Show #430 Airing Sunday 4/20/08
If the reflection in your mirror doesn’t reflect how you feel, perhaps you’re ready for a refreshing change. New cosmetic surgery techniques can work wonders! Here to bring us up to date is Dr. Joyesh Raj, a plastic surgeon at Fairview Hospital.
Question: As the years pass, what changes make us look older?
Answer: As we age, our forehead can descend and our eyes can look saggy, for an overall droopy look. That makes people look tired, worn out, always angry, or sad, and those are the complaints people generally lodge.
And many times, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They look in the mirror and see someone who appears worn out, and then their mood starts to fit that look.
Luckily, there are several procedures that can enhance a person’s look, and therefore their outlook on life.
Question: What can be done to spruce up our looks?
Answer: One involves the upper eyelids. As we age, we can develop excess skin on the upper lids, making our eyes look saggy. In severe cases, it can actually impede vision. We can remove the excess skin in a simple procedure using numbing medication. Any scars can be hidden in the crease of the upper eyelid.
Question: Some of us develop "bags" under our eyes. What can we do?
Answer: First, baggy eyes might be caused by allergies, and that should be ruled out before any work is done.
Skin and fat can be removed to reshape the under-eye appearance. This procedure may leave some bruising and swelling, and has a longer recovery. Any scars can be hidden insider the eyelid or externally along the last line.
Question: Can we stop forehead wrinkles and drooping?
Answer: Yes. The procedure done is based on how severely the forehead is drooping. In a severe case, one might need to make a full incision from one side of the forehead to the other, but that is becoming more and more uncommon.
Now, several small incisions can be made in the hairline (the scars are therefore hidden), allowing the physician to re-position the forehead and eyebrows.
The results of these surgeries, which are often done together, can be very dramatic.
Question: How long does it take to recover?
Answer: Generally, patients don’t seem to complain much about pain with these procedures, although there are typically black and blue areas and some swelling.
Patients are simply asked to take it easy for some time. The most difficult part is sleeping in an upright position or on several pillows to facilitate drainage.
If you simply have your upper eyelids done, recovery is about 7-14 days. However, it’s very common to have all three surgeries at the same time, and that can result in a 10-14 day recovery period.
Question: How long will the results last?
Answer: Results don’t technically “last.” To understand the results, the question has to be rephrased a bit. These surgeries “reset the clock.” And then the clock advances again. So say you’re 50, and the surgery makes you look 40 again. You continue to age from that point. In 10 years, you’ll look 50 again . . .but your actual age will be 60.
The procedures Dr. Raj talked about today can make you look as young as you feel. Maybe even younger! And as you saw from the pictures, your new look can be very natural. To learn more, give his office a call at the number that’s next.
