The following is the first of a three part series addressing common questions and misconceptions regarding Facial Plastic Surgery Sacramento.
MYTH: Plastic materials are used in facial plastic surgery.
FACT: The word plastic Is derived from the Greek word Plastikos, which means “to mold”. It does not refer to the use of plastic materials. The techniques used in facial plastic surgery are based on refining tissue and bony structures to enhance facial features.
MYTH: Facial plastic surgery can create a “new face”.
FACT: Facial plastic surgery does not change a patient’s features. It can help reduce signs of aging, restore function, or correct facial deformities. A Facelift Sacramento, for instance, smoothes out deep wrinkles of the cheeks, in addition lifts and removes jowls and excess neck skin. Blepharoplasty Sacramento eliminates sagging skin around the eyelids but does not alter the natural shape of the eyes. Neither procedure will radically change a patient’s appearance or give a “new face”. On the other hand, neither procedure should leave the patient with an operated on or artificial look. Friends may notice something different or tell you that you look very well rested, but may not even realize that you have had surgery, unless you tell them.
MYTH: Unsightly scars can be completely eliminated through facial plastic surgery.
FACT: Scars can never be completely removed. In scar revision surgery, an effort is made to make the scar less conspicuous by changing its direction slightly, removing indentations or pigmented areas, or making it thinner. After a scar revision, remaining irregularities often can be smoothed by dermabrasion ( a facial sanding procedure) or laser skin resurfacing. Scar revision surgery is generally indicated only for facial scars that cannot be camouflaged effectively with cosmetics.
MYTH: I will not be able to go out in the sun after having facial plastic surgery.
FACT: It is important to avoid the sun for several months after having a chemical peel, laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, or blepharoplasty. Exposure to the sun during the healing process after these procedures can produce spotty or abnormal pigmentation. Protective sunscreens can be used and moderation is important. It is not as important to stay out of the sun after rhinoplasty or facelift procedures. Of course, prolonged sun exposure is not recommended for anyone because it ages the skin and may cause skin cancer.
MYTH: People who seek facial plastic surgery tend to be very vain and concerned only about their appearance.
FACT: A little vanity is a positive trait; psychologists agree. Concern about one’s looks is a mark of self-esteem. Most facial plastic surgery candidates are hoping to refine unattractive procedures or eliminate premature signs of aging in order to help them feel better about themselves so that they can relate better to others. Their interest in facial plastic surgery stems from a healthy self-concept, a desire to look and feel confident and to function at peak capacity.
MYTH: Anyone can benefit from facial plastic surgery.
FACT: Not all patients are appropriate candidates for facial plastic surgery. Candidates for surgery must be mature, healthy, have realistic expectations about the surgery, and be able to accept the swelling, minor discomforts, and risks associated with the surgery. They also must be willing and capable of following the surgeons instructions for pre and post-operative care. Occasionally, a patient must be turned down because of general health, inappropriate attitudes toward a surgery, or unrealistic expectations. Looking for a Granite Bay Facelift? We can help, simply call and we can set up an appointment to discuss your options.
MYTH: At 68 years of age, I am too old for facial plastic surgery.
FACT: A person’s physical condition is more important then his chronological age in deciding whether to have facial plastic surgery. If you are healthy with no chronic debilitating diseases, facial plastic surgery can be performed safely, even if you are in your 70’s or 80’s. In fact, a facelift and/or eyelid surgery can have quite a dramatic effect on an older person, more so on one who is considerably younger.
If you are considering facial plastic surgery, but have not yet made up your mind, make an appointment with a qualified facial plastic surgeon. You should not hesitate to express your concerns, questions, and even fears. A qualified surgeon has the facts to help you make up your mind. You don’t need to worried about being pressured into a surgery you don’t really want or need. Facial plastic surgeons are skilled at determining whether a patient is a good candidate for surgery. Your surgeon wants to make every effort to prepare you for a positive surgical experience.
MYTH: A person has to be rich to be able to have facial plastic surgery.
FACT: In recent years, facial plastic surgery has become increasingly popular among people from all walks of life, young as well as old, men as well as women. Most people consider facial plastic surgery comparable to the purchase of a home entertainment system. It may not, however, be as expensive. In fact, the idea that surgery is something that only the wealthy can afford was an accepted belief among 56% of the general population, but it was considered true by only 26% of those people who have explored costs and actually had facial plastic surgery, according to a 1986 survey conducted by Market Facts Inc., for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The decision whether to have facial plastic surgery should be based on your values and on what place appearance occupies on your list of priorities.
MYTH: I have been having a very difficult time in my life in the last year, and I feel that facial plastic surgery will alleviate some of these problems.
FACT: The purpose of facial plastic surgery is to improve the patient’s appearance and thereby help the patient’s self-esteem. It is not a treatment for psychological, psychiatric, or social problems. It will neither increase earning potential nor make a lost friend return. Personal problems should be worked out as completely as possible before contemplating facial plastic surgery.
MYTH: If I get a facelift, my face will age faster and I will be committed to frequent visits to the doctor for more facelifts.
FACT: Surgery does not speed up the aging process. In fact, the face will continue to age at a normal rate after a facelift. The reason that people have repeat facelifts is that they enjoy a more youthful appearance and want to preserve it.
MYTH: A facelift corrects skin problems associated with aging.
FACT: A facelift operation removes excess facial skin to give a smoother appearance. It does not remedy skin disorders associated with aging, such as wrinkles and other changes associated with sunlight and exposure. Laser skin resurfacing is often beneficial for improving these skin changes. Facial skin continues to age at the same rate that it did before the operation. Your surgeon may be able to advise you about skin care techniques to slow the effects of aging on the skin.
MYTH:A facelift will make me look stretched or windblown.
FACT: Surgery is not an exact, predictable science. Regardless of knowledge and skill, surgeons are limited by such factors as the patient’s age, health, skin texture, bone structure and ability to heal, and by the nature of the problem. You and your surgeon should set realistic goals. You must trust your doctor’s judgement and realize that perfection is not a goal of facial plastic surgery. He will strive for the best results possible, but cannot guarantee them.
If you are considering facial plastic surgery, but have not yet made up your mind, make an appointment with a qualified facial plastic surgeon. You should not hesitate to express your concerns, questions and even fears. A qualified surgeon has the facts to help you make up your mind. You don’t need to worry about being pressured into a surgery you don’t really want or need. Facial plastic surgeons are skilled at determining whether a patient is a good candidate for surgery. Your surgeon wants to make every effort to prepare you for a positive surgical experience.
