Plastic Surgery by Costa Rica plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery Center

Facelift Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery

A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can't stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping. Learn more about facelift surgery and if its right for you.

The skin of the face and neck tends to loosen with age, gradually forming wrinkles around the eyelids, on the forehead and on the sides of the mouth. Pouches or "jowls" may develop along the jawline and extra folds may form over the front part of the neck, forming a "double chin".

Face and neck lifts are a surgeon's way to restore what time and gravity have stolen. The skin is attached to the underlying muscle by a sheet of fibrous tissue. With time, the sheet weakens causing the overlying skin to sag. At the same time, the fat beneath the skin also becomes loosely attached, creating further droopiness. Face and neck lifts tighten this sheet, naturally recreating a more youthful profile and redistributing the loose skin.

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to provide a more youthful appearance to the eyes. This is done by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. This procedure can also improve vision in cases where excess skin of the upper eyelids has drooped to such an extent that it interferes with the peripheral vision.

Cosmetic nose job surgery, also called rhinoplasty, is one of the most common procedures plastic surgeons perform.

A rhinoplasty can alter the shape and appearance of your nose by changing the underlying cartilage and bone. Nose surgery can make a large nose smaller, make a wide nose thinner, and make a long nose shorter. A nose job can also make a big tip more refined. It can remove a hump or build up a flat nose. The possibilities are endless, and your surgeon should tailor an operation for you that addresses your concerns but does not give you more than you wanted.

There are two main options for the incisions that your plastic surgeon can use in a nose job: closed rhinoplasty and open rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty involves incision confined to the inside of your nose. Swelling improves soon and recover is fast. However, your surgeon may have a limited ability to achieve some changes in your nose because of her or his inability to see parts of the inside of the nose. Open rhinoplasty, alternatively, involves a small incision on the underside of your nasal tip, between the two nostrils, in addition to incisions on the inside of your nose. Some surgeons prefer the open rhinoplasty because it allows them greater visibility of some portions of the nose.

Unfortunately, swelling lasts longer. Either way, if you sleep with your head elevated for several nights following your nose job surgery (preferably one week), then you will find that your swelling subsides much faster. When deciding on open vs. closed rhinoplasty, you should heed the advice of your plastic surgeon.

Anesthesia can either be sedation or general. The Length of surgery ranges from 1-3 hours. You will go home the same day. Discomfort is moderate. If your nasal bones are broken as part of the procedure, expect 4-10 days of prescription pain medication. If not, expect 2-5 days. Bruising improves in 3-7 days if your nasal bones are not broken, and 7-14 days if they are. Black eyes are not unusual during this time. Swelling Improves in 1-6 weeks following closed rhinoplasty and 1-6 months following open rhinoplasty. You can minimize this time by sleeping with your head elevated for several nights after your nose surgery. Numbness of the tip of your nose is expected and will last for several weeks. Bandages usually include a cast and tape, which are removed in 5-10 days. Stitches on the inside of your nose do not require removal. Stitches on the outside of your nose, if you had an open rhinoplasty, will be removed in 4-7 days. Packing may be used to control bleeding. If so, it will be removed in 1-7 days. You will be presentable in public in 1-2 weeks, but you may need make-up to conceal your bruises. You may return to work within a week, but your appearance will be the limiting factor. Exercise may be resumed in 3-4 weeks. Avoid contact sports for 6 weeks if your nasal bones were broken during surgery. Your final result: may be seen as soon as 3 months or as late as two years after surgery. The majority see their final result within 6 months.

Know exactly what you want changed and how you want it changed before you see your plastic surgeon. Make a list.
Avoid all nasal medications for three months before surgery. Many nasal medications can interfere with healing.
For the first two weeks following nasal surgery, use a humidifier and nasal saline spray to keep your nasal passages moist and comfortable.
Sleep in a recliner or with your head elevated on pillows for the first several days to minimize swelling.

Choosing to have plastic surgery is an important decision. One decision more and more women are making everyday is to have breast augmentation, a procedure to enhance the size of your breasts by using breast implants. By inserting breast implants, plastic surgeons are able to increase a woman's bust line by one or more bra cup sizes. Advances in breast implant technology and surgical techniques are making breast augmentation a popular option among women of all ages desiring a change in the way they look. The decision to undergo breast augmentation may result in a more flattering, better proportioned figure, more clothing options, and may enhance your confidence and self-esteem.

Breast implants come in a variety of shapes, surface textures, and sizes. Depending on the desired shape you wish to achieve, you and your plastic surgeon may choose a round or contoured breast implant shape. Generally, the larger you want your cup size, the larger the breast implant the plastic surgeon will consider. Generally, all saline-filled breast implants are made of a silicone elastomer shell with a filling valve, for filling with the saline solution. However, to better meet each individual woman’s needs, breast implants come in different shapes and sizes. Round breast implants tend to produce a more rounded appearance to the upper breast. Shaped breast implants are designed to reflect the slope of the breast.

Breast Lift

Over time, factors such as pregnancy, nursing and the force of gravity take their toll on a woman's breasts. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. A breast lift can raise and reshape sagging breasts, provide a fuller more balanced shape, as well as reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. Often, if only a small amount of lift is needed, breast augmentation with implants results in a fuller lifted breast without further surgery. Breast lift can also be combined with a breast augmentation if increased size is desired as well as a lift.

As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts often lose their shape and firmness and begin to sag. A Breast lift, is a surgical procedure to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Breast lifts can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. Breast implants inserted in conjunction with the lift can increase both their firmness and their size.
A Breast lift usually take 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. Techniques vary, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision that follows the natural contour of the breast. Incisions outline the area from which breast skin will be removed and will define the new location for the nipple. When the excess skin has been removed, the areola & nipple are moved to the higher position. The skin surrounding the areola is then brought down and together to reshape the breast. Stitches are usually located around the areola in a vertical line extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.

After the surgery you'll wear an elastic bandage or a surgical bra over gauze dressings. The breasts will be swollen, bruised, and uncomfortable for a day or two, there is some pain but it shouldn't be severe. Medications prescribed by your surgeon will usually be enough to make you comfortable.

Within a few days, Your bandages or surgical bra will be swapped out for a soft support bra. You'll need to wear this bra 24 hours a day for three to four weeks, over the layer of gauze. The stitches should be removed after a week or two.

You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery. Numbness usually fades as the swelling decreases over the next five weeks or so. In some patients it may last a year or more, and occasionally it may be permanent, but these are the inherent risks you will need to understand with this procedure.

Breast Reduction

Patients with very large breasts may suffer from a variety of symptoms. The weight of the breast tissue itself would cause problems; but many women with large breasts find that this weight causes back strain and discomfort. The bra may even become painful as the bra straps cut into the shoulders. We work with many patients who suffer from these problems. In fact, some of our happiest patients are breast reduction patients who say that we have improved the quality of their lives.