Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Reduction
Ageing of the upper and lower eyelids is normally due to a combination of loose skin and protrusion of fat. This is a common problem and although most patients seeking such surgery are 40 or older, puffy eyes may be a familial trait and patients will seek help at a much younger age. In the upper eyelids ageing causes stretching of the eyelid skin producing a 'hooded' appearance. These changes can give the appearance of tiredness and many patients request surgery for this reason.
Most of these problems can be rectified surgically by operating on the eyelid itself and removing or adjusting excess skin and fat (blepharoplasty). In some patients, the primary problem may lie in the brow rather than the eyelid in which case a brow lift may be indicated in preference to eyelid surgery. This can usually be carried out using a surgical telescope via very small incisions within the hair. In the lower eyelid the most frequent complaint is of puffiness or bagginess. This is mainly due to increased prominence of the fat below the eye. Blepharoplasty may be carried out alone or in conjunction with a facelift. The precise details of the proposed surgery does vary between individuals and will be carefully discussed with you at your consultation.
Breast Augmentation
This operation is designed to increase the size of the breasts and also improve their shape by the insertion of an implant beneath the breast tissue.
Breast augmentation is therefore suitable for people who have naturally small breasts or where there has been shrinkage in size following a pregnancy or weight loss.
It can achieve an increased breast volume and also produces a more natural shape which will enhance cleavage and overall body shape.
If pregnancy should occur after breast augmentation, particular care should be taken in supporting the breasts in order to maintain the best possible shape subsequently.
All breast implants rely on some form of silicone shell (the outer part of the implant) but the filling can be either silicone gel or saline (salt water).
The implants are inserted either in front of, or behind the chest muscle but the pros and cons of this will be discussed with you in full detail at your consultation.
The size of your new breasts depends on your personal choice but it is always recommended to stay within reasonable limits for your height, build and body weight.
Face/Neck Lift
As part of the ageing process skin progressively loses its elasticity and the facial muscle and soft tissues tend to slacken. The effect of this process on the face is to cause folds in the smile lines to deepen, the corners of the mouth to droop, the jawline to sag in the jowl area and the skin of the neck to fall into loose folds. Around the eyes the eyebrows may droop and the skin in the eyelids tends to drape giving a hooded appearance.
These changes in appearance cause some people to become self conscious and therefore lose self confidence.
What can be done
There are several operations that can be done to rejuvenate the ageing face which are all types of face-lifting. In the classical facelift operation the scars are designed to be well hidden. The skin of the temples, cheek and neck is tightened upwards and backwards. In addition the underlying layers of soft tissue in the cheek and neck are also treated in a similar way to give a more lasting result. This also improves facial shape returning it to a more youthful outline without giving a pulled or tight appearance. You will be requested to bring to the consultation photographs of your face taken both in youth and ten years previously. This will help to determine which type of facelift is best suited to you.
Often the main concern of patients is the neck area. If there is a lot of loose skin or if the muscles have separated, producing two bands, then a neck lifting procedure may be required. This can usually be performed through the facelift incisions so tightening the neck muscles to a more youthful appearance. The question asked most frequently by patients is 'how long does a facelift last?' The answer is that this type of surgery puts the ageing clock back by five to ten years, but of course, cannot stop it from ticking.
Liposuction / Laser Liposculpture / Laser Lipo
Liposuction is a technique used to remove unwanted fat deposits. It is best suited to removing localised deposits of fat such as from the hips, tummy, loins and thighs. It can also be used in combination with other procedures such as face-lifting, to remove fat from the neck, or with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to remove fat from the waistline. More recent developments, known as Laser Liposculpture, have added considerable refinement and improvement in results with the ability to reshape body contour.
Neither technique however is a substitute for a controlled diet. Results are best in patients who are not grossly overweight and who have localised collections of fat. Good results depend on an elastic skin that will adapt to a new contour when the underlying fat is removed. With ageing, skin becomes less elastic but the condition of the skin rather than your chronological age is the most important factor. This will be carefully assessed at your consultation. It is
important to appreciate that the dimples and wrinkles of the skin (cellulite) are not always improved by liposuction.
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