March 30, 2020
Before we get into today’s topic, a quick note: it’s a bit strange to proceed as if it’s business as usual. We’re staying home and managing different challenges, ranging from keeping our kids entertained, to FaceTiming with our loved ones, while planning our grocery-buying to limit trips to the store and reorganizing what we can to adjust to the realities of COVID-19.
We’re also keeping busy by thinking about the future and researching different things we’re interested in, whether that means finding new recipes we want to try, putting together Pinterest boards for interior design inspiration, or looking up new places we hope to travel to later in the future when it’s safe to do so. We know many of you are doing the same, including looking for more information about cosmetic surgery. We’ve heard from people who’ve booked consultations with us that have been postponed for now who are still interested in reading more information about their procedures of interest.
And we happen to have some spare time to answer questions and share info! We love being able to talk to those of you who are interested in taking this journey at some point in the future just as much as we love to share our resources. So if you’re currently looking into a facial cosmetic procedure, then this post is for you. Stay safe and take care of one another! We’re all in this together.
At The Plastic Surgery Clinic we take facial cosmetic surgery super seriously. We obviously take every surgery seriously, but facial cosmetic surgery involves your face, and no one can deny, it’s one of the most important features on our body.
Every morning when we wake-up it’s the first thing we look at. We also tend to spend a lot of time preparing our face to be presented to others. When people look at us they look at our face, our eyes, our smiles, our expressions. It’s the way we communicate our thoughts and feelings. It’s on our photo ID and it’s what makes us us.
When you think about it, the face is SUPER important, and not in a superficial way, but it’s really such a defining feature that says: “hey, this is me!”
Think social media, Facebook (it’s even in the name) and Instagram, platforms where we literally primarily take pictures of our faces. Sure, some people take pictures of other things, but in large part, social media features our faces.
Because faces are so important they also do a lot work for us and are affected by so many external factors. All traces of our experiences eventually imprint themselves on our faces, like our worries and stresses, but also our happy moments and success stories. All those fine lines and wrinkles that we begin to see with age are the stories of our lives, not to mention the beating our faces take sometimes from factors beyond our control like the sun and wind or harsh cold days.
Some of us are happy with our faces just as they are. But some of us would like to help our faces withstand the test of time, or change them just that little bit to make them more representative of who we really are.
If you’re interested in facial cosmetic surgery, you’ve probably searched around and found a ton of different procedures out there. To help you sift through all the information, we’ve put together a list of our top 5 facial cosmetic surgery procedures and the most important things you need to know about each one.
What it is: A facelift is essentially the most effective way to curb the signs of aging. There are a number of different facelifts that target various areas of your face such as your cheeks and jaw line as well as your neck. But the general goal is to address decreased muscle tone and loose skin in the face caused by the effects of aging, environmental factors, and gravity.
There is a common misconception that by getting a facelift you will no longer need non-surgical treatments like Botox and filler injections, but the best facelift results are those that are combined with your regular injectable treatments and an excellent skincare routine.
Recovery time: You’ll need to take at least one week off work (but many patients prefer to give themselves anywhere from 10 days to two weeks), and four weeks from any intense activity and exercise.
How long it lasts: Everyone is different, but the results of a facelift procedure will last the rest of your life, especially if you continue to take great care of your skin and face. A facelift won’t stop the aging process though, and your face will continue to change slowly over time, but with the benefit of having made your most desired changes.
What it is: The goal of a brow lift is to target the upper part of your face. Some people find that as they age their forehead and brows begin to droop causing them to frown more, creating a tired or angry look, and increasing the amount of horizontal lines and wrinkles they see on their forehead. Elevating the brows smooths out the forehead and gives the face a more refreshed and youthful appearance.
Recovery time: One week off work is the minimum, but again, most patients prefer to give themselves two weeks before they return to work and their normal activities. 4 weeks off strenuous activities.
How long it lasts: Though you will continue to age the results of a brow lift are considered to be permanent as the amount your brows have been elevated will typically remain intact.
What it is: Otherwise known as blepharoplasty, an eyelid lift improves the look of drooping eyes as well as dark circles or bags under the eyes by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, giving the face a rejuvenated and more awake appearance.
Recovery time: Bruising and swelling typically lasts anywhere form 1-2 weeks, and patients usually take this amount of time from work and their regular routines. And as always, a month away from any strenuous exercise. The most important recovery tip for this procedure is to keep your head elevated at least for the first few days following surgery.
How long it lasts: The results of an eyelid lift are permanent, but you always continue to age and so do the effects of your surgery.
What it is: Rhinoplasty or a nose job is one of the most popular facial cosmetic procedures. Rhinoplasty can address a number of different things in the nose; it can make a nose larger or smaller, straighten out a crooked nose, reshape the bridge or the tip of the nose, change the angle of the nose or reshape the nostrils. Rhinoplasty can also address things such as difficulties breathing from a small nasal airway. Depending on what you might be looking to correct, rhinoplasty can either minimally or dramatically modify your appearance.
Recovery time: You’ll be up and about in a day or two after your procedure but you need to take one week off work, and take it easy for at least one month (no crazy exercising!).
How long it lasts: Forever. You and your new nose are in it together for good, which is why the most important thing is to choose the best rhinoplasty surgeon in the biz.
What it is: This is a great procedure because it’s actually pretty simple, not too invasive, leaves no scars, and can really define your cheekbones. Buccal fat removal or cheek fat removal removes the fat pads from your cheeks in order to slim down a face that may appear heavier than it is.
Recovery time: One week off work, and one month away from intense exercise, and possibly several days on a liquid diet following surgery.
How long it lasts: Forever. Your buccal fat pads never return. If you were to gain weight, the shape of your face is likely to change and could alter your result, but when it comes to the buccal fat pads, those are gone forever.
Did we answer all your questions? Our goal is to ensure you have the best information possible to make your decision. If you still have questions, we’re here to help.
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