Facial Plastic Surgery in West Chester, OH

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

The nose sits at the center of the face and strongly affects how the other features are perceived. When it is out of proportion with the rest of the face, it can affect self-image and confidence. Its shape is usually inherited, though injury or earlier surgery can change it. Rhinoplasty improves the proportion and appearance of the nose and can also correct breathing problems caused by structural defects. Learn more on our rhinoplasty page.

What rhinoplasty can address

• Nose size in relation to facial balance
• Width at the bridge, or the size and position of the nostrils
• Visible humps or depressions on the bridge
• A tip that is enlarged, bulbous, drooping, upturned or hooked
• Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned
• Nasal asymmetry

When a small chin, weak cheeks or a recessed lower jaw also contribute to imbalance, nose surgery may be combined with chin surgery or facial implants to achieve overall harmony.

Is rhinoplasty right for you?

Rhinoplasty is best performed once facial growth is complete, beginning around age 15. Good candidates are healthy non-smokers with a positive outlook and specific goals. When surgery is done to improve breathing, for example to correct a deviated septum or other obstructed airway, it is considered reconstructive and may be covered by insurance. That requires a detailed examination and prior authorization from your insurer.

Healing and results

A splint or packing is usually placed inside the nose, with a splint or bandages on the outside. Swelling, bruising and mild headache are common and can be managed with medication and cold compresses. Most patients return to light activity within a few days, and splints or packing typically come out after the first week or two. Your nose needs protection from injury during physical activity for 4 to 6 months. Final refinement takes about a year, and results are generally permanent, although cartilage can continue to shift subtly over time.

Risks to understand

Possible risks include infection, nosebleed and rupture of small surface vessels of the nose. Aesthetic outcomes can be unpredictable, and a second procedure is sometimes needed to fully meet your goals. All surgery carries anesthesia risks, and you will review and sign consent forms before your procedure.

Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

Facial aging brings lost elasticity, sagging tissue and wrinkles. Even someone who feels energetic can look tired or sad because of changes in the midface, jawline and neck. Heredity, gravity, environment and stress all play a part. A facelift corrects sagging skin and muscle, removes excess fat and restores firmness for a more youthful, rested look. See the full details on our facelift page.

What a facelift treats

• Midface sagging that deepens the crease below the lower eyelid (tear trough) and between the nose and mouth (nasolabial fold)
• Fallen or displaced fat and lost muscle tone that create jowls along the jawline
• Loose skin and fatty deposits under the chin and jaw that cause a “double chin” look, even at a normal weight

Is a facelift right for you?

A facelift is a restorative procedure. It does not change your fundamental appearance or stop aging, but you continue to age from a more youthful starting point. It is often paired with a brow lift or eyelid surgery. Good candidates are healthy non-smokers who have realistic, specific goals for their appearance.

How it is performed

A traditional facelift restores the midface, jowls and neck and allows excess skin to be removed. If improvement is needed mainly in the midface and there is less excess skin, limited-incision techniques may be an option. Your goals, your anatomy and the surgeon’s judgment determine the best approach. Only surgery can deliver facelift results, though non-surgical treatments may help delay the point at which a facelift becomes appropriate. Facial implants, soft tissue augmentation, resurfacing and anti-wrinkle injections can complement the outcome. Injections may be used beforehand to help underlying muscles relax, or afterward to help maintain results.

Healing and results

A bandage is placed around the face to limit swelling and bruising, and a thin drain may be used to remove collected blood. Swelling, numbness, bruising and temporarily restricted facial movement are common. Incisions are mostly healed within a week, and most patients are back to work and light activity in 2 to 4 weeks. Swelling can take several months to resolve and incision lines up to 6 months to mature. Lifelong sun protection and a healthy lifestyle help extend your results.

Risks to understand

Possible risks include infection, bleeding beneath the skin (hematoma), correctable hair loss at the incisions, facial nerve injury with weakness, facial asymmetry, and skin loss with scarring or numbness. You will review anesthesia risks and sign consent forms before surgery.

Chin Surgery (Mentoplasty)

The chin has a strong influence on facial balance. Its size can magnify or minimize the perceived size of the nose, and a chin that doesn’t complement the face can affect confidence. Mentoplasty sculpts the chin to create a more pleasing profile and better harmony among your features.

What chin surgery addresses

• Chin size in relation to facial balance and harmony
• Chin position in relation to the facial profile

Who is a good candidate?

Mentoplasty is a good fit for people who are bothered by the size or position of their chin, including patients having rhinoplasty who want greater balance between their features. A positive outlook and specific goals matter for a satisfying result.

How it is performed

Chin surgery is individualized to your features and goals. It is generally performed under intravenous anesthesia, though general anesthesia is also possible. The incision is made inside the mouth, so there is no external scar. Liposuction is sometimes done at the same time. Surgery may take place in our accredited office-based surgical facility, an ambulatory surgical facility or a hospital. For outpatient procedures, arrange for someone to drive you and stay with you the first night.

Healing and results

Packing is usually placed inside the mouth where the incision was made. Swelling, bruising, headache and discomfort are common and can be controlled with medication and cold compresses. Keep your head elevated until initial swelling subsides. Light, normal activity is usually possible within a few days, and packing is typically removed after the first week or two. Protect your chin from injury during physical activity for 4 to 6 months. Results appear gradually, and a year is considered normal for full refinement.

Risks to understand

Possible risks include infection, bleeding beneath the skin (hematoma) and facial asymmetry. Aesthetic outcomes can be unpredictable, and a second procedure may occasionally be needed. Everyone’s face is asymmetric to some degree, so the goal is balance and correct proportion rather than perfect symmetry.

Neck Lift (Cervicoplasty)

When the skin around the neck droops or looks fleshy, it can blur the jawline and affect self-image. A neck lift improves the appearance of the neck and the area under the jawline, giving you more definition and a smoother profile.

What a neck lift addresses

• Excess fat and/or skin in the neck
• Retrognathia (a recessed lower jaw)

Who is a good candidate?

• People who want more definition at the angle of the jaw
• People who feel the neck looks too fleshy or lacks definition
• People with a positive outlook and specific goals for improvement

How it is performed

A neck lift is tailored to the features that shape your neck and how it relates to the rest of your face. It is generally performed under local or general anesthesia, at our accredited office-based surgical facility, an ambulatory surgical facility or a hospital. If you are also considering a facelift, ask about combining the two for a more complete result.

Healing and results

A compression garment is usually worn for several days. It supports the neck, improves circulation, minimizes swelling and can help reduce downtime. Swelling, bruising and mild discomfort are common. Keep your head elevated until swelling subsides, and expect a return to light activity within a few days. Protect your neck from injury during physical activity for 4 to 6 months. Results emerge gradually, and a year is considered normal for full refinement.

Risks to understand

Possible risks include infection, bleeding beneath the skin (hematoma), neck nerve injury with weakness, and correctable scarring. As with other aesthetic procedures, a second procedure is sometimes needed to fully reach your goals.

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Eyelid surgery improves the upper eyelids, lower eyelids or both, giving the area around your eyes a rejuvenated look so you appear more rested and alert. It can treat loose or sagging upper eyelid skin that folds or even impairs vision, puffiness from excess fat, bags under the eyes, lower lid droopiness that shows white below the iris, and excess skin or fine wrinkles on the lower lid. Visit our eyelid surgery page for more information.

Is eyelid surgery right for you?

Blepharoplasty is usually performed on adults with healthy facial tissue and muscles and realistic goals. It should be something you do for yourself, not to meet someone else’s expectations. Good candidates are healthy non-smokers with a positive outlook. Tell the doctor if you have eye disease such as glaucoma, dry eye or a detached retina, a thyroid disorder such as Graves’ disease, or cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, circulatory disorders or diabetes.

How it is performed

Incisions are designed so scars are well concealed within the natural structures of the eyelids. Upper eyelid droopiness is corrected through an incision in the natural crease, which allows fat to be repositioned, muscle and tissue tightened and excess skin removed. Lower eyelid concerns may be treated through an incision just below the lash line or through a transconjunctival incision hidden inside the lower lid. Incisions are closed with removable or absorbable sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape. A laser chemical peel may also be used to improve dark discoloration of the lower lids.

Healing and results

Lubricating ointment and cold compresses may be applied, and your eyes may be loosely covered with gauze. Swelling, bruising, irritation and dry eyes can occur and are managed with medication, cold compresses and ointment. Incisions should not be subjected to excessive force, abrasion or motion while they heal. Diligent sun protection and darkly tinted sunglasses are recommended until healing is complete. Final results appear within several weeks, though incision lines can take up to a year to fully refine. You will keep aging naturally, and lifelong sun protection helps preserve your result.

Risks to understand

Risks include unfavorable scarring, temporarily blurred vision, dry eyes, difficulty closing the eyes, lid lag, ectropion, bleeding, infection, fluid accumulation, blood clots, numbness, skin discoloration and swelling, sutures that surface through the skin, the possibility of revisional surgery, and, rarely, loss of eyesight. Eyelid conditions such as ptosis can coexist with a sagging brow and may need additional surgery. Good results are expected, but there is no guarantee.

Your Consultation, Preparation and Surgery Day

Every facial procedure starts with a consultation designed to educate you in a no-pressure setting. We discuss your concerns, review your health history and current medications, explain your options, outline likely outcomes and risks, and recommend a course of treatment.

For a safe procedure and a result you’ll love, we ask that you:

• Share your concerns and expectations honestly
• Fully disclose your health history, medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
• Understand what results are realistic for the procedure you choose
• Follow all of the surgeon’s instructions precisely

Before surgery you will receive specific instructions on testing, medications, anesthesia and the day of your procedure, as well as postoperative care and follow-up. Some nervousness is natural, and we encourage you to bring every question to the doctor. Facial procedures may be performed at our accredited office-based surgical facility, an ambulatory surgical facility or a hospital, depending on the procedure. Please arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you the first night.

Complementary non-surgical options

Not every patient needs surgery to look refreshed. Anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers can soften lines and restore volume, and they work well alongside surgical procedures. You can also browse the full range of plastic surgery services we offer.

Facial Surgery Questions, Answered

Take the First Step Toward a Refreshed Look

Meet with our board-certified plastic surgeon in West Chester to talk through your goals and learn which facial procedures fit you best. Call (513) 755-8115 or request your consultation online.

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