Surgical Procedures

More and more men and women are choosing facelift as an option for a long-lasting, youthful appearance. Facelift is recommended for healthy individuals who do not smoke and who have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. The surgery is highly individualized and tremendously effective in correcting the appearance of jowls, creases between the base of the nose and the corners of the mouth, and the loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone in the lower third of the face. A facelift is often accompanied by a neck and jowl lift and eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) for an overall customized transformation. Facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Incisions for a standard facelift are made within the hairline, or along the hairline in some cases and sometimes around the ears. Some degree of facial swelling and bruising is expected, but typically subsides after three weeks. Facelift surgery is a personal decision and should be made after an extensive consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. To learn more about Facelift, click here.

Most people who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their ears complain that they are too big. Actually, it is rarely the size of the ears that is the problem, but their shape or the degree to which they protrude from the head. Permanently correcting misshapen or disproportionate ears is possible with Otoplasty (ear surgery). Otoplasty may be performed on children over the age of 5 through adulthood. It is an outpatient procedure with minimal scarring as the incisions are made in the natural creases of the ear. Within three weeks the ears will appear normal. But, it is necessary to wear an external ear protector (head band type bandage) with a cup that goes over the ear at night for a prolonged period of time in order to protect the ears while the cartilage forms to its new shape. Contact sports should be avoided for at least a month following surgery. If you’ve lived your life being self-conscious about your ears, maybe even attempting to hide them, then ear surgery might be a consideration for you. Surgery of the ear offers immediate, dramatic results that will last a lifetime. To learn more about Otoplasty, click here.

The usual complaint from the patient who is interested in having an eyelid lift is, “People always ask me if I’m tired or sad.” No one wants to look sad when they’re not. A surgical procedure called Blepharoplasty is one option for drooping eyelids. A more youthful, vibrant appearance is achieved by removing excess skin and fat from the upper and lower eyelids as necessary to decrease puffiness and heaviness around the eyes. This is often accompanied by periorbital laser resurfacing to tighten the skin around the eye. The surgery is performed in an outpatient setting. The incisions follow the natural lines and creases around your eyes so surgical scars are generally not an issue. Dr. Passmore uses a laser cutting tool which typically lessens postoperative bruising. After two to three days, you should be able to read or watch television, and contact lenses may be worn two weeks following surgery. Most people feel ready to resume normal activities outside the home in a couple of weeks. If blepharoplasty is recommended for the purpose of improving vision (field of vision studies required), insurance will sometimes pay a portion of the surgical and hospital expenses. To learn more about Blepharoplasty, click here.