-12 days after the surgery.

Face lift surgery has been revolutionized by "tissue glue". "Tissue glue" (fibrin sealant) is a relatively new and safe product in plastic surgery, although it has been used on over 6 million patients over the last 20 years for cardiac, neurosurgical, and general surgical procedures. Significantly less swelling and bruising occurs post-operatively. Messy drains and bulky dressings are rarely used today. Dr. Friedlander still advises you take 2 weeks off from work, but indicates that many of her patients are "lunching out" 2-3 days after the surgery. Some swelling and bruising are normal after surgery and begin to disappear after a few days. Strenuous activity must be limited for at least four weeks after surgery.

 

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Forehead Lift/Brow Lift

A forehead lift addresses the area of the upper face. It restores a more youthful, refreshed look to the area, making you look less tired, angry, or sad, by correcting drooping brows and improving the horizontal lines on your forehead. It is frequently performed with an upper lid blepharoplasty and can be performed with a face lift to provide facial balance and harmony.

The goal of the procedure is to raise the brow to a more aesthetically appealing position. It will also improve fullness over the outside corner of the lid, a scowling appearance of the eyes and horizontal frown lines of the forhead. It is not intended to create a look of surprise or what is commonly called the "deer in the headlights" look. Botox is not a substitute for a forehead lift, it can give you an idea of what to expect. Dr. Friedlander will show you potential areas of benefit during your consultation.

Several different approaches may be used, such as an endoscopic approach, a lateral brow and transblepharoplasy approach and rarely a coronal approach. Most often, only small incisions are required. The procedure is often performed with face lift and/or blepharoplasty. There may be some postoperative swelling or bruising, which resolves relatively quickly. You are able to return to work in a week if no other surgery is being performed.

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Nasal Surgery/Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is one of the oldest operations in plastic surgery. The nose is a source of pride for many and a source of great embarrassment for others. Rhinoplasty can correct many of the faults we see in our nose. It may be combined with a chin implant to balance the facial features. Often, this procedure is performed for  functional improvement of the nasal airway through correction of abnormal internal nasal structures.

Rhinoplasties are individualized to meet the patient's needs and expectations. All rhinoplasties are performed through predominantly internal incisions and usually include an improvement of the nasal tip, straightening of the dorsum and adjustment of the bony nasal skeleton. These procedures may be performed as an open procedure with a small externally visible incision through the columella (base of nose) or may be performed as a closed procedure where all of the incisions are hidden. Different advantages exist in either approach. The choice is usually left to the discretion of your plastic surgeon.

Swelling and difficulty breathing occurs post-operatively. It takes several weeks or even months for this to fully resolve. A cast or splint is removed after one week. Most patients return to work after two weeks.  No strenuous activity is permitted for 4 to 6 weeks.

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Other Facial Surgery

Cosmetic surgery of the face encompasses much more than has already been described. Many of the procedures discussed can be used as stand alone procedures to enhance one's appearance and maintain facial balance. These include liposuction of the neck, chin augmentation (implants) and the use of facial fillers, such as fat and collagen. Other fillers, such as Restylane and Artecoll will be used once they are FDA approved. The procedures recommended are individualized to fulfill your needs and goals.

Cosmetic surgery of the face frequently deals with problems associated with aging. One procedure that shouldn't be overlooked is surgery performed to correct protruding "Dumbo" ears. The problem develops in early childhood and can effect psychological development. Girls frequently wear their hair down to cover their large ears. A surgical procedure known as Otoplasty can improve this condition by reshaping the ears. An incision is placed behind the ear and the cartilage is folded and stitched, providing a more natural contour, closer to the head. A bandage is worn for several days after the surgery. The ears show immediate improvement and the swelling disappears after several weeks.

FAQ

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