Surgical Procedures

A facelift will create smoother, more pleasing contours to your face and neck and is intended to give a “refreshed” appearance. If you have specific conditions such as sagging eyebrows, fatty deposits in the eyelids, or wrinkles around the mouth, other procedures may be combined at the same time.

The structure of your face will be considered to tailor surgery to you. Your hairline will be examined to determine where incisions can be placed.

If your hair is short you may want to let it grow to cover your incisions while they heal.

The classic facelift uses an incision that follows the contour of your ear, then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline. Incisions are made in areas which are most easily concealed by your hair or with make-up. There may also be a small incision hidden underneath your chin.

Modern facelift techniques sometimes result in shorter scars, particularly in younger patients.

After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed. In most cases, deeper tissues are repositioned. A small incision beneath the chin may be used to aid the removal of fatty tissue in that area and smoothing of the cord-like structures of the underlying muscle in the neck.

Most people return to normal activities within two weeks, but some patients bruise more than others. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks for an accurate picture of the way you will look.

Complications are infrequent, but risks must be considered. Facelift incisions are most often inconspicuous though this cannot be entirely predicted due to individual patterns in healing.

The facelift is a longer procedure than some of the simpler treatments offered, but nothing comes close to its ability to correct age related changes such as sagging cheeks, jowls and neck.

Whether or not a facelift is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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A forehead lift not only improves the horizontal and frown forehead lines, it raises the brows – which is why it is also called a ‘brow lift’. Improvements are also seen in the upper eyelid, especially laterally, the top of the nose and any crow’s feet on the temple area. Typically, the ‘frown muscles’ (corrugators) are removed creating long term or even permanent improvement.

In most cases, the procedure starts with an incision at the top of the scalp. Then the corrugator muscles are reduced or removed and the brows lifted. Any excess skin is removed.

If you have a high forehead, often the incision will be placed right at the hairline. In some cases, the hairline will be advanced, thus lowering it.

Scarring is typically unnoticeable as the incision is made in the scalp.

Whether or not a forehead lift is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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An eyelid lift (Blepharoplasty) is often used to correct the problem of excess skin in the upper eyelid and wrinkles and bags around the lower lids, that result in a heavy, tired look.

Surgery may involve just the upper eyelid or the lower eyelid or both, depending upon your situation.

Some people have eyelid surgery to correct problems that are a result of aging, while others have inherited traits such as bags under the eyes that cause them to seek treatment at a younger age.

If the upper eyelid condition is accompanied by sagging of the eyebrows, then a forehead or brow lift may also be recommended.

Following your surgery, there will be bruising and discolouration around the eyes which will typically fade over the course of 2 to 3 weeks. As the incisions are small and are made in the natural contours of the eyes, scarring is minimized.

Whether or not an eyelid lift is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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Nose refinement (rhinoplasty) is used to reshape the nose to a more pleasing look. It can also correct certain breathing problems. Sometimes, chin augmentation may be suggested so that a more harmonious facial balance can be achieved.

With rhinoplasty, work is done on the cartilage and bone that form the structure of your nose. Certain bones may need to be altered in order to make your nose look narrower and straighter.

The skin and soft tissues will re-position themselves over the new form of your nose.

In most cases, the incisions are placed inside your nose so they will not be visible. When external incisions are recommended they are placed in well hidden areas such as the crease where the nose and cheek join or in the under surface of the nose where scars are typically not noticeable.

Skin numbness after rhinoplasty may occur but is usually temporary. Occasionally, extra surgery may be necessary to refine the result.

Most bruising is gone within 1 to 2 weeks and you can use concealing makeup if you wish. Swelling, however, can last a number of weeks or months.

Whether or not nose refinement is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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A well defined jaw line has long been considered an attractive feature. Chin enhancement involves the placement of implants inserted in front of the jawbone. Sometimes, nose surgery (rhinoplasty) may be suggested so that a more harmonious facial balance can be achieved.

Whether or not chin enhancement is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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In some people, the neck shows signs of aging before the face. In this situation only a neck lift, rather than a full face lift, may achieve the desired result.

This procedure is especially attractive to men, as it avoids the scars in front of the ears.

Incisions are made in the natural folds of your skin and will typically be quite inconspicuous.

If there is significant excess skin in the neck, a neck lift must be combined with a cheek lift (see facelift) to get the best result.

Whether or not a neck lift is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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Breast Augmentation is specifically tailored to each patient and their needs. This procedure enhances the size or shape of the breasts and can easily be performed in conjunction with a breast lift to correct sagging.

Breast augmentations position implants in one of two ways: either between the breast tissue and the muscle, or under the breast (pectoralis) muscle. Following the surgery, most of the swelling resolves in one to two weeks in most patients. The implants settle into position. Final appearance takes several months.

There are two different types of implants patients can choose from and discuss with Dr. Thompson: Silicone gel implants and saline filled implants which have a silicone shell and are then filled with salt water. Most patients find that the silicone gel implants feel more like natural breast tissue than the saline filled implants.

A breast augmentation is not designed to last forever and patients may have to replace implants at some time in the future.

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A breast lift is a procedure that lifts the breast up, creating a more youthful look. Patients who are generally satisfied with their breasts size, but want breasts to appear more youthful and upright opt for this procedure.

The nipples are lifted and the breasts look rounder. However typically there is little change in fullness in the upper breasts. If increased fullness is desired, a breast augmentation can be done at the same time. On occasion, fat from another site, example hips can be grafter for added fullness (if the patient has fat excess elsewhere).

A breast lift is performed by carefully tailoring the procedure to each patient’s needs and choosing the correct procedure.

Most patients’ recover from a breast lift quite quickly and are able to return to normal activity within a few weeks. Swelling and discoloration are common and subside within a few weeks.

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The appearance of larger than “normal” sized breasts (gynecomastia) affects a significant percentage of men .

In many cases, gynecomastia results simply from being overweight. In this case, a sensible course of diet and exercise will deal with the problem.

However in many cases a surgical alternative is required. The procedure involves small incisions with the excess fat removed by liposuction. If there is an increase in fibrous breast tissue, it is removed through an incision typically around the areola (brown parts surrounding the nipple). Temporary surgical drains may be required.

Following the surgery, you will be sore. Compression wraps will help reduce discomfort and swelling. You should avoid vigorous exercise for 2 to 4 weeks. You’ll notice the improvement in a couple of weeks, but it may take as long as 4 months for all the swelling to be gone.

Whether or not male breast reduction is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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A tummy tuck (abdominoplasy) can be a helpful procedure for people who have excess skin or weakened abdominal muscles due to aging, pregnancy or obesity. After the surgery you will have a trimmer waist and flatter abdomen.

If you are planning to lose a considerable amount of weight, it would be best to wait until your weight has stabilized.

The typical tummy tuck involves a combination of liposuction and surgery to remove excess skin and fat.

Scars can be quite long, depending upon the amount of tissue to be removed. However, in many cases the scars can be covered by a standard bikini.

Whether or not a tummy tuck is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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A thigh lift removes excess skin from the thigh. This may be a result of aging or significant weight loss.

Incisions can be fairly extensive and result in visible scarring if the sagging is severe.  For most patients, the scars can be hidden by a bathing suit.

Your activity level will need to be reduced for a period or 2 to 4 weeks following surgery.

Whether or not a thigh lift is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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Liposuction may be done on its own or in combination with other procedures, such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast reduction or thigh lift.  It is a body contouring procedure and not a weight-loss procedure.  It is intended to alter the shape of an area but may not correct or improve cellulite.

Whether or not body contouring is the right procedure for you begins with a consultation with Dr. Thompson.

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