
		As we age, areas around our eyes can begin to droop and collect fatty deposits which make the eyes look "puffy". Through blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, the underlying fat deposits or excess skin from the upper and lower eyelids can be removed, thereby giving a younger, smoother, and firmer look to the areas surrounding the eyes. Typically, most people begin to show these signs of aging when they are 35 years or older. For some people, however, the appearance of puffy, droopy eyelids runs in their family. Thus, this procedure can be used to enhance a person's appearance regardless of their age. At Charleston Plastic Surgery, we perform this out-patient procedure right in our office, where the Charleston Plastic Surgery Center is located. The surgery itself takes approximately two hours. After surgery, you will be required to lubricate your eyes with ointment. Thereafter, you must rest for a few days, keeping your head elevated and using cold compresses to reduce any swelling or bruising, which may persist for a few weeks (other discomfort can be managed with prescription pain relievers). Several days later, we will remove the stitching used, after which the swelling and bruising will soon lessen and disappear. Moreover, while you may experience some blurry vision or light-sensitivity, these effects should lessen within a couple of weeks. In all, you should be able to resume your normal activities and return to your public life within a few days to several weeks. After approximately six months, any scarring should be nearly invisible. Thereafter, we hope you take pleasure from your new, youthful look, which should last several years, if not permanently.

		As with the areas around our eyes, the effects of aging, along with exposure to the elements and other factors, begin to take their toll on the appearance of our faces. Creases around the mouth and nose and folds and fatty deposits around the neck are just some of the characteristics. Rhytidectomy, or a facelift, can give you a more youthful, healthier appearance through the removal of excess fat and a tightening of facial muscles and skin on the face an neck. Although it cannot stop the aging process, a facelift can make you look younger and fresher and improve your self-image. Typically, facelifts are performed in our office on an out-patient basis. Surgery usually takes several hour or longer if you're having more than one procedure done. After surgery, most patients experience little discomfort which can be managed with the pain medication. Initially, your face may appear blanched, bruised, and swollen. However, in a few weeks, you will look normal again. Although you will have some scars from necessary incisions made during the procedure, they should be hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In time, such scars will fade and become barely visible.

		Ever wonder what you would look like with higher cheekbones? When you look in the mirror, do you wish you had a stronger jaw line or chin? At Charleston Plastic Surgery, we use the latest computer assisted technology and surgical techniques to to improve and enhance facial contours. Facial implants can give better balance to the features of many patients. Oftentimes, implants are used in combination with another cosmetic procedures such as facelifts. If you are considering an enhancement to your facial features, Charleston Plastic Surgery can use the latest technology to demonstrate the changes to you before committing to surgery. Using your digital photographic image, along with the aid of specially developed computer software, we can show you changes made to your chin, cheeks, lower jaw, or other aspects of your face. Thereafter, most procedures can be performed on an out-patient right here in our office. Depending on the procedure, the operation can last thirty minutes to several hours.

		With age also comes drooping brows and deep furrows across the forehead that give a tired, worried, or anger appearance. Like a facelift, a forehead lift gives you a younger, rejuvenated look. A forehead lift fixes sagging brows and refines furrows by smoothing the forehead and raising the eyebrows. Basically, there are two types of lifts that can be performed. Using the classic method, an incision is made behind the hairline, starting at about ear level and running across the top of the forehead and down the other side of the head. Thereafter, the forehead's skin is "lifted" and the underlying tissue is partially removed and the muscles of the forehead can be adjusted. Using the endoscopic method, three, four or five short scalp incisions, each less than an inch in length are made behind the hairline. Then, our surgeons use an endoscope, which is a small, thin camera connected to a television monitor, to enter the incisions and view the underlying muscles and tissues. Using another instrument inserted through a different incision, the forehead skin is "lifted" and the muscles and underlying tissues are adjusted to produce a smoother appearance. As with many of our cosmetic procedures, forehead lifts, either classic or endoscopic, are usually done in our office. The immediate post-operative experience for a patient who has had a classic forehead lift may differ significantly from a patient who had the procedure performed endoscopically. Recovery time for both procedures is approximately two to three weeks. However, classic forehead lift patients may experience experience some itching, and endoscopic patients may return to work sooner. No matter the technique used, most patients are pleased with their new, younger, more refreshed appearance.

		Rhinoplasty is surgery to reshape the nose. Using techniques in rhinoplasty, our surgeons change the size, shape, or angle of your nose. We can also correct a birth defects, repair damage due to injury, or help relieve some breathing problems. The procedure is customarily done on an outpatient basis, taking approximately one to two hours, though complicated procedures may take longer and require an overnight stay in the hospital. After surgery, you will feel some discomfort and experience swelling which will increase for a period of one to two days. Within a few weeks, most of the swelling, and any bruising, should disappear. However, the healing process will take several months to a year or more before the remaining, slight swelling subsides and the final results take shape.