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How many years does a typical facelift last before it starts to “sag”?
Recent studies in the medical literature demonstrate that a well, performed facelift that addresses the deeper layer of the facial tissues (known as the SMAS) provide results that last an estimated 7-11 years.
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HomeGeneral I am a 49 year old female looking to have a facelift, but how long do they last? Are there certain factors that make it more likely to need a second procedure in the future?
The length a facelift lasts depends upon the technique used to perform the facelift. I rely on a tougher, fibrous layer beneath the skin called the SMAS to achieve the results obtained from a facelift. This provides a more youthful appearance in the jawline and neckline that is longer lasting. However, the aging process does not stop with this or any other type of procedure. […]
HomeGeneral
I have non-allergic rhinitis. Is it possible for someone with this condition to have rhinoplasty?
It is possible for you to have a rhinoplasty to address the appearance of the nose. Occasionally, we combine rhinoplasty with functional surgery, such as septoplasty to correct a deviated septum and turbinate surgery to address enlarged turbinates. One of the goals of these functional surgeries is to improve nasal function. While non-allergic rhinitis may improve with turbinate surgery, I would advise you that medical therapy is an important treatment for your condition. As well, I would advise you that rhinitis may persist after rhinoplasty.
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HomeGeneral When removing a hump or bump on the nose, what are the instances when it would be filed down versus broken?
A bump/hump along the bridge of the nose can bony and/or cartilaginous in nature. Traditional approaches to reducing a bony bump/hump along the bridge of the nose include rasping with a carbide tungsten rasp or chiseling off the bump with an osteotome. Rather than using these traditional methods, I utilize precise powered instrumentation designed by the company, Bien Air, to delicately reduce the height of the nasal bony bump/hump. For those bony bumps/humps less than 2 millimeters, I tend […]
HomeGeneral I don’t understand how laser skin resurfacing can be used to treat deep wrinkles. Could you please explain the process to me? I’m from San Diego and interested in some facial rejuvenation.
Laser resurfacing delivers heat to the deeper layers of skin where collagen exists. The heat causes collagen to reform, thus resulting in tighter, smoother skin. Initially, all the lines and wrinkles are gone due to swelling. After swelling resolves, some of those lines/wrinkles return. Collagen reformation occurs over several weeks/months; therefore, the skin continues to improve in appearance after laser resurfacing. Proper skin care is essential to maintain/enhance […]
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Can a chin implant add more prominence to the chin and also fix an underbite?
A chin implant can improve upon the chin projection but it does not correct an underbite. I recommend you consider a consultation with an oral maxillofacial surgeon to discuss other options that may be more beneficial for correcting an underbite.
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HomeGeneral
Do most doctors use powered rasps nowadays for rhinoplasty? What’s the benefit over a manually powered rasp?
No, most surgeons do not use powered rasps. I have been using powered rasps for over 2 years. This technology allows me to shave down the bony hump of a nose with great precision and minimal trauma to surrounding tissue. For more information regarding this technology, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=838N2M5MgRw
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HomeGeneral
How do you make a nose that’s too large smaller with rhinoplasty?
There are a variety of methods we use to make a large nose smaller. For example, if you have a big hump along the bridge of the nose, we can refine that hump using precise micro-rasps. Unlike traditional methods of taking down a hump, which include a chisel and hammer, the precise micro-rasp allows us to shave down the hump incrementally. Also unlike traditional methods which are performed by “feel”, I am able to directly visualize the hump as we take it down.
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HomeGeneral I keep hearing that patients of ethnicity have thicker skin and that special techniques need to be used for rhinoplasty, but what are these special techniques?
In ethnic rhinoplasty, some patients may have thicker skin. Patients with thicker nasal skin pose a challenge to achieve refinement of the nasal tip. There are some special techniques we use to achieve refinement of the nasal tip in the thicker nasal skin. One of those techniques include using sutures to reshape the original nasal tip cartilages. If this technique does not achieve refinement, then we use tip grafts. Tip grafts are made of […]
HomeGeneral Is alloderm a good choice when the nose needs to be built up? How is it used?
While alloderm has been used with nice results, I tend to prefer using your own tissue to build the nose back up. My preferred material is something called temporalis fascia. This is a thin layer that covers a muscle in your temple region. I can access and obtain this fascia through a small incision well hidden within your hair. In addition to temporalis fascia to build the nose up, sometimes we need more material if the nose needs to be built up even […]
