Cosmetic Surgery

The hands are the only area of the body other than the face that cannot be hidden beneath clothing. The skin thins and gets splotchy as aging hands lose fat, exposing veins and tendons. Fat grafting can fill in the layer between the skin and the... Full Answer

Of all the cosmetic surgical procedures, perhaps the biggest "bang for the buck" is liposuction of the neck and jowls. Any weight gain causes the definition between the face and neck to become obscured. With a short procedure under local... Full Answer

Before neck liposuction, a topographic map of the fat of the neck and jowls, and even the cheeks, will be drawn with marker in the preop area. Liposuction of this area can be performed either under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or... Full Answer

Liposuction of the neck and jowls is a surprisingly pain-free procedure. My patients generally require a few Percocet tablets the day of surgery. By the next day, Tylenol is usually all that is necessary. On the other hand, you'll look absolutely... Full Answer

Modern grafting uses fat from any convenient location. Most people have plenty to give up. I prefer the abdomen or the hip. I make a quarter-inch incision inside the belly button or under the bathing suit line. I numb the fat and use tiny tubes... Full Answer

Some plastic surgeons do not believe fat grafting works; others swear by it. I am a strong believer in fat grafting. Very few studies are available to guide the clinician. The variability in this technique comes from many factors. From the... Full Answer

Georgia-based plastic surgeon Miles Graivier, M.D., has come up with the Surgiwire incisionless dissector, a brilliant device that lifts the skin through two tiny puncture wounds. The Surgiwire is a very thin wire that saws through tissue,... Full Answer

The direct excision of the nasolabial folds is a powerful way to reduce deep nasolabial folds -- better than face-lifting and more long-lasting than filling. Under local anesthesia, the folds are cut out as if they were moles. The cheek fat can... Full Answer

The direct neck skin excision is a seldom-used technique that may be making a comeback. It can eliminate hanging neck skin, but it leaves a zigzag scar in the neck. Through this incision, fat can be removed and the neck bands eliminated. The... Full Answer

How compelling it would be to place two sutures strung from ear to ear under the chin, tightening until it looked just right. That is basically what suture suspension is. Only a few plastic surgeons use this technique. I have removed several of... Full Answer