Cosmetic Procedures

Many factors cause the skin to wrinkle and sag (i.e., exposure to the sun, genetics, as well as the natural aging process). Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to fatty tissue that is evenly distributed throughout the contours of the face. As you age, the skin sags and fits more loosely. These folds become prominent, especially around the chin, the jaw line, and along the neck.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel is helpful for wrinkles, light acne scarring, and irregular pigmentation such as freckles and age spots. Pre-cancerous conditions such as keratoses (thick, rough, reddish growths) also respond well to this procedure.

There are several types of chemical peels: light peels remove superficial wrinkles, medium, and deep peels are for more severe conditions.

After a thorough cleansing of the skin, a small applicator is used to apply the chemical solution to an area of the face. Excess solution is removed and the procedure is repeated on other areas.

The amount of improvement varies and depends upon the initial condition of the patient's skin. Significant improvement of damaged skin has been achieved, which can produce dramatic results.

Rhinoplasty in Conjunction with Orthognathic Surgery

Drs. Galey, Kreps, Roccia and Tunder perform rhinoplasty in order to reshape the nose. Appearance can be improved for those people who are dissatisfied with the shape and size of their nose. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure in which deformities of the nose are corrected by removing, rearranging, or reshaping bone or cartilage.

Postoperative Information

The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people resume their normal activities within a week or two.

Pain is minimal and is controlled with medications. Bruising occurs around the eyes and begins to fade within a few days. Discoloration usually disappears in two weeks.

Facial Liposuction

Facial liposuction is a very common and popular procedure. It is designed for the permanent removal of fatty tissue from your cheeks, chin, and neck. It is an elective procedure that allows the surgeon to remove undesirable, subcutaneous fat in specific areas that do not respond to diet and exercise.

Patients with good skin tone who have fatty deposits receive the best results from facial liposuction. It is not a treatment for obesity. If weight gain occurs following liposuction, the fat will be deposited in areas that have not been treated. The procedure can be repeated, if necessary. To maintain the safety of the procedure, there is a limit on how much can be done at one time. A variety of factors can affect the results: physical condition, genetic makeup, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and skin elasticity.

The Procedure

Facial liposuction is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in a hospital or surgical center. The surgeon makes small (less than 1/2 inch), discreet incisions in the face or neck. A cannula is inserted in a small incision and attached to a suction machine. The procedure may take an hour or more.

The results of liposuction are permanent. If you were to gain a large amount of weight, you might note rippling in the treated areas, depending on your skin elasticity.

Following liposuction, the scar will go through a maturation process. During the first eight to twelve weeks, they may be red and possibly raised. The scars will mature over six to twelve months and become pale, flat, and soft. You may experience numbness, burning, and/or tingling around the incision site. These symptoms are almost always temporary. Please let the surgeons of North Pittsburgh Oral Surgery know if you are prone to keloid scars.