Facial Rejuvenation

Are You A Good Candidate
Meeting With The Doctor
How The Procedure Is Performed
What To Expect After Surgery
What Are The Possible Side Effects or Risks?
How Long Will The Results of Your Facial Rejuvenation Last?
Questions You May Have

Facial Rejuvenation
As men age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen on their faces. Creases may form between the nose and the mouth; the jaw line may grow slack; and folds and fat deposits may appear around the neck. Facial rejuvenation refers to the surgical and non-surgical procedures used to restore a youthful facial appearance. Facial rejuvenation is most widely used for people whose facial skin has been damaged by repeated sun exposure or genetic factors associated with aging.

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Surgical Options
A rhytidectomy, or facelift, rejuvenates the forehead, the eyes, the cheeks, and the sagging skin around the neck and chin. A facelift is considered the most effective surgical procedure for total facial restoration and rejuvenation. Other surgical procedures that can help rejuvenate the youthful appearance of your face include an eyelid lift to improve puffy and wrinkled eyelids, a forehead and brow lift to minimize sagging brows, a neck lift to tighten sagging skin and muscle in the neck area.

There are important differences in the facial structures, the surgical outcomes desired, and the healing processes of men and women. These differences affect the way male facial surgery is performed and the type and length of healing after the procedure. The experienced doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery have particular expertise in the area of male facial rejuvenation. They will use their knowledge, experience, and patient-oriented approach to help you decide which type of facial rejuvenation surgery is right for you, to help you feel comfortable as you move toward your surgery, and to assure you of a safe and pleasing outcome.

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Non-Surgical Options
There are also a variety of non-surgical treatments that can be used to rejuvenate the face and neck area. Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Sculptra, CosmoDerm, and Radiesse are non-surgical, cosmetic treatments for reducing moderate to severe wrinkles, creases, and folds and restoring a youthful appearance to your face. These dermal fillers are injected under the skin in tiny amounts using an ultra fine needle. Botox cosmetic can be used to reduce or eliminate dynamic lines on the forehead or around the eyes, mouth, and neck. This treatment in combination with dermal fillers can maximize the possibilities for youthful facial rejuvenation.

The results of these non-surgical options may last from a few months to several months or even years. The staff and doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will work with you to determine if a non-surgical treatment will give your face the look you desire and will help you decide which treatment is right for you.

Are You A Good Candidate for Facial Rejuvenation?
The best candidate for facial rejuvenation is someone whose face and neck have begun to show signs of aging, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well defined. If you are generally healthy, have a realistic view about the results that can be achieved with facial rejuvenation, and have any of the following conditions, you may be a good candidate for the procedure:

· Loss of skin elasticity and/or muscle tone on your face and/or neck
· Wrinkles or furrows on your face and/or neck
· Deep creases forming between the bottom of your nose and the corner of your mouth
· A diminished jaw line
· A sagging or heavy chin

The staff and doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will work with you to determine the best combination of surgical and non-surgical procedures to achieve the facial appearance you desire.

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Meeting With The Doctor Good communication between you and your doctor is essential when contemplating facial rejuvenation. That's one of the reasons you will meet at length with the doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery prior beginning your facial rejuvenation treatment plan. The goals of the consultation are to evaluate your facial and neck structure, your skin elasticity, and your underlying muscle tone to determine which type of facial rejuvenation treatment is appropriate for you. The doctor will thoroughly explain each type of surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedure, along with its risks, benefits, and recovery times. You will be asked to describe in detail how you want your face and neck to look. Working together, you and the doctor will decide which procedure or procedures will give you the facial rejuvenation results you desire.

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The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery doctors and staff will:
· Review the various facial rejuvenation options with you
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of each option
· Outline in detail how each procedure is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost and payment information
· Answer all your questions

You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medication you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use

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How The Procedure Is Performed Surgical facial rejuvenation procedures are performed at one of region's premiere accredited outpatient-based surgical facilities: the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI). or the Washington Hospital Center, or at Sibley Memorial Hospital. If your facial rejuvenation procedure is extensive or combined with other procedures, a hospital stay of two to four nights may be required. Your surgical facial rejuvenation procedure will take between two to six hours to complete and can be performed under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation depending on what you and the doctor prefer. With general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep throughout the procedure. With local anesthesia, you will be lightly sedated and your face and neck area will be numbed. You will be awake, but will be relaxed and will feel no discomfort. The type of anesthesia used and whether or not a hospital stay is required will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.

Non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments such as Botox, Restylane, and CosmoDerm injections are performed at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. No anesthesia is required for non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments, although the doctor may numb the area to be treated with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The doctor uses an ultra fine needle to inject small amounts of the dermal filler directly under the skin. In most cases, the entire procedure takes less than half an hour. There is minimal discomfort during or after the procedure; in fact, most patients compare the sensation to a pinprick.

No recovery time is needed; you may resume normal activity immediately. Side effects are rare and usually temporary. How long the results of your non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatment last depend on the type of dermal filler that is used. Results and potential side effects will be discussed with you during your initial consultation.

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What To Expect After Surgery If you choose a surgical approach for your facial rejuvenation treatment plan, your recovery time will vary depending on the type and extent of the procedure or procedures you have performed. The following is a general guideline of when you can resume activities after your surgical facial rejuvenation procedure. Specific details about your recovery will be explained to you during your initial consultation.

Activity	When
Bandages Removed	One to Five Days After Surgery
Shower and Shampoo Hair	Hair Three Days After Surgery
Stitches Removed	Five to Seven Days After Surgery
Back to Work	Two to Four Weeks After Surgery
Driving	As Soon as You Feel Comfortable
Strenuous Activity	Six Weeks After Surgery
Fading of Scars	Several Months to One Year

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No recovery time is needed for non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures. You may resume normal activity immediately.

What Are The Possible Side Effects or Risks? If you choose the surgical approach for your facial rejuvenation treatment, you should be aware that all surgical procedures have some degree of risk; however, major complications from facial rejuvenation surgery are unusual. During your initial consultation with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed. As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks by closely following the pre and post-surgery instructions provided to you. And the doctors and staff of the Institute will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.

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Most likely surgical risks include the following.
· Infection
· Nerve damage
· Hair loss
· Asymmetry
· Blood or fluid collection
· Skin sloughing, delayed healing at the incisions points
· Wide or thickened scars

The non-surgical approach for your facial rejuvenation treatment has limited side effects and risks. However, there are a few post-treatment instructions you should be aware of. The doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these instructions and answer any questions you may have prior to your treatment.

· Immediately after your treatment, you may notice temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects typically disappear in less than seven days. Cold compresses may be used immediately after your treatment to reduce swelling. If the inconvenience continues beyond two to three days or if other reactions occur, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.

· Until any initial redness and swelling have disappeared, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sunlamp or sunbathing).

· Avoid touching the treated area within six hours of your treatment. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.

· Avoid exercise and alcohol for six hours after your treatment.

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How Long Will the Results of Your Facial Rejuvenation Last?
There are many surgical options available to help rejuvenate and restore a youthful appearance to your face. The results of these surgical procedures generally last between five to ten years, longer in many cases. It is important to keep in mind that the effects of aging, gravity, and environmental factors will continue to affect the smoothness, sagging, and wrinkling of your face and neck. Meticulous skin care is critical to maximize the effectiveness and longevity of your surgical results.

There are also many non-surgical approaches to achieving facial rejuvenation, such as Botox, CosmoDerm, Sculptra, and Restylane. The results produced by these cosmetic treatments last anywhere from a few months to a few years. The doctor will provide specific details about result times during your initial consultation.

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Questions You May Have

· Will my insurance coverage pay for my facial rejuvenation treatment?
Both surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments are considered cosmetic and, therefore, are not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of your treatment. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.

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