| Procedures |
Description |
| Rhinoplasty
(nose surgery) |
Aesthetic
surgery of the nose where cartilage and bone
are reshaped and reconstructed; excess bone
or cartilage may be removed. Breathing problems
may be corrected in a combined aesthetic and
functional procedure called "septorhinoplasty."
This
procedure is best done after a young person
has finished growing. This usually means age
13-15 for girls and after age 15 for boys, although
treatment may be recommended at an earlier age
if internal defects are present. |
| Mentoplasty
(chin surgery) |
A
procedure to help balance a profile through insertion
of a small plastic implant, which augments a receding
chin. Mentoplasties are often done in conjunction
with nose surgeries, and may be combined with
liposuction or lipectomy procedures to remove
excess fat from beneath the chin. |
| Dermabrasion
(Skin Resurfacing) |
A
sanding procedure that is used to diminish severe
cases of cystic acne that have failed to respond
to other medical treatments. In some cases, a
series of glycolic acid peels may be done to help
clean the pores and prevent the production of
new acne lesions. |
| Laserbrasion
(Skin Resurfacing) |
Another
method of skin resurfacing procedures is by
means of a device called a carbon dioxide laser.
Laserbrasion has made it possible to treat deeper
facial blemishes, various types of birthmarks
and skin conditions like rosacea successfully.
Infants and young children may be treated safely,
thus minimizing some of the emotional trauma
associated with disfiguring facial birthmarks.
Dermabrasion,
chemical peeling or laser therapy may be recommended
for teens who want to smooth out deep scars
left by acne. |
| Otoplasty
(ear surgery) |
A
procedure to "pin back" protruding or overly
prominent ears or to correct ear deformities.
Ear procedures can reduce the size of the ears,
refine their shape, or position them closer
to the head. This surgery can be done as early
age five or six. |
| Scar
Revision Surgery |
Procedures
to help minimize visible facial scars that will
not minimize with time. A variety of techniques
may be used, and often it is necessary to use
more than one procedure in sequence. Although
no scar can be eliminated entirely, facial plastic
surgeons have a number of techniques for making
them less obvious and more easily camouflaged. |
| Facial
Implants |
Facial
implants may be used to add definition to a
teenager's receding chin line. In cases where
the cheekbones are underdeveloped, a small mid-face
implant may be recommended. Facial implants
are generally used after the patient has finished
growing. |
| Orthognathic
Surgery |
This
surgical procedure is often recommended for
young people with severe problems with their
"bite" or jaw alignment. This type of surgery
is used to correct structural abnormalities
of the jaw that impede normal function.
In
this case, the facial plastic and reconstructive
surgeon often works in cooperation with the
individual's dentist, orthodontist, or oral/
maxillofacial surgeon to surgically reposition
the upper or lower jaw. It is generally done
after puberty. |
