The first thing people notice about you is your face. Whether it is your eyes or your smile, you are constantly aware of the impression you make on other people.  When wrinkles, sun spots and other evidence of aging become more noticeable, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures such as a Facelift, Eyelid Surgery, Rhinoplasty (Nose Job), Forehead Lift, Ear Surgery may be the answer. 

With cosmetic plastic surgery you can turn back the hands of time.  Not only will you look and feel younger you will also feel more confident and vibrant.

Please read more about some of the procedures that our New York City Plastic Surgeon, Dr Richard Swift perform at our Manhattan office that can help you look and feel years younger.

Forehead Lift ( Browlift )

A Browlift can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Using either traditional or minimally invasive (endoscopic) methods, browlifts involve the removal or alteration of the muscles above the eyes to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.

While browlifts are typically performed on patients aged 40-60 to counteract the effects of aging, anyone with lined or inelastic skin on the forehead - whether it's caused by muscle activity or inherited conditions - are eligible. The procedure is usually performed in an office-based facility or surgery center under local anesthesia and sedation.

Traditional browlift: First, the patient's hair is tied with rubber bands near the incision site. Then the surgeon makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top of the forehead. The incision may be placed further back or made along the skull bone joints to minimize visibility in patients with thinning hair or who are bald. Then the forehead skin is lifted, tissue is removed, muscles are adjusted and the eyebrows may be lifted. Excess skin is trimmed and the incision is closed with stitches or clips. The site is washed and the rubber bands are removed. Some surgeons will protect the stitches with gauze or bandages.

Endoscopic browlift: After the hair is tied as with the traditional procedure, the surgeon makes three to five short incisions (less than an inch long) behind the hairline. The endoscope is placed in one so the surgeon can see beneath the skin without having to make a large incision, while he or she lifts the skin and adjusts muscles through the other incisions. If the eyebrows are lifted they will be stitched or screwed (temporarily) into place. The site is washed and the rubber bands are removed. Some surgeons will protect the stitches with gauze or bandages.

With both procedures, you will be on your feet and able to wash your hair in a day or two, and many patients return to work or school in 7-10 days or less. Swelling and bruising should fade by the third week.

Click here for more information on Forehead Lifts (Browlifts)

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Ear surgery typically serves two functions: setting prominent ears back closer to the head, and reducing the size of large ears. Surgery may also be helpful for "lop ear," "cupped ear" and "shell ear," large or stretched earlobes, and lobes with large creases and wrinkles. Surgeons are also able to construct new ears for patients who are missing them from injury or other causes.

Although surgery for adults is available, the operation is most often performed on children aged four to 14 -- ears are almost fully grown by age four, and early surgery can prevent a child from being teased in school. The procedure lasts from two to three hours and may be performed in a hospital, office-based facility or an outpatient surgery center under general or local anesthesia.

During surgery, a small incision is made behind the ear, revealing the cartilage which is then sculpted, bent into its new position and stitched into place. In some types of otoplasty skin is removed but the cartilage is left in one piece and merely bent back on itself for a smaller-looking ear. A bandage is wrapped around the head to ensure the new positioning. To achieve better balance, both ears may be operated on even if only one has a problem.

Patients of all ages usually feel back to normal after a few hours, although the ears may ache or throb for a few days. Adults often return to work in five days and children may return to school in seven. Otoplasty leaves a faint scar on each ear that fades with time. You should not expect your new ears to match exactly; even normal, natural ears are not identical.

Click here for more information on Otoplasty (Ear Pinning Surgery)

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