Surgical Procedures
Lip AugmentationWhether it's injecting a filler or implanting Perma Lip implant, Dr. Ho will use his expertise and skill to add just the right amount of volume and plumpness to achieve the results you've been seeking.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid surgery)
Any of the following conditions or problems could indicate that cosmetic eyelid surgery is for you: loose, excess or hanging skin that may inhibit vision, puffiness, fine wrinkling, or bags under the eyes, or droopiness of the lower eyelids. If you have these or other problems, we can help you resolve them. Eyelid surgery can be performed on adults of any age; some choose lid lifts to reverse or halt the effects of aging, but others even young adults choose it to correct inherited traits.
Torn Earlobe or Split Earlobe Repair
Torn earlobes can occur due to trauma or after wearing heavy earrings for an extended period of time. Earlobes can then be completely torn or the area of the piercing can just be widened. If this occurs, a simple office based procedure can be used to repair the tear.
Facial Scar Treatment
When the skin is in the process of recovering from an injury, whether the result of an accident, surgery, a burn, or acne, scarring will occur wherever multiple layers of the skin have been affected. Once a scar forms, it is permanent but may be made less noticeable or relocated surgically.
Face and Neck Lift
Have you lost your well-defined jaw line, or do you now have jowls? Do you have sagging around your cheekbones or deep wrinkles in your cheeks? Do you have wrinkles, loose skin, excess fatty tissue or vertical "cords" in the neck? A face and neck lift can address these and other problems by restoring your smoother skin and youthful contours.
A minimally invasive face lift can give you smoother, younger contours to your face and neck, and reveal to you the inner beauty you've always felt. A minimally invasive face lift can do wonders for your self esteem: it can give you smoother, younger contours to your face and neck, and reveal to you the inner beauty you've always felt.
There are several conditions that can be addressed with a face lift:
- A loss of jaw line definition as a result of sagging tissue in the lower face
- Loose neck skin
- Wrinkles and vertical "cords" or "bands" in the neck
- Facial wrinkles
Designing a New You
First, you'll consult with Dr. Ho to determine what, overall, you'd like improved before you move into specific parts. You should be upfront about any and all issues you'd like resolved, so that we may better understand what procedures need to be done, and what can realistically be expected.
During your consultation, Dr. Ho will review your medical history and perform a comprhensive evaluation, including assessing the elasticity, thickness and texture of your skin as well as the severity of any folds or wrinkles.. These factors and others such as underlying tissue and bone structure will factor into the overall surgical plan. At this stage it's important to disclose your full health status.
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medical history. This will include information about any medical conditions, drug allergies, previous surgeries, supplements, vitamins and medications that you currently take.
Depending on your needs, Dr. Ho may suggest alternate treatments and supplemental procedures to give you the results you want. Face lifts are often done in conjunction with other procedures like eyelid surgeries, laser skin treatments, liposuction, or other processes for maximal results.
How It Happens
Though there are different ways to perform a face lift, the general technique is to place an incision in the contour of the ear which extends under the earlobe and around to your hairline. Sometimes, there will also be a small incision hidden underneath your chin. These incisions usually heal well and can easily be hidden with hair or makeup.
Through these incisions, Dr. Ho will free your skin from its underlying tissues as needed. Once the skin is pulled back and up, any excess is removed, and in some cases the deeper tissues may also need repositioning to get the results you want. The chin incision allows Dr. Ho to remove excess fatty tissue and smooth out the neck.
How do I prepare for surgery?
If you smoke, you should cease two weeks in advance of the surgery so as not to risk skin loss via poor blood circulation. You should report any medication that can increase bleeding (such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, Vitamin-E, fish oil, Plavix, Coumadin, ginkgo, garlic, ginseng or others).
If you plan your face lift to be an outpatient procedure, you must have someone drive you home and stay with you for at least one night afterwards.
Dr. Ho and his staff will discuss the proposed procedures in detail, including post-op instructions, and reasonable expectations. He will also prescribe any recommended medications, such as antibiotics and pain pills.
What will the day of surgery be like?
Wear warm and comfortable clothing, such as jogging pants and a jacket or shirt that can be zipped or buttoned. Remember to avoid wearing ANY makeup and jewelry. Since most of these procedures are performed in the office under oral sedation and local anesthesia, you will be able to eat a light meal in the morning, but minimize drinking any liquids, especially those containing caffeine. After checking in, Dr. Ho or his staff will instruct you to take pre-operative medications with water.
We administer medications to you during the procedure for comfort. You will have a bandage wrapped around your face to provide support and to help diminish the normal oozing that comes after face lift surgery. There may also be small tubes used to drain fluids that might otherwise build up. Despite this, the surgery itself has a surprisingly low level of discomfort.
How will I look and feel initially?
Recovery time varies by individual. For a few days after surgery you should restrict any activities and simply rest and recover. The frequent application of ice and cold packs will, as well as elevating your head while you sleep helps minimize bruising and swelling. And remember, you must not take anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin, Advil, Aleve, ibuprofen, etc. Likewise, you should not smoke or expose yourself to secondary smoke.
You will be seen the next day to assess the healing process and address any immediate concerns. You will have some discoloration and puffiness, some of which may be more prominent than elsewhere. This is normal. Though most swelling occurs within the first few days, it may be several weeks before the puffiness finally subsides. Likewise, bruising should disappear within two weeks of the procedure. You will experience numbness, which is normal, but may last for several weeks or longer. After a few days you may wear makeup to conceal discoloration. Stitches are typically removed 10 days after surgery.
When can I get back to my normal life?
In most cases you should be able to return to most of your normal activities within 1-2 weeks. Within three to four weeks, you should be able to resume exercise, though straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the early post-operative period. You should also avoid direct sunlight, and the long-term use of sun block will prolong the results of your face lift.
The Results
Healing from face lift surgery is a gradual process, so you should wait several weeks before you see what the "new you" really looks like. Additionally, some minor changes and skin settling will occur over time.
Understanding the risks
Thousands of people undergo face lift surgery annually, have no major problems, and are quite happy with the results. Nonetheless, there can be complications with any surgery, so you should take the risks into consideration before deciding to proceed.
While all surgeries carry similar risks, face lift surgery carries with it the risk of hematoma (an accumulation of blood that may need to be removed), damage to nerves, infection, scarring or skin loss, poor healing, etc. Plastic surgeons are skilled and trained to safely work with facial tissue, but complications to underlying structures are possible, if often temporary. While incisions are often discreet, variations in individual healing can make this process unpredictable.
What comes next?
The process doesn't end when you go home. We'll schedule follow-up visits at regular intervals so we can evaluate your progress. And as always, we are open and available to any additional questions or concerns you may have.
Rhytidectomy (Facelift)
Aging of the face is inevitable. As the years go by, the skin begins to loosen on the face and neck. Crow's feet appear at the corners of the eyes. Fine forehead lines become creases and then, gradually, deeper folds. The jaw line softens into jowls, and beneath the chin, another chin or vertical folds appear at the front of the neck. Heredity, personal habits, the pull of gravity, and sun exposure contribute to the aging of the face. As the aging population grows, it is obvious why rhytidectomy, or facelift, has become the third most desired facial plastic surgical procedure.
If you ever wondered how a rhytidectomy, or facelift in Dallas, as it is commonly called, could improve your looks or self-confidence, you need to know how a facelift is performed and what you can expect from this procedure.
Is a Facelift For You?
As with all facial plastic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Understanding the limitations of rhytidectomy is crucial and psychological stability is vital. There is no ideal in a facelift. Rather, the goal is to improve the overall facial appearance. Skin type, ethnic background, degree of skin elasticity, individual healing, basic bone structure, as well as a realistic attitude are factors that should be discussed prior to surgery. This procedure is sometimes performed on patients in their thirties, and successful surgery has been performed on patients in their eighties. A facelift cannot stop aging, nor can it turn back the clock. What it can do is help your face look its best and give you a look of health and a more youthful appearance. A side benefit is that many patients experience increased self-confidence.
Before deciding on a facelift, you should discuss with Dallas based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ho whether the overall effect will be more successful if additional changes are made in the chin and neck areas through other facial surgery. Many patients decide to have facial liposuction to remove excess fatty deposits in conjunction with a facelift. If several flaws need correction, more than one procedure may be necessary for the best overall result.
Making the Decision for a Cosmetic Surgery Procedure
Your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. During the preliminary consultation, Dr. Ho will examine the structure of your face, skin texture, color, and elasticity. Photographs will be taken so that he can study your face. Individual risks will also be examined, especially those related to medical situations such as high blood pressure, a tendency to scar, smoking, and any deficiency in blood clotting. Dr. Ho will take a thorough medical history, as well as assess your mental and emotional attitudes toward the surgery. Because a realistic attitude is crucial to the success of the surgery, the facelift procedure and realistic expectations will be discussed.
Understanding Face Lift Surgery
Incisions for a facelift will generally begin in the hairline in front of the ear and travel around the ear to finish either in or along the hairline behind the ear. Exact position of facelift incisions is dependent on several factors including sex of the patient, previous facial scars, and type of facelift to be performed. The skin is lifted from the deeper structures and the deeper structures are pulled up nice and tight to their more youthful position. Some fat may be removed, as well as excess skin. For men, the incision is aligned to accommodate the natural beard lines. In all cases, the incision is placed where it will fall in a natural crease of the skin for camouflage.
After trimming the excess skin, Dr. Ho closes the incisions with fine sutures and/or metal clips, which permit surgery without shaving hair from the incision site. Depending on the extent of the surgery, the process can take from two to four hours. When the procedure is performed with a combination of mild sedatives, local anesthesia, and a mild intravenous anesthesia, the patient will experience little discomfort. For more extensive facelifts, general anesthesia must be undertaken. Following the surgery,you will have a dressing to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made. Some patients will have small tubes to drain fluid and blood from under the skin. These are generally removed in the office on the day after surgery.
Other Options and Procedures
Sometimes, a facelift is not the only procedure available. You may be looking for a neck lift, neck liposuction, or the new neck ribbon lift procedure. For more information, be sure to consult with Dallas facial plastic surgeon Dr. Ho.
What to Expect After Facelift Surgery
Though there are few risks in facelift surgery and thousands are performed every year, some risk exists in any surgery. If you decide to proceed with surgery, Dr. Ho will go over these with you.
Recovery usually takes two to three weeks, though some patients go back to work in one week. Scars are usually not noticeable after enough time has passed for them to mature. In any case, they are easily disguised in natural skin creases, by the hair, or, in persistent cases, by makeup until total healing has occurred. Bear in mind that the aging process continues after surgery and that some relaxation of tissues will occur over the first few weeks.
Facial plastic surgery makes it possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of premature aging that can undermine self-confidence. By changing how you look, cosmetic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.