Is your teenager having facial plastic surgery for the right reasons?
When you accompany your teen to his or her initial facial plastic surgery consultation, don't be surprised if the surgeon spends a lot of time discussing your child's reasons for having surgery. Appropriate motivations are essential to achieving a satisfactory outcome. Use this checklist to determine how your teen's attitudes measure up:
Appropriate reasons:
to correct a feature that is out of harmony with the rest of my face.
to improve my appearance or facial function.
to minimize a scar or birthmark that attracts unwanted attention.
to feel better about the way I look.
Inappropriate reasons:
everyone my age is having their nose done--it's a status thing.
the kids in school will like me better if I look more attractive.
my parents want me to have the procedure.
I'll never get any dates unless I change the way I look.
Ask The Surgeon
I'm only 30, but I already have several deep wrinkles in my forehead area. I really don't want a major surgical procedure. Is ther a simpler way?
You may be a candidate for endoscopic browlift, a relatively new technique that is being used to treat patients who have deep wrinkles in the brow area. Several half-inch incisions are made in the scalp, and a tiny video camera and special endoscopic instruments are introduced. These are used to lift the skin and tighten the muscles. Sutures or tiny screws may be used to fix tissue in its new position. A tight headband is worn for several days afterward to hold the skin in place while it heals. This technique is only recommended for patients with gook skin tone and a minimum of sagging.
Beauty Tip
After having facial plastic surgery, try these tips to prevent or delay further signs of aging:
Reduce tension, Stress causes wrinkles by tightening tiny muscles in you face. Relax!
Exercise. Regular workouts increase the flow of blood to your face, improving both skin and muscle tone.
Drink pleanty of water. It's the best way to hydrate your skin. Eating water-rich fruits and vegetables is another plus.
Sleep on your back. This promotes healing and actually prevents the formation of some types of facial creases.
Limit alcohol. It dehydrates your skin and can damage fragile facial blook vessels.
Stop smoking. It decreases your skin's blood supply, making the skin thinner and more prone to wrinkling.
Limit sun exposure. Wearing a hat and UV-protective sunglasses can reduce the occurrence of eye creases. Use a sunsereen faithfully when you cannot avoid the sun.
What's New?
A new superficial skin resurfacing treatment called microdermabrasion has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Popular in Europe for about 10 years, the new procedure-sometimes referred to as a power peel or Parisian peel-diminishes surface skin problems without the stinging or flaking sometimes associated with other superficial peels.
The microdermabrasion procedure uses a hand-held device to blast fine particles of aluminum oxide against the skin and vacuum away the debris. The resulting trauma stimulates collagen production and increases blood flow, giving the skin a healthy glow. Microdermabrasion also helps diminish acne scars, enlarged pores, discoloration, and surface lines.
Unlike other resurfacing procedures, microdermabrasion appears safe for Asian, Hispanic, and black skin, all of which are prone to pigment irregularities. After microdermabrasion, the skin may be slightly sensitive, but no redness or puffiness is evident. Makeup can be reapplied right away. The procedure, which takes 30 minutes, typically is repeated four or five times at weekly intervals.
I'm only 30, but I already have several deep wrinkles in my forehead area. I really don't want a major surgical procedure. Is ther a simpler way?
A new superficial skin resurfacing treatment called microdermabrasion has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Popular in Europe for about 10 years, the new procedure-sometimes referred to as a power peel or Parisian peel-diminishes surface skin problems without the stinging or flaking sometimes associated with other superficial peels.