By Elie Harouche, MD, FACS
© michaeljung – Fotolia.com
Q. I’m 57 years old and have been thinking about facial plastic surgery for some time. I’m afraid that the plastic surgeon I’m meeting with this week is going to pick apart my appearance and make me feel like I need to have “the works” when I only planned to focus on one or two areas. What should I say?
A. Everyone has certain areas of their face or body that bother them. That’s normal to feel that way. However, often times, we are our own worst critics. A plastic surgeon isn’t there to pick you apart or be your worst critic. Rather, they are there to ask you lots of questions and respond with how to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
You should bring in a picture of yourself at “your best”, probably one that was taken in the last 10 years or so. Allowing the doctor to compare your picture to how you look today will allow you to better understand why you’re not quite happy with certain aspects of your appearance.
Along with the picture, come prepared to share exactly what areas you’re unhappy with and why. Be specific:
- Drooping lids can make a person look tired and older than they are.
- A down-turned mouth can make someone look as if they’re frowning all the time.
- Brows that are falling due to age can make a person appear to be angry or unapproachable.
- An overall sagging of the neckline and face can convey a much older age.
- Letting the doctor know everything you’re noticing will allow them to point you to precise procedures that will help you get the look you want.
Procedures such as a facelift, eye lift, brow lift, neck lift, or rhinoplasty can all be used to rejuvenate the face. Other areas of the face that can cause a person to appear older but can quickly be spruced up non-surgically are the lips and cheeks. As we get older, the lips become thinner and cheeks lose volume, thus appearing sunken. Facial fillers can be used to plump these areas and turn back the hands of time. Crow’s feet, marionette lines, “elevens”, and nasolabial folds can also be smoothed out with injectables.
The bottom line is that the more honest and open you are with your plastic surgeon, the better able they will be to come up with specific solutions tailored to meet your unique needs. Remember, they’re not there to pick you apart but rather to give you solutions that help you love your look.
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I am specially trained and experienced in facial plastic surgery and can help you turn back the clock and rejuvenate your look. Call me today in NYC or Long Island for a free consultation and a personalized facial rejuvenation plan to meet your needs. If need financing, we offer excellent options and can pre-qualify you right in the office.