 |
 |
|||
|
|
 |
|
Specialty
Services Meet the Doctors Registration Office Locations The Surgery Center Contact Us Media Links |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Today, many ear, nose and throat surgeons have limited their practice to this specialty. At Ear, Nose & Throat Associates PC, Dr. Thomas Herendeen has had special training in this field and therefore concentrates on this subspecialty – facial plastic surgery. As we age, the effects of gravity and the loss of support for the tissues of the face cause sagging around the eyes, cheeks and jaw line. These characteristics of aging can be corrected through a variety of aging face procedures. BOTOX® is a therapeutic muscle relaxing
agent. Although it is a potent toxin, it is safe, effective and approved
for medical use. BOTOX® can be injected into specific facial muscles to
minimize wrinkles. It is most commonly used to reduce frown lines,
crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles. The effects of a BOTOX® treatment last
approximately 3-4 months and treatments can be repeated over time.
Implants are soft, flexible man-made materials which can be positioned in pockets over the cheeks or chin in order to enhance the shape and appearance of the face. They are usually positioned through small incisions in the mouth so that there is no visible external scar. The procedure can be done under a local (awake) or general (asleep) anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Recovery time takes 1 to 2 weeks. Chemical Peels are agents applied to the skin in order to treat facial lines and wrinkles. They can be used to improve the texture and quality of the skin as well as diminish blotchy skin pigmentation. Light peels are used to treat finer wrinkles and minor skin problems while deeper peels are used for treating deeper lines and more damaged skin. Light chemical peels can be performed in an office setting with minimal discomfort and patients may return to work immediately with just slight redness. Deeper peels for more dramatic results involve more discomfort and require more recovery time. Congenital Deformities There are many types of deformity that can occur. The most common deformity is the protruding ear “Lop Ear”. There can be absence of (or near absence of) any ear development called microtia. This can be associated with failure in development of an ear canal. All of these deformities can be repaired surgically. The protruding ear is the easiest to correct by a procedure called otoplasty. Changes are made to give the ear a more natural shape and position so attention is not drawn to them. Microtia repair can be very complicated, and take several staged operations to correct. External Ear Trauma Blunt trauma to the external ear may cause a blood clot to form under the skin. If the clot is not drained new cartilage will case a gnarling and bulging deformity of the ear called a wrestler’s ear or cauliflower ear. Lacerations to the ear can be repaired by stitching torn cartilage and skin back in place. Sometimes parts that are amputated can be saved and repaired. Any severed part should be wrapped in a moist towel or gauze, put in a clean plastic bag and packed in ice to accompany the patient to the emergency room. Parts that are lost can be reconstructed by taking skin and cartilage from other parts of the body. Complex repairs sometimes require multiple staged operations. Facial trauma can affect both the appearance and function of the structures of the face, head and neck. Facial plastic surgery includes repairing lacerations of the face, nose and ears and repositioning and stabilizing broken facial bones. A complete head and neck examination is necessary to evaluate facial trauma and CT scans are often necessary to fully assess the extent of some fractures. Broken noses (nasal fractures) can often be repaired with no incision, under the use of a brief light anesthetic. More extensive facial fractures can often be repaired through hidden incisions to minimize or eliminate facial scars. The face should have good symmetry to be attractive. The nose, ears, eyes and lips should have a good match. Undersized lips may distract from an otherwise lovely face. Lip augmentation is a common surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia in an office setting. Several fillers are available. Temporary fillers are collagen and one’s own body fat. These elements are injected into the lip but are not permanent and may require additional injections 2 to 3 years later. Permanent fillers are also available and are currently the most preferred in our practice. Microdermabrasion is a nonsurgical, safe and effective approach to skin care. The treatments help to smooth, tighten and refresh aging and sun-damaged skin. The treatment involves spraying a stream of fine crystals on the skin, removing the surface layers, leaving a smooth, fresh and rejuvenated skin surface. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes and leaves little to no redness. Make up can be reapplied directly after the treatment. Rhinoplasty, or reshaping the nose, can involve both changing the nasal appearance and improving the ability to breathe through the nose. The skin of the nose is lifted from the underlying bone and cartilage by use of incisions mainly inside the nose. The cartilage and bone can be removed, rearranged and sculpted to improve the shape of the nose. Surgery typically requires a general anesthesia and is done on an outpatient basis. Although recovery varies depending on the patient and procedures done, patients can return to most normal activities within 7-10 days. We offer Obagi Skin Care products. The easiest and most important thing you can do to rejuvenate the aging face is to use physician recommended skin care products and an effective daily sunscreen. In our office, we carry the Biomedic LaRoche-Posay line of products. Due to the variety of products offered, all skin types can benefit from a custom prescribed daily routine. The product line can be used to address a number of skin types such as environmentally damaged, hyper pigmented, hypersensitive or dry skin and will help to address fine lines and wrinkles. Remember, your skin is the largest organ in your body and maintaining its health is as important as taking care of the rest of yourself. Please call today for a free skin care consultation: (260) 497-5500. Skin lesions can range from cosmetically unwanted blemishes and dark spots to malignant conditions that can be life threatening if left untreated. A complete examination of the head and neck, combined with an evaluation of the skin is necessary to appropriately diagnose and treat skin lesions. An evaluation may include removing part or all of a lesion. In cases of large malignancies (especially of the face, nose and ears), a facial plastic surgeon can both remove the malignancy and reconstruct the defect, returning the face to a functional and cosmetically acceptable form. Why a Facial Plastic Surgeon? ^top A facial plastic surgeon is typically board certified in otolaryngology, the specialty performing surgery of the head and neck exclusively. These surgeons perform the majority of elective facial plastic surgery in the United States. The facial plastic surgeon has spent five to six years in post-graduate surgical training. This includes one year of post-graduate general surgery and at least four additional years of specialty training in head and neck surgery and facial plastic surgery. Patients seeking facial plastic surgery should therefore expect a physician with these qualifications and experience. |
|
|
|