Facial Cosmetic Surgery at Illume
Total Facial Rejuvenation
By incorporating the latest technology and treatments, our board certified plastic surgeons are able to offer a protocol that can achieve an entirely fresh, more youthful facial appearance. The procedure is called “Total Facial Rejuvenation.”
The 3 Procedures of Total Facial Rejuvenation
1) Erbium Laser Skin Remodeling
Erbium Laser Skin Remodeling delivers laser energy in a specialized “dot matrix” pattern that leaves areas of untouched healthy skin “in-between” areas that are treated. The results are the removal of age spots, discolorations and wrinkles with a quicker healing time and superior effectiveness.
2) Structural Fat Grafting
Structural Fat Grafting is a procedure that restores facial volume to areas such as the cheek or lips. Instead of using synthetic materials, the surgeons at The Illume Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa can use a naturally occurring substance that will never be rejected by a patient’s body — his or her own fat — usually taken from the thigh, hips or abdomen. Oftentimes, the fat is combined with PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma – taken from the patients own blood and containing natural growth factors to promote faster healing).
“There is no question that one’s own fat is ideal for soft tissue augmentation,” says Mark F. Blake, M.D., founding partner and Medical Director of The Illume Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa. “The results are the most natural appearing, but the best part is the potential duration of survival of the grafted fat. Fat transferred through Structural Fat Grafting actually gains its own blood supply in its new location, which allows the material to fill out sunken areas of the face for a very long time.”
3) Sub Muscular Aponeurotic Suspension (SMAS)
SMAS is used to tighten jowls and nasolabial folds which restores the natural attachments of the facial understructure to achieve a more long-lasting and natural look. “Face-lifts used to result in the overly tight stretched skin look. Today’s procedures tighten the understructure which results in a more natural look with less downtime,” according to Dr. Blake.
total Facial Rejuvenation Consultation
A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering a facelift. During this meeting, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific goals for surgery.
During your physical evaluation, the doctor will assess your bone structure and the underlying tissues of the face. The thickness, texture and elasticity of your skin and the severity of the wrinkles and folds will also be considered.
Suggestions may be given for other cosmetic procedures that can be performed along with a facelift to meet your appearance goals. For example, a facelift is frequently combined with:
- A forehead lift, to correct lines or furrows in the forehead
- Eyelid surgery, to eliminate drooping upper eyelids or bags beneath the eyes
- Skin treatments, such as laser resurfacing, to minimize fine wrinkles.
- Your own fat transfer to increase hollow cheeks
total Facial Rejuvenation Surgery
Your facelift will be performed in one of our accredited, in-office surgical suites. Most often we use local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (twilight sleep) for facelift procedures. However, for some patients, general anesthesia with one of our board-certified anesthesiologists may be the best choice. The type of anesthetic and location of surgery will be discussed during the consultation.
The surgery can take from 2-4 hours. After surgery, you will spend at least 2-3 hours in the recovery area and will then be discharged. We offer private- duty nursing care if desired. Details regarding this may also be discussed during your consultation.
In the recovery area, a bulky head dressing will be wrapped around your head and neck to help control swelling. Small drainage tubes are placed beneath the skin on both sides of the neck to drain away fluids that might otherwise accumulate. Discomfort is usually minimal, however, pain medication prescribed by your surgeon will help to relieve the discomfort.
In the early stages of healing, you should rest with your head elevated to help minimize bruising and swelling. We will see you in the office the day after surgery to remove the head dressing and the drains. An elasticized garment is used in place of the bulky head dressing to help control the swelling. Most patients find this to be comfortable while offering support to the surgical area. You may shower and shampoo after the drains are removed. Sutures will be removed in stages, the first set in 5 days and the remaining sutures in 8-10 days. Most of the swelling and bruising will disappear within two weeks. Specific instructions for care after the surgery will be provided.
If you’re like most people who have the procedure, you’ll be very pleased with your refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. Although the healing may take some time, you can expect the end result to be worth the wait.
A number of factors, including your heredity and your lifestyle, play a role in how long the results of your facelift will last. Even though the aging process continues, patients are very happy with their appearance for many years following a facelift. Some patients find that they want to make additional improvements at a later time.
Patient financing
Our goal is to make plastic surgery procedures available to any patient who is qualified. We accept all major credit cards and offer several patient financing options to make the process as easy and affordable as possible. Our plastic surgery financing partners include CareCredit, Alphaeon, Prosper, and CosmetAssure. Learn more about your patient financing options here or contact us for more information.
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Before and After
Total Facial Rejuvenation
Total facial rejuvenation procedures performed at our Milwaukee and Waukesha locations are done by a board-certified surgeon and have been proven to show great results. Contact us today to learn more about your options and how we can help you look and feel like the younger version of yourself again.
