Health Matters

The newest way to rejuvenate your look with plastic surgery
The Manchester Journal
Article Launched: 08/29/2008 09:48:57 AM EDT

Time, heredity, and lifestyle all contribute to the signs of facial aging. Today there exist many new plastic surgery techniques that are proven and very effective in helping someone look rejuvenated and refreshed, while still providing a natural look. Some have very little recovery time and they all strive to give the best results with minimal scarring.

When you visit a plastic surgeon, make sure he or she takes the time to sit down and consult with you about what you want to achieve. The plastic surgeon should discuss with you what you can realistically expect from a technique and what your results could look like. He or she should talk about the limitations and benefits of each technique and help you decide which is best for you.

Below are some of the techniques Dr. David Metzner, a board certified plastic surgeon in Manchester,regularly uses to help his patients look younger and revitalized:

A Facelift is one of the most well-known techniques for facial rejuvenation. With today’s methods, including a hidden scar technique, a facelift can effectively improve many areas such as sagging, loose tissue in the mid-face; deep folds of loose skin at the sides of the nose and mouth; jowls; and excess fat or loose skin in the neck area.

The Neck lift (platysmaplasty) is a group of treatments that can address problems with the fat, muscle, and skin of the neck and jaw line. Is your neck overly full and out of proportion with your face? Have you lost weight only to find sagging skin in your neck? Do you have jowls or that insensitively described “turkey waddle?” Liposuction or a neck lift might be able to help.

Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) surgery removes the excess fat and wrinkled, droopy skin of the upper eyelids. It also eliminates bags under the eyes and tightens the lower eyelid skin. Eyelid surgery helps to eliminate the appearance of being constantly tired, resulting in a more youthful and rested appearance.

A Forehead lift corrects the sagging or low position of the eyebrows. It also softens creases across the forehead and frown lines between the brows. The result is a more relaxed and invigorated appearance. With the endoscopic method, only tiny incisions are made. They stay hidden within the hair, and no scalp or hair is removed.

Non-Surgical Enhancements include Botox, which is very useful for minimizing frown and crow’s-feet lines; laser and chemical resurfacing that reduce fine-line wrinkles; and injectable products that can help to fill in deeper creases and wrinkles.

So, if you are thinking of refreshing your look, make sure you discuss all your options with a board certified plastic surgeon. If you don’t feel comfortable with what the surgeon advises, get another opinion. Plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation has come a long way since the too-tight, drawn-back look of some surgeries. With today’s techniques, you can have a procedure done to re-energize your look and still look natural.

David M. Metzner, MD, is a board certified plastic surgeon with special interests in minimizing the effects of aging, redefining facial features, and contouring the body. His office is located in Manchester and can be reached by calling 362-5655 or through his Web site, www.drmetzner.com. “Health Matters” is a weekly column meant to educate readers about their personal health, public health matters, and public policy as it affects health care.