What makes good nose surgery results? It’s a question that ranks on a par with what makes good art or fine wine. Everyone has an opinion but not everyone agrees with it.

Like good art and fine wine, a good nose job conforms with certain guidelines and expectations. The patient must be pleased with the results. The results must be painstakingly accurate. The surgeon should always inject a large amount of skill and passion into the mix to achieve the desired results.

In general, a good nose job is flawlessly minimalistic and conservative. Less is more. No incision or suture goes to waste. The goal is simplicity, harmony, symmetry, and balance – a merger of outcomes in which the nose blends in seamlessly with all other facial features. What we’re talking about here is a wonderful fusion of surgical skill, medical prowess, and artistic sensibility. The scalpel is to a plastic surgeon a fine artist’s brush. Each deftly-made incision adds no more, and no less, than the procedure requires.

Every culture has its own standards of beauty. In Western culture, a beautiful nose is relatively small, straight along the bridge, with small nostrils that are neither flared nor pinched. The tip of the nose neither dips too far down nor projects too far outward or upward. A good cosmetic surgery result is refined and natural in appearance. It expresses the patient’s own personality, ethnicity, and the surgeon’s aesthetic skill to near perfection.

For men, a good nose job is bold and angular, exemplifying manhood. For women, the result is not as overpowering and flows gracefully and confidently in its total effect. In sum, the hallmark of a good cosmetic nose surgery  is one whose results are subtle and understated. There is minimal scarring and the recovery is fast and relatively pain-free.

Plastic surgeons must be getting it right, because in 2012 there were 243,000 rhinoplasty procedures done in the U.S. alone according to the ASPS. That’s a sizable amount of completed procedures. Are you a good candidate for rhinoplasty? It depends on the state of your health and your willingness to face the potential risks associated with any cosmetic surgery.

Again, what makes a good nose job? Only you and your qualified plastic surgeon can provide the answer. Keep in mind, though, that the outcome will only be as good as the surgeon doing the procedure, the tools at his or her disposal, and the quality of the “canvas” that is your very own nose.

Dr. Philip Miller is a board certified plastic surgeon and an expert in the field of facial plastic surgery located at 60 East 56th, Third Floor, New York, N.Y. Contact us at (646) 791-3025 for a personal consultation.

A search for facial rejuvenation procedures can yield numerous results. Two, of many options, are facelifts and “liquid facelifts.” Despite the similar name, these two procedures are not the same. Learn more about each technique before determining which is right for you.

What Is Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift, offered at our New York office, is a procedure that uses one or more injectable fillers, such as Juvederm and Restylane. The filler material is injected into the skin to fill out lines and wrinkles. By softening lines and wrinkles, a more youthful look results. In addition to wrinkles, the cheeks, chin and other contours of the face may lose volume due to age or genetics. These issues can also be remedied with injectable fillers. Unlike a regular facelift, all areas of the face can be treated, not just the lower face. This is the best alternative to a traditional facelift.

Injectable fillers are temporary. Depending on the type used, results may last anywhere from 3 to 18 months. Sculptra or fat injections can produce longer outcomes. Patients who prefer a liquid facelift generally do so because the procedure involves little discomfort and little to no downtime. The injection site may have minor swelling or redness afterwards, but those who receive filler injections can go about their normal routine after leaving the office.

What Is a Traditional Facelift?

Traditional facelifts are more invasive. Also known as rhytidectomy, facelifts restore a younger-looking appearance by lifting and tightening sagging skin and weakened muscles of the lower face and neck. Unwanted fat deposits can also be removed, something injectable fillers cannot do. Not only are wrinkles smoothed, but hanging jowls can be eliminated as well. Recovery is longer, necessitating about 2 weeks of leave from work. There are, however, less invasive options like the limited incision facelift which requires shorter incisions.

Though the advantages of a liquid facelift sound appealing, a surgical facelift also has its own benefits. The first is that the results are longer lasting and more dramatic. Facelifts do require touch-ups about every 7-10 years to maintain the same refined look, but this timeframe is much longer than what injectable fillers can currently provide. Cost is another factor. Filler treatments may initially be less costly, but follow-up procedures every few months to a year can add up and, in some cases, exceed the cost of a facelift. To learn more about liquid facelift, visit healthcare.utah.edu

Facelift vs. Liquid Facelift: A Comparison

Facelift vs. Liquid Facelift: Which is Better?

There is no final answer as to which procedure is better. It depends on the patient’s needs and preferences. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will help to clarify any questions you may have. Dr. Philip Miller specializes in facial plastic surgery and is an expert on facelift technique. Call (646) 791-3025 to schedule a meeting with Dr. Miller at his Manhattan New York plastic surgery practice.

Next, learn What to Expect at a Plastic Surgery Consultation.

Having a facelift or other major plastic surgery in New York is an investment in your future appearance and peace of mind. It’s money and time well spent when the procedure goes well. Sometimes, however, patients are too anxious to see the results or to get back to work or their normal routines long before the incisions are properly healed and the swelling has subsided.

Just as there are many things patients can do to optimize their facelift results (setting up a home recovery room before the surgery is one), there are many activities they should avoid so as not to interfere with or harm the recovery process and ultimately the results.

Cut Down on Physical Activity

Many active patients can’t wait to get back into the home gym or health club after cosmetic surgery. They stress out over missing even a few days of weight lifting, thinking they will lose all the progress they have made in the months or years leading up to facelift surgery. All that pain and gain for nothing. The danger is that any kind of strenuous exercise or heavy lifting places undue strain on the incisions and could undo the procedure entirely. It’s best to wait at least two weeks until most of the swelling has gone down and the incisions have had time to heal.

Avoid Blood-thinners Like Aspirin and Garlic

They may increase the risk of bleeding during recovery. Use only Tylenol and other pain killers on your doctor’s instructions (consult with your plastic surgeon if you are on blood thinners for circulatory problems or clotting). And no matter how greasy your hair may look and feel after surgery, wait at least two days before you wash it to prevent facial stress and soap irritation. If you wear makeup, hold off for at least a week so that the incision areas remain clean and clear of contaminants.

Don’t Smoke

Nicotine only diminishes blood flow, and your incisions need well-oxygenated blood in order to heal well. Don’t drink and drive. That means no alcohol, which interferes with blood circulation and causes dehydration. And don’t drive – at least, not until you feel well enough to do so. Wait a minimum of 48 hours before you even think of getting into a car.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

UV light damages the skin, and your facial skin following surgery is especially vulnerable. Wear sunblock with an SPF rating of 15 or higher if you expect to be exposed to the sun for any length of time. Refrain from tanning for at least six weeks.

Rest Well

Following facelift surgery, it’s normal to feel slightly depressed and sluggish. This is due to hormonal changes caused by the trauma of surgery. The feelings will pass over time. Finally, get lots of bed rest after surgery but plan on getting up as soon as possible. Moderate activity not only alleviates boredom and gets the blood flowing, it promotes healing and ensures optimum results from plastic surgery.

A qualified plastic surgeon can provide further help on making the most of your downtime after cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Philip Miller is a board certified plastic surgeon in NYC and an expert in the field of facial plastic surgery. Call his Manhattan office at (646) 791-3025 for a personal consultation.

Next, here are some Post Facelift Makeup Tips.

Facelift Recovery Tips

Following a facelift in New York City, the last thing you want is to deal with complications. By following a few simple tips, you can prepare your body to heal as quickly as possible and help avoid issues that can lead to infection.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking shrinks blood vessels and reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches your tissue. This impacts blood clotting properties and makes it harder for your body to close wounds. An open wound is at risk of developing an infection. You must stop smoking at least two weeks prior to your surgery and ignore cravings for at least two weeks following your surgery.

Be Careful About Using Over-the-Counter Medications

Medications or supplements containing aspirin, ibuprofen, and vitamin E thin the blood or increase bleeding. These situations slow the healing process. Avoid these compounds for at least two weeks before your surgery and for a few days after your surgery. If you have questions or are uncertain, always ask your plastic surgeon before taking a medication. Consult your doctor about safe options for pain relief following your facelift.

Build Up a Stock of Frozen Peas

Following your surgery, you want to keep swelling down. Stock up on packs of frozen peas before your surgery. You can also reduce swelling by keeping your head elevated when you’re resting in bed.

Resist the Urge to Peek

Do not remove your bandages, even if you’re itchy and can’t stand not knowing how you look. Wait for the doctor to do this. If you remove them too early, you risk infection. When the doctor does remove your bandages, don’t be alarmed by bruising and swelling. This is normal. Swelling generally subsides after a few days and bruising usually lasts a week or two.

Stay Out of the Sun

Avoid the sun and sunlamps for six weeks following a facelift. The heat from the sun’s rays or the heat lamp can lead to swelling.

Dr. Philip Miller, a renowned facial plastic surgeon in NYC, offers consultations to anyone considering a facelift. Contact us to schedule an appointment by calling our plastic surgery clinic at (646) 791-3025.

Whenever a new and more effective technique is developed to aid plastic surgeons in providing better care while maintaining attractive results, it is an exciting thing. Once such advanced technique is MicroRhinoplasty™. The former method of reducing a hump or bump on the nose with osteotomy is becoming a thing of the past with MicroRhinoplasty™ moving in. Dr. Miller in NYC has adopted this technique in appropriate candidates to replace the need to fracture the bones of the nose and reposition them.

MicroRhinoplasty™ is a much less invasive procedure performed with the use of an air-powered microsaw to remove the bony hump layer by layer. Surgeons are able to have an added degree of precision that was not available before and are able to correct the flaw until the exact level of reduction needed is reached.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed, with hump reduction being at the top of the list of most requested nose corrections. Hump or bump reduction requires that the bone or cartilage creating the formation be removed. Many patients can benefit from the MicroRhinoplasty™ technique and will enjoy the several advantages it offers. Who wouldn’t prefer to be able to spend as little as 5 minutes in the surgeon’s chair with just local anesthesia? Osteotomy, on the other hand, requires general anesthesia and a good deal longer spent in surgery. Since the nasal bones do not need to be fractured MicroRhinoplasty™, there are fewer risks of complications associated with osteotomy, such as inverted V deformity or “rocker” deformity.  Patients also experience little, if any, pain and significantly less swelling and bruising. Additionally, recovery time is shortened.

The greatest benefit of all is, of course, the newly heighted confidence the patient will feel after his or her surgery. Facial harmony will result in a more eye-catching appearance, and in a good way.

Individuals who are looking to reduce a nasal hump and are interested in exploring their options should contact Dr. Philip Miller for a personal consultation at (646) 791-3025. Dr. Miller is one of the best facial plastic surgeons with offices located at 60 East 56^th, Third Floor, New York, NY.