“It is the common wonder of all men,
how among so many millions of faces,
there should be none alike.”
Sir Thomas Browne
Religio Medici
Our faces expose everything about us. Our age, genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle are reflected in our faces, and therefore retaining a youthful appearance requires attention to these factors. The options available for facial rejuvenation have literally exploded in the past ten years. In addition to the traditional facelift, plastic surgeons can now also offer advanced skin care, chemical peels, Botox, and fillers to supplement surgery.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure in which the skin and soft tissue of the face is elevated back towards its youthful position. At the same time, the excess or sagging skin which may be present at the jawline is smoothed. Because the goal is always to produce a rejuvenated and refreshed look, the skin is not excessively tightened. In this manner, the normal facial proportions are respected and are never distorted. Facelift surgery may be performed in conjunction with an eyelid lift, or autologous fat transfer.
An eye lift, or blepharoplasty, is another surgical procedure in which excess skin and sometimes fat from the upper eyelids are removed. Bulging fat and excess skin are removed from the lower eyelids. The result is a refreshed appearance to the eyes and upper face. Additional treatments to this region include fillers, Botox®, and autologous fat transfer.
Reconstruction of the face is often performed following trauma, including after skin cancer excision. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and 80% of these lesions appear on the face, head, or neck. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, race, or skin type. Reconstruction with local wound care, direct closure, or skin flaps always requires attention to the cosmetic features of the face, as the result will have both physical and psychological effects on the patient.