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Facial Plastic Surgery - putting your best face forward
Mark F. Sheridan, M.D.
Tri-State Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Inc.
Like it or not, our first impressions of people are typically based on their outward appearance, with our gaze usually directed at their faces. Facial plastic surgery includes treatment of the forehead, the eyes, the nose, the face, the neck and the ears. However, cosmetic surgery of the head and neck is much more than just making a pretty face or maintaining one's youthful appearance. While these are worthy reasons to perform cosmetic surgery, most facial plastic procedures are performed to treat congenital, traumatic or disease-induced changes of the face. This includes treatment of precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.
The forehead is usually addressed due to a sagging or ptotic brow, which can make a person appear perpetually worried, angry or aged. Additionally, the sagging brow can restrict vision by pushing the upper eyelids down over the eye, thereby restricting the amount of space or field that is seen. This is similar to wearing blinders. Restriction of the visual fields can lead to driving and work-related accidents. These problems can also be caused by excess upper eyelid skin. Fortunately, this problem is readily corrected with surgery to either elevate the forehead, called a brow lift, or to remove the excess upper eyelid tissue, called a blepharoplasty.
The lower eyelids can appear puffy or droopy, which gives a tired appearance. Additionally, an ectropion or folding of the eyelid outward leads to constant irritation of the eye, with excessive tearing that runs down the face and may cloud vision. Again, these problems can be remedied by surgery on the lower eyelid; this is also a blepharoplasty.
Rhinoplasty or surgery done to reshape the nose is performed to straighten a crooked nose, remove a hump or repair a saddle or divot deformity. While these conditions can be congenital, they are mostly commonly due to trauma, particularly with nasal fractures.
Rhytidectomy, or a face-lift is the most common cosmetic procedure that comes to mind when plastic surgery is mentioned. Typically, this procedure is done to smooth out the larger wrinkles that form on the face and neck and to remove the excess tissue beneath the jaw (jowls). These form due to sun damage, weight loss, premature aging and the natural aging process. Additional facial procedures include chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. These procedures address the finer wrinkles that form around the mouth and eyes as well as pigmentation changes and acne scarring.
Prominent or malformed ears, which stick out from the side of the head are often a source of embarrassment, particularly for children. This condition is usually congenital in nature and is readily corrected by an otoplasty, which involves moving the ears closer to the head and occasionally reshaping them.
Lastly, but most importantly, is the role of facial plastic surgery in the treatment of precancerous and cancerous skin lesions. These include actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma. While the main objective in treating these lesions is complete excision, the second is to retain the structure and function of the treated area. Often removal of a cancerous lesion will involve excision of a portion of the ear, nose or significant amount of facial skin. Facial plastic surgery employs techniques such as tissue transfers - called flaps or grafts -- to repair the defect, while at the same time camouflaging the incision or scar, thereby ensuring that the nose, ear or face looks and functions normally.
In addition to giving a more youthful appearance, facial plastic surgery can correct congenital, traumatic or disease induced deformities of the head and neck. The techniques employed by the facial plastic surgeon can help put your best face forward.
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