Facial cosmetic surgery is performed to improve appearance, correct physical malformations resulting from aging, disease, injury and birth defects, and to restore normal function. Due to recent advances and specialized techniques, many facial cosmetic surgery procedures are minimally invasive and can be performed in the office setting using local and/or intravenous sedation. As a result, patients are able to recover quicker and benefit from the cost savings that office-based surgery provides.
Because of their surgical and dental background, the doctors at Berks Oral Surgery are uniquely qualified in the surgical treatment of the functional and aesthetic aspects of the face, mouth, teeth and jaws. Extensive education and training in surgical procedures involving soft tissue (skin and muscle) and hard tissue (bone and cartilage) make oral & maxillofacial surgeons finely attuned to the importance of harmony between facial appearance and function.
COMMON PROCEDURES
CHIN SURGERY (GENIOPLASTY)
A genioplasty is performed to increase or reduce the length and projection of the chin. In many situations, an advanced genioplasty (forward movement) will provide enhanced chin projection and improve the soft tissue drape of the neck. The best candidate for chin surgery has a receding or protruding chin and a normal dental bite. For patients requiring bite correction, jaw surgery in conjunction with genioplasty may be necessary.
There are two basic procedures used in genioplasty; one involves moving the chin bone in any direction then fixing it securely with tiny wires or screws, and the other uses a chin implant to add size and increase the chin’s prominence. Chin surgery is performed in our office-based surgical suite and recovery time is usually one week.
BOTOX TREATMENT AND INJECTABLE FILLERS (RESTYLANE)
After BOTOX Treatment
Before BOTOX Treatment
BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is a revolutionary approach to treating facial wrinkles. It is most commonly used to treat crow’s feet, worry lines, forehead wrinkles and laugh lines that contribute to the signs of facial aging. These dynamic wrinkle lines are treatable with BOTOX® Cosmetic. Cosmetic denervation is the process of injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic into the tiny facial muscles that create the wrinkles. The treatment is performed in the office and usually requires no local anesthetic. The injections are relatively painless and patients will start to appreciate results within 72 hours.
Injectable fillers are synthetic or naturally occurring materials that are placed using small needles to plump wrinkles or grooves in the skin. The results are instantaneous although the duration varies with the material used. Most commonly, fillers are used for treatment of deep naso-labial folds and lip enhancement.
CHEEK BONE IMPLANTS (MALAR AUGMENTATION)
Cheekbone implants create the appearance of higher, more prominent cheekbones and better facial balance. This provides patients with a more youthful and rested appearance. The surgical procedure is performed in our surgical suite using small incisions placed inside the mouth. Patients can normally return to their normal activities within 5 to 7 days.
FACIAL AND NECK LIPOSUCTION
Liposuction can help sculpt the face by removing excess fat, most commonly from the submental and neck regions. This is performed through a tiny incision using a small tube and vacuum device. Patients usually return to normal activities within 5 to 7 days. Liposuction is often performed in conjunction with such procedures as genioplasty and corrective jaw surgery.
LIP ENHANCEMENT
The upper and lower lips can be shaped with fillers to provide a more aesthetic or youthful appearance. Augmentation is performed using various materials that help “plump” the lips, creating fullness and decreasing vertical lines. Based upon the initial treatment, sometimes additional procedures may be needed to enhance results.
EYELID SURGERY (BLEPHAROPLASTY)
As patients age, the eyelids have excess skin and herniated fat that can have deleterious effects on facial appearance and visual acuity. A blepharoplaty is performed by removing fat, usually along with excess skin, from the upper and lower eyelids. Incisions are placed in cosmetic areas around the eyelids or in natural skin creases. Blepharoplasty can be done alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery procedures, including a browlift or BOTOX® injections. Recovery time is usually 7 to 10 days.
