Minimally Invasive Facial Cosmetic Procedures
With the natural aging process, severe sun exposure, poor diet and poor sleeping habits our skin starts to lose hyaluronic acid and starts to lose its elasticity. Our face will start to show wrinkles that are a testament of our age. The actual trend is to replace that lost shape with fillers that augment the lost volume and provide a more youthful look without the need for surgery.
At Oral and Facial Surgery Institute of Houston we use only the highest quality dermal fillers with proven clinical value and longevity.
Dermal Fillers:
For cheek augmentation we use Juvéderm Voluma XC. This product lifts and contours the cheek. As we age and as the fat pads in the cheek area descend, we lose the youthful volume at the cheek area and also this change helps in the formation of the folds in the lateral part of our mouth (nasolabial folds). With Voluma XC the surgeon can easily correct the age related volume loss in the cheeks to help create a more youthful appearance. It will create a subtle lift that can last up to 2 years. The patient can go back to work immediately if desired.
For lip augmentation we use several products. The product used will depend on the a amount of lip augmentation desired.
For significant volume deficit correction Juvéderm Ultra XC is the product of choice. This product adds more fullness and plumps thin lips. It will help correct lips that have thinned out due to the aging process or if you have thin lips and are still young. This product typically last 6-8 months.
For subtle lip augmentation Juvéderm Volbella XC is a great alternative. This product is tailored to add subtle volume to the lips and smooth the appearance of vertical lip lines, also called smokers’s lines.
For the wrinkles that are in the forehead, between the eyebrows and in the lateral part of the eyes, Botox is the ideal choice to smooth them out. Botox has been in use since the late 80’s and it has a proven record of safety and effectiveness. The area between the brows typically will need 20-25 units of Botox while the forehead will use 25-30 units. The patient will start to see results in 3 days and the maximum effect will be seen in about 2 weeks. The effect of Botox will last 3-6 months but will also depend on the muscle strength and muscle volume of the patient. The patient can go to work immediately after the injections.
What Are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers?
Dermal fillers can provide natural-looking results when it comes to enhancing your facial features. Everything from reducing the appearance of wrinkles to adding volume to the cheeks or lips can be achieved with dermal fillers. Other benefits include:
- Eliminating signs of aging
- Reducing the appearance of wrinkles
- Achieving facial symmetry
- Adding volume in sunken areas of the face
- Smooth creases and fine lines on the face
Who Is a Candidate for Dermal Fillers?
The ideal candidate for dermal fillers is someone who is a non-smoker and in good overall health. Anyone who wants to achieve natural-looking enhancements to their face but does not want to undergo a surgical procedure can benefit from dermal fillers. Candidates should also have realistic expectations regarding the appearance of their results.
Dermal fillers can provide the best results to patients aged 22 and older, as they can correct signs of aging and achieve symmetry in areas such as the face, jawline, and even the hands.
Although dermal fillers are FDA-approved, patients who have underlying health conditions or those who are allergic to the ingredients in dermal fillers will not be recommended for this treatment.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
Dermal fillers are designed to last anywhere between six months to a year, depending on the type of filler you get. After this time period, we recommend patients get a re-fill of their preferred dermal filler to maintain the results of their cosmetic enhancements.
With the normal aging process, the brows descend with time. This causes fullness of the upper eyelid skin. With time that fullness of the upper eyelid can cause difficulties with the lateral gaze that can make driving a motorized vehicle dangerous. The blepharoplasty is quick procedure that can reduce that malposed skin and add youthfulness to the middle third of the face.
The lower eyelid can also be rejuvenated. The “tear trough deformity” is caused by extruded fat from the area below the eyeball causing fullness of the lower eyelid. In the lower blepharoplasty that “excess” fat is removed and a “skin pinch” removal of skin is also performed.
Sometimes the best treatment for low brows (brow ptosis) is an actual lifting. With the endoscopic brow lift, a small camera is used to direct the surgeon in modifying the internal part of the brow in order to allow its superior repositioning. Sometimes this procedure is done in conjunction to a conservative blepharoplasty in order to rejuvenate the area around the eyes.
With a rhinoplasty the surgeon can modify almost any part of the nose. Patients with bony protrusions at the dorsum (dorsal hump), boxy tips, and even the diameter of the nostrils can be modified. Wide nasal bones can be reduced to a more cosmetically pleasing shape and size. During a cosmetic rhinoplasty some issues with breathing can also be corrected. A deviated nasal septum and collapsed internal valves of the nose can be corrected, with the end result for the patient being better nasal breathing.
Ear deformities that cause a unfavorable cosmetic display can make people feel self-conscious and reduce their self-esteem. In a otoplasty, the surgeon can set back protruding ears, reduce the size of the ear cartilage, improving their appearance. Children can have otoplasties as soon as they become self-conscious about their ear appearance.
The earlobe can also be modified to exhibit a better cosmetic look. Earlobes stretched or torn from heavy earring wear can easily be corrected.
Any part parts of the face can be modified or altered to achieve the look that we are looking for. There are different kind of materials that can be used to accentuate the cheeks, the chin, and the angles of the mandible. The lips can be permanently enhanced with lip implants. There is little downtime after these procedures and the results are seem immediately.
Who Is a Candidate for Facial Cosmetic Surgery?
Ideal candidates for facial cosmetic surgery are adults who want to enhance or change their facial features by undergoing a surgical procedure to achieve long-lasting, usually permanent results. Candidates for facial cosmetic surgery should be non-smokers in good overall health and free from underlying health conditions that may complicate their recovery from facial surgery. Candidates who have realistic expectations regarding the results of their procedure will benefit greatly from facial cosmetic surgery.
Who Should Not Get Facial Cosmetic Surgery?
While facial cosmetic surgeries are safe and effective, they are not meant for everyone. If you have the following health conditions, you may not be an eligible candidate for facial cosmetic surgery:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Auto-immune disease
- Currently pregnant
- Currently breastfeeding
- Active infections
- Overweight
How Can Facial Cosmetic Surgery Enhance Your Appearance?
Facial cosmetic surgery can both enhance and change your facial features in many ways. This all depends on the type of procedure you undergo. Different from dermal fillers, a cosmetic surgical procedure can provide longer-lasting results to provide the following benefits:
- Address sagging skin
- Eliminate deep creases and fine lines
- Remove excess skin and define or contour the face shape
- Restore a youthful appearance to the face
- Eliminate signs of aging
- Achieve a lifted appearance
Can I Combine Facial Cosmetic Surgery with Other Procedures?
Yes. Certain facial cosmetic surgeries may be combined with other procedures. Most commonly, a facelift, brow lift, and blepharoplasty are all procedures that can be performed simultaneously. The combination of multiple procedures can provide multiple benefits to patients, such as cutting down on recovery time and minimizing the number of surgeries needed.
For more information, contact us now!
Schedule your consultation for facial cosmetic surgery at the Oral and Facial Institute of Houston by clicking here or calling 281-491-4545. Our experienced team of professionals is ready to help patients in Houston, TX, achieve their aesthetic goals. Get in touch today! We look forward to meeting you!
