Frequently Asked Questions about Facial Cosmetic Surgery
What types of doctors perform cosmetic surgery?
There are many qualified doctors from various specialties that perform cosmetic surgery. Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Facial Plastic Surgeons, Ophthalmologists and other types of surgeons perform cosmetic procedures. Some specialties can mislead the public by indicating that their particular area of practice is the most qualified to perform cosmetic surgery. Again, all the specialties mentioned above have contributed significant advancements to the field of cosmetic surgery. There are excellent doctors all over the world in all the above specialized fields who have the experience and patient results to support their qualifications. Although any doctor can legally perform cosmetic facial surgery, it is not the degree that is the qualification. You would not let your pediatrician or psychiatrist perform a facelift even though they are a doctor. It is the training of the doctor. For instance, Dermatologists have added much progress to cosmetic surgery with the development of tumescent liposuction and lasers. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons pioneered and developed many head and neck cosmetic procedures as did ENT doctors. Ophthalmologists have defined the anatomy and techniques for many cosmetic eye procedures. To say that these doctors are not qualified is simply untrue. See the AAOMS’ document on Comparative Training of Surgical Specialties.
What is the difference between cosmetic and plastic surgery?
Essentially nothing. Cosmetic surgery is defined as surgery to correct defects especially of the face. Plastic surgery originally meant to deal with soft tissue but now the term encompasses many modalities including hard tissue surgeries. The term plastic surgery is defined as surgery concerned with the restoration, construction, reconstruction, or improvement in the shape and appearance of body structures that are missing, defective, damaged or misshapen.
Does an oral surgeon have the same training as a plastic surgeon?
In some areas yes. Oral and plastic surgeons are both trained in cosmetic facial surgery. They both do a year of General Surgery internship. In other areas the focus of training is different. The oral surgeon spends the vast majority of his training on the head and neck while the plastic surgeon only spends a small part of his training in that area.
What is Restylane®?
Does BOTOX® Cosmetic fill in wrinkles like Restylane?
No. BOTOX® paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles.
What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® is Botulinum Toxin in extremely small doses and very tightly controlled form.
Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
Can Restylane® be used anywhere on the face?
Restylane has been used in more than 1.5 million treatments in over 60 countries to correct a variety of wrinkles. In the U.S. the FDA has approved Restylane for wrinkles and folds like the ones from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Your doctor will consult with you prior to your injection regarding common treatment areas.
How can I look younger?
Some of the signs of aging can be reversed by relatively simple procedures. See “What We Do”-
I always look tired. What can I do?
Usually a tired look is because of eyelid (see Blepharoplasty [eyelid surgery]) or brow problems (see Brow Lift) but can be due to general wrinkles (see Restylane) or drooping of the facial tissues (see Sculptra and face lift procedures).
What are Chemical Peels?
Chemical peel is helpful for wrinkles, light acne scarring and irregular pigmentation such as freckles and age spots. Pre-cancerous conditions such as keratoses (thick, rough, reddish growths) also respond well to this procedure.
What areas can be treated through laser resurfacing?
The laser is used to reduce tiny wrinkles, acne scars and other minor skin imperfections, especially around the mouth and eyes. Laser Skin Resurfacing can improve sun-damaged and acne scarred skin problems that often cause concern to both men and women. It can also be used to treat scars from trauma.
What is Obagi?
Obagi® is a cosmeseutical line that is designed for aging and sundamaged skin.
What is Dermabrasion?
Facial Dermabrasion is the removal of imperfections of the skin, as acne and other scarring, by abrading the superficial layer with a diamond wheel or fraise instrument.