Facial Cosmetic Surgery

First Step
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. For those men and women who desire a more youthful, refreshed look, there are several procedures that Dr. Spies may recommend. These include a facelift, a forehead lift, and/or eyelid surgery.

Surgery Facts

Facelifts are performed under general anesthesia. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear, and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. You'll have some scars, but they're usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they'll fade with time and should be scarcely visible. If your neck or chin need contouring, fat may be trimmed or suctioned from the area. Facelift surgery involves tightening underlying muscle and membrane, pulling the skin back and removing the excess.

Forehead Lifts or "Browlifts" correct drooping brows and improve the horizontal lines and furrows that may make a person appear to be frowning. This surgery is often performed in conjunction with a facelift or eyelid surgery for a total look. After deciding on the best and least noticeable place for a scalp incision, the surgeon will work through the incision to remove underlying tissue and alter or release muscles of the forehead. The eyebrows may be elevated and excess skin at the incision point trimmed away to create a smoother appearance.

Blepharoplasty or Eyelid Surgery is used to correct lower eyelid puffiness, dark circles and fine wrinkles, and/or drooping upper lids. For upper lids, typically the incision line follows the natural contour of the upper eyelid and is camouflaged when healed. Through this incision excess skin and fatty tissue are removed. For lower lids, usually the incision is concealed just below the lower lashes. Through this incision, excess skin, muscle and fat are removed. Fat may be redistributed to eliminate puffiness and in some patients underlying muscles are tightened.

Good News
If you're like most people who have one or all of these procedures, you'll be very pleased with your new refreshed, alert appearance. Patients often tell us that they never realized how much their sagging chin, forehead or eyes contributed to the signs of aging, until they see how much younger and more rested they appear after the surgery and healing.