Facelift or rhytidectomy in Denver, Colorado is a procedure designed to reposition tissues in the face into a more youthful position.  Facial aging affects several structures: the skin, the muscles of the face, the fat volume of the face, and the bone volume of the face.  Once upon a time, it was thought that all you had to do to get a tight face was pull the skin tight.  Times have certainly changed!

In modern facelifting or rhytidectomy, the skilled surgeon analyzes all the aging structures of the face to determine what treatment each layer may need to effectively turn back the hands of time.  For instance, the skin may have been ravaged by sun exposure, smoking, weight loss, or time.  It may not be as elastic as it once was.  The extra skin will need to be removed.  The skin may need to be further tightened and toned using fractional laser resurfacing.

The underlying muscle can get loose especially in the neck (platysma) and this may need to be tightened to remove the old “turkey neck.” There may be excess fat in the neck and jowls that would benefit from liposuction to help shape the lower face and neck.  Finally aging can cause bone loss in the facial skeleton, the results possibly being a small chin, sunken cheeks, or weak jawline.  Facial implants or revolumization with fat or injectible filler would restore the proper volume relationships.

Facelifts or rhytidectomy are surgical procedures which means they leave scars and have some downtime associated with them.  Younger patients may only need a small scar in front of the ear to tighten both skin and muscle.  Older patients or those with poor skin quality may need scars that are both in front of and behind the ear to redrape the excess skin.  These scars are placed in easily camouflaged areas to allow for minimal show.

General anesthesia used to be the only option for patients, but now patients in Denver can get their facelift or rhytidectomy in the doctor’s office using just oral sedation and local anesthetic.  This allows for faster and safer anesthetic recovery. Cost savings are enormous also.

If you are interested in facelift or rhytidectomy in Denver, Colorado please call (303) 708-8234 to schedule your complementary consultation. Or, visit us on the web at http://www.drmanishshah.com for more information.

Your nose is often the first thing people notice upon meeting you. If you are self-conscious about the appearance of your nose ­– whether you have an unsightly bump or the size of your nose simply does not fit the rest of your face — you could be a candidate for Rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty (nose job or nose reshaping) is a procedure to reshape the nose and improve its appearance. Rhinoplasty is also performed to correct breathing problems. Generally, this is a surgical procedure that involves making incisions inside, and sometimes outside, of the nose to fix various problems.

However, with the increase in popularity of FDA approved injectable tissue fillers to temporarily correct facial wrinkles, plastic surgeons in Denver, Colorado have started injecting these same fillers in the nose to alter the shape. This is referred to as “Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty”. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane®, Juvederm®, and Perlane® can be used to camouflage aspects of the nose. The longer acting filler Radiesse® is also a popular filler for this purpose. Some people even elect to take excess fat from their bodies and inject it into the nose to correct certain defects.

So, which is better—Surgical or Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty?

The answer depends on what type of results you hope to achieve.

An advantage to Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty is that it can be performed in the office, with minimal recovery time. Injecting filler helps hide a small bump on the bridge of the nose or improve the definition of the tip. The results of Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty are not permanent and will require touch up in 6-12 months. This is typically the time it takes most hyaluronic acid fillers to dissolve. Radiesse may last several months longer and may leave behind some persistent volume. Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty is ideal for candidates who want an instant result from a minimally invasive procedure. This could also be a smart option for those who are afraid to make a permanent change to their nose.

Some other patients who are good candidates for non-surgical rhinoplasty are those who have already had a rhinoplasty and need a small tweak or revision such as adding height to the bridge, defining the tip a little more, or filling in a soft tissue depression that came about after surgery.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty cannot alter the length or width of your nose, so if this is your main concern, or you are looking for a permanent result, the surgical option may be right for you. Another disadvantage to Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty is that choosing this option can make a later surgical rhinoplasty more difficult because of scar tissue development as a reaction to the injectable filler.

Surgical Rhinoplasty candidates are those who want significant changes to the appearance of the nose, as surgery can change the entire shape of your nose and correct nasal asymmetry. Also, any breathing problems would need to be corrected using the surgical option. Surgical Rhinoplasty is permanent and, like any surgery, carries with it greater risks, but it is still a very safe surgery in the hands of an experienced surgical team in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver, Colorado plastic surgeon is well-versed in both types of Rhinoplasty. Dr. Shah pays careful attention to individual facial features and does not use a “one size fits all approach”. During your consultation, he will help you determine which Rhinoplasty option is best for you. Call TODAY at (303) 708-8234 and schedule your free consultation with Dr. Shah, and you’ll be on your way to a beautiful and shapely new nose. Or, visit us on the web at www.drmanishshah.com.