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Who is a candidate? |
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A face lift is an option for those who experience the following:
- Loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone of the face and neck
- Appearance of jowls and deep creases between the base of the nose and the corners of the mouth
- Belief that you lack youthful chin and neck contours
- Tired facial appearance
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What are the intended results? |
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A face lift is intended to provide patients with a more rested and youthful contour to the face and neck. |
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What is the face-lift procedure like? |
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Face lifts range in size from “mini” to “standard” depending upon on location and extent of skin laxity. The operation is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia. Incisions are made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the lobe and ending in or below the hairline behind the ear. The subcutaneous layers and neck muscles are tightened, the facial skin is re-draped and lifted and the excess skin is removed. |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Our patients go home with head and neck wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed the next day. Oral medication might be prescribed to control minimal initial discomfort. Sutures are removed within 14 days. Bruising and swelling decrease to “socially acceptable” levels in 2-6 weeks. The final result is evident in 6-8 weeks with continued improvement for 6-12 months. Some patients benefit from additional lifting 12-24 months after the initial face-lift surgery. |
Eyelid Enhancement
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Who is a candidate? |
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Blepharoplasty is an option for those that experience the following:
- Excessive sagging or wrinkling of upper or lower eyelid skin
- Excess upper eyelid skin that interferes with vision
- Loss of your natural upper eyelid crease
- Puffy pouches of fat in the upper or lower lids that creates a tired or aged appearance
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What are the intended results? |
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Eyelid surgery is intended to provide you with a more youthful and rested appearance of the eyes. Also, this surgery helps with widening of visual fields if excessive upper lid skin has partially blocked vision. It will soften wrinkle lines around your eyes, as well. |
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What is the blepharoplasty procedure like? |
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The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local or general anesthesia. The incisions are made where the natural crease should be in the upper lids and below the lash line in the lower lids. Excess fat and skin are removed. If only excess fat is present in the lower lids, it may be removed through an incision inside the lower lids with no external incision or scar. |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Our patient’s sutures are usually removed within 3-7 days. Initial mild discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Bruising and sensitivity to light last at least a week or two. The swelling progressively disappears over several weeks to months. |
Rhinoplasty
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Who is a candidate? |
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Rhinoplasty is an option for those that experience the following:
- Abnormal appearance of the nose as a result of birth defects, injury or disease
- A nose that is cosmetically unattractive or doesn’t “fit” with other facial features
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What are the intended results? |
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Nose reshaping is intended to provide the patient with a more attractive nasal shape and a nose that is in better proportion to other facial features. |
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What is the rhinoplasty procedure like? |
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The operation is done on an outpatient basis under sedation and local or general anesthesia. There are three types of rhinoplasty procedures.
- Standard Rhinoplasty – Incisions are made inside the nostrils. The nasal bones, cartilage and soft tissue are reshaped to improve the external contour.
- Open Rhinoplasty – Frequently used for difficult or larger noses. Involves one external incision across the columella. The nasal bones, cartilage and soft tissue are reshaped under direct vision.
- Tip-Plasty – If only the nasal tip is abnormal, it may be corrected with either a standard or open approach.
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Our patients go home with an external cast or splint in place. The nose may be packed for 24-48 hours. The cast or splint is usually removed in 7-10 days. Oral medication might be prescribed to control minimal initial discomfort. External sutures are removed within 4-6 days, while internal sutures dissolve. Bruising and swelling progressively decrease in 2-4 weeks. Semifinal result is evident in 3 months. Final result is evident in 12-14 months which is the time necessary for complete tissue softening. |
Breast Augmentation
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Who is a candidate? |
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Breast augmentation is an option for women who desire larger breasts or who have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other. Also, women with a moderate degree of breast sagging and smaller breasts, their problem can be solved by enlargement. |
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What are the intended results? |
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Breast enlargement is intended to provide the patient with larger and more shapely breasts which can result in a more positive self image. |
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What is the procedure like? |
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The operation is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. A small incision is made under the breast, around the nipple or under the arm and a breast implant is inserted under the breast tissue and the underlying muscle. Saline or silicone implants may be used. |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Patients experience initial discomfort which is controlled with oral medication. Light activities can be resumed as tolerated. Aerobic activities can be started in about 4-6 weeks or as advised by Dr. Roche. |
Breast Reduction
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Who is a candidate? |
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Breast reduction is an option for women who have large, heavy breasts, which may be the cause of breathing difficulties, back, shoulder and neck pain, poor posture, bra-strap indentations and chafing under the breasts. Larger breasts may also decrease a sense of attractiveness and self-confidence. Candidates have large breasts that interfere with normal activities or with exercise. |
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What are the intended results? |
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Breast reduction is intended to provide patients with the following:
- More attractive breast contour and smaller breast size
- Freedom from health problems associated with excessively large breasts
- Improved self image
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What is the procedure like? |
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The operation is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Incisions are made around the pigmented area (the nipple-areola complex) and extend vertically below the nipple and in the fold under the breast. The nipple-areola complex is moved upward to the desired location and excess breast tissue, fat and skin are removed. |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Incisions are covered with light dressings. Initial discomfort subsides daily and can be controlled with oral medications. Scars usually fade in 6-12 months and surgery will probably reduce or possibly eliminate the ability to breast feed. |
Body Contouring – Liposuction
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Who is a candidate? |
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Liposuction is an option for people who experience the following:
- Excess subcutaneous fat, which is resistant to diet and exercise.
- The desire to change the contours of the body. Commonly involved areas are the anterior part of the neck, upper arms, male chest, trunk, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees , calves and ankles.
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What are the intended results? |
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Liposuction is intended to provide patients with a permanent improvement in the contour and proportion of the treated areas. This results in a more flattering figure or physique, in or out of clothing. |
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What is the liposuction procedure like? |
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The operation is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Small suction tubes (cannulas) are inserted through very short incisions placed in inconspicuous location near the fat deposits and excess fat is removed. |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Patients can go home with a compression garment covering the treated areas. Compression is advised for about 6 weeks as it helps reduce swelling and helps you achieve the final result more quickly. Once pain and soreness decrease, it is frequently more comfortable to wear Lycra or Spandex exercise pants. The bruising and swelling usually subside in 4-6 weeks and the final result takes shape over 2-6 months. |
Abdominal Contouring – Abdominoplasty
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Who is a candidate? |
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Abdominoplasty is an option for people who experience a loose or sagging abdominal wall skin frequently associated with abnormal relaxation following secondary to multiple pregnancies or prior surgery. |
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What are the intended results? |
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A tummy tuck is intended to improve a patient’s abdominal contour. |
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What is the procedure like? |
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The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia either within a hospital or in an outpatient setting.A mini-abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal wall skin only (shortest scar) and in some patients the lower abdominal muscles.Modified abdominoplasty addresses conditions where just the muscle wall or just the abdominal skin requires repair.Standard abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen wall skin and muscles (standard scar).Extended abdominoplasty tightens the abdomen and the flanks or sides (longest scar extending around the flanks onto the lower back). |
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How long is recovery and healing? |
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Abdominoplasty can be one of the more uncomfortable plastic surgery procedures and usually requires more time consuming and involved recovery. Dr. Roche suggests one-to-three days of assistance at home. Patients are encouraged to be up walking regularly within 1-2 days. Light activity is comfortable in 10-20 days. Sports will not be comfortable for about 6 weeks. |
