Written by Frank P. Fechner, MD
Before performing any facelift, a detailed analysis of the person’s anatomy is mandatory. We need to understand the aging-related changes that happened over time and how to reverse them. The same is true when patients request revision surgery after previous face and neck lifts. More challenging a procedure than the first time around, it allows for correction of issues that may have left the patient dissatisfied after the first surgery.
Commonly, I notice minor deformities that may be quite troubling to the patient; for instance, the earlobes. Most women like to have pretty earlobes for their jewelery; but if these earlobes are stretched and surrounded by visible scars as a result of a facelift, no ear studs will cover it.
The secondary facelift gives one the opportunity to improve upon this (see photo). This lady had a mini-facelift a few years back. Unfortunately, the incision scars are easily visible and the lobes are pulled in the wrong direction (a.k.a. “pixie ears”). After revision facelift, the earlobes appear more normal and the scars a well hidden allowing the patient to wear the hair in a pony tail without risking being readily stigmatized as “lifted”.
Written by Frank P. Fechner, MD
We notice many facial changes during the normal aging process: the cheeks get smaller, jowls develop, creases and lines show up and the lips change. Lip changes can be quite upsetting to woman making rejuvenation of this important aesthetic area a common goal during facial enhancement. Common treatment options include resurfacing to improve these vertical wrinkles and volume enhancement to restore lost lip definition. In addition, some patients develop an elongated upper lip: the distance between nose and red lips increases covering more of the front teeth. This is where a lip lift can help: access is gained from just underneath the nose and 2 or 3 millimeters of lip skin is removed. A better balance can be achieved in the incisions usually heal very well.
See a patient example here.
Written by Frank P. Fechner, MD
Otoplasty (a.k.a. ear pinning; ear set-back surgery) is a facial plastic procedure designed to reduce ear prominence. Most commonly, both ears are effected although some mild asymmetries are common. If one ear appears right and the other one protrudes abnormally, one-sided otoplasty through an incision placed in the crease behind the ear can correct this issue.
Otoplasty is performed in the office under local anesthesia with sedation. It is a very effective and satisfying procedure but requires utmost attention to detail.