Surgical and Non Surgical Facial Rejuvenation

As people age and their skin loses it elasticity,  the forehead can begin to droop and the eyebrows can lose their arch.  The eyelids can also develop bagginess or droopiness.  The overall effect is to make a person look tired.

The two most popular techniques for addressing these problems are  brow lift surgery and Botox.  These cosmetic procedures can restore a youthful appearance to the face.

This is an invasive is a surgical procedure requiring anesthetic and should be preformed in a hospital or dedicated surgical facility.  In a brow lift, the surgeon makes small incisions at the edge of the hairline.  The surgeon pulls the skin of the forehead tight and removes the excess skin before closing the incisions.

Brow lifts can tighten hooding in the eyelid, restore the arch to the brow and eliminate wrinkles around the yes and forehead.  Brow lift surgery can address several problems in the same area with one procedure and can be performed with other anti aging surgery.

As with any surgery, there will be small scars, but they will be covered by the hairline.  If additional correction to the eyelids is necessary, incisions can be made in the creases of the lids at this time.  Some plastic surgeons are utilizing endoscopic surgery which allows them to make even smaller incisions.  Bruising and swelling can be expected following this procedure.

Doctors usually recommend a two week recovery period following this procedure.  Some discomfort may remain for as long as a month.  Any surgery involves risks, including infection, nerve damage, numbness and damage to hair follicles.

Results may be visible immediately and can last for years.  It will be necessary to wait for the swelling and bruising to recede before the full results can be evaluated. Cosmetic surgery is costly and is not usually covered by medical insurance.  Your surgeon may be able to advise you about cosmetic surgery loans that may be available.

Botox offers an alternative to surgery.  Botox is a chemical toxin which causes temporary paralysis of facial muscles.  A trained cosmetic surgeon will administer injections to specific muscles.  The resulting paralysis causes wrinkles to be smoothed out, giving the face a more youthful appearance.

It is possible to use Botox to smooth wrinkles in the forehead, around the eyes and around the mouth.  Botox is a temporary remedy and injections must be repeated about every six months to maintain the benefits.  No anesthesia is needed for Botox injections and the procedure can be performed in  doctor's office.  Side effects include bleeding and bruising at the injection site and eyelid drooping due to over-injection.

Botox has only a temporary effect so eyelid droop will correct itself as the injection wears off.  The recovery period for this procedure is very short, you can return to daily activities the next day.  There is little pain involved.

Botox is less expensive than surgery and has a much shorter recovery period.  Like cosmetic surgery, it is not covered by most medical insurance plans.  You should discuss the alternatives with your plastic surgeon to determine the best procedure to fit your individual needs.

Http://www.plasticsurgery.org

http://www.emedicine.medscape.com

http://www.nim.nih.gov/medlineplus