Burgess Plastic Surgery | Portland, OR Area
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) was the third most popular cosmetic surgery in the country last year, jumping 4% from 2011. However, eyelid surgery is not always just a cosmetic choice, and if you think you may benefit from the procedure but have been putting it off, there is some good news.
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The older we get, the more changes begin to occur in our faces. Structures weaken, skin begins to sag, lines and wrinkles develop, and the facial shape begins to lose volume. For many Americans, a face lift is the next step to regain a youthful appearance.
The first step is often deciding between a traditional face lift and a non-surgical solution like Ultherapy.
Here’s news that should raise some eyebrows: Most patients undergoing an endoscopic brow lift are pleased with the results and would recommend the procedure, according to a recently published study in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. The telephone survey, which examined satisfaction, recovery and outcomes, involved 57 patients who had undergone either a brow lift alone or concurrently with a facelift.
Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift can result in more alert and youthful appearance, improving so-called frown lines. It can also help minimize creases across the forehead or high on the bridge of the nose as well as correcting low or sagging brows. In some cases, brow lifts have also reduced or even helped eliminate migraine headaches.
Researchers found that 93 percent of patients reported the procedure as successful and 96 percent would recommend it. Nearly three-fourths of those surveyed stated that they had been told looked younger and less tired and that the procedure helped bolster their self-confidence. Along with a quick recovery of about a week– return to normal activities after more than two weeks was mostly reported by those who also underwent a facelift – scars and swelling were minimal, as were complications such as numbness. And 50 percent of the patients who reported headaches prior to surgery experienced a reduction in their frequency and intensity.
Such surveys not only enhance research but assist consumers in making informed decisions. Additionally “relying on patient-reported information helps us to better understand the surgical experience and to improve preoperative counseling,” the authors write.
Photo: Nicoletta by nicksarebi on Flickr
Ethnic plastic surgery is hardly new. In the early part of the 20th century, European Jews opted for smaller, straighter noses and Irish Americans for flattened ears, all in the interest of looking more “American.”
Today, almost the opposite is true – while people of all ethnicities choose plastic surgery, many want to reshape themselves to their original culture’s trends and tastes. In fact, more than 3.2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, some 25 percent of all surgeries, were performed on ethnic patients in 2010, an increase of 243 percent since 2000.
With advances in and overall acceptance of plastic surgery, ethnic patients are increasingly asking for and receiving the types of procedures that will enhance, rather than completely alter, their skin types and facial features. For instance, while typical Asian eyelid surgery is geared towards a wider, fuller eye, patients also want it to look natural and maintain the “almond” shape.
The same concept applies Indian American rhinoplasties; patients are heavily influenced by the look of actors in the popular and colorfully ethnic Bollywood musicals. “Most patients with more of a hump and a larger nose want it more refined and less noticeable,” comments Dr. Anureet Bajaj.
While traditionally, few Indian Americans sought plastic surgery, preferring to focus more on inner beauty, Bollywood’s attractive Indian stars have had an impact on mainly women (and even some men). And with a rapidly growing Indian American population that now exceeds 2.5 million, plastic surgery is even more in demand, especially rhinoplasties.
There were a quarter of a million nose surgeries in 2011 alone. Recent studies have shown that special care needs to taken for Indian Americans to meet their desired appearance. “You don’t want to lose your ethnicity,” adds Dr. Bajaj. A one-size-fits-all, tiny upturned nose “would not look good.”
According to British and Scottish researchers, for more than five years after their procedure, three-fourths of facelift patients continued to look younger than they did before the operation.
Even though some areas of the patient’s face showed some signs of aging, a range of assessments showed long lasting results, according to Dr. Barry M. Jones of King Edward VII Hospital in London and Steven J. Lo of Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit in Glasgow.
In a statement Lo and Jones said of the study, “This study provides strong evidence that facelift surgery can provide significant long-term aesthetic gains.”
The researchers of the study standardized the photographs of 50 patients and analyzed them using three sets of measurements to determine how well the results maintained over time:
The average length of time between the surgery and the study analysis for the patients involved in the study was around five and a half years.
The study is scheduled to be published in the December edition of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and found that all three measurement metrics of the study showed significant improvement over pre-operative results. Even though some patients experienced some loss of improvement in their facial appearance after their facelift, the majority continued to look younger.
Jones and Lo wrote, “Scoring suggested that 76 percent of patients would still look younger five and a half years after a facelift than they did prior to the facelift.”
If you’re interested in exploring or learning more about the available facial cosmetic surgery options, contact Dr. Elisa Burgess online, or at her Lake Oswego, OR location.
Source: UPI