Facial Cosmetic Surgery: Facelift, Blepharoplasty, Rhinoplasty and More in the Seattle Area

Facial Procedures

> Facelift
> Blepharoplasty
> Rhinoplasty
> Laser Skin Resurfacing
> Endoscopic Brow Lift
> Restylane®
> Lip Augmentation
> BOTOX® Cosmetic
> Thermage®

For many patients desiring a more youthful appearance, it all starts with the face. As your face is the most visible and complex part of your body, there are many different facial procedures available that can enhance your appearance. At Puget Sound Plastic Surgery, our most common procedures are facelift, endoscopic browlift, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty, but we perform many other procedures, including fat transfer and soft tissue fillers.

Facelift

Facelift surgery is truly the cornerstone of facial rejuvenation surgery. Nothing rejuvenates like a well-done facelift for the properly screened and correctly chosen patient. Other procedures like eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), endoscopic browlift, and laser resurfacing are often done in conjunction with facelift surgery to enhance facelift results and complete the overall rejuvenation process. Natural results are emphasized, and meticulous attention to detail assures that no one will easily identify that you have had a facelift unless you want them to know. Dr. Stridde uses the most up-to-date surgical techniques, lifting both the skin and SMAS tissue layers to achieve a natural appearing, long lasting result. Superior results take time. Facelift procedures that are completed in a couple of hours usually fade quickly and are associated with poorly located, visible scars. Since facelift surgery is a major investment in a person’s appearance, Seattle area residents are encouraged to take the time to research this procedure thoroughly. After all, it's your face and we want you to be happy with the results. For more information about facelift surgery at our greater Seattle area practice, contact Puget Sound Plastic Surgery today.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is the second most commonly performed cosmetic plastic surgery procedure after liposuction. This is because it is a smaller surgical procedure that does not take a great amount of time and causes little discomfort, yet can provide significant benefit. Blepharoplasty is performed at our greater Seattle area practice to remove excess skin from the upper eyelid area or to remove bulging fat pads from the lower eyelid. It is also frequently performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as facelift, browlift, and laser resurfacing. Although blepharoplasty is not a major operation, it should not be considered a trivial procedure. The eyelid is a very delicate structure and requires gentle and meticulous surgical technique in order to obtain a good result. Every patient experiences at least some swelling for several days and most people return to work within several days to a week. Lower eyelid surgery can sometimes be performed through the inside of the lower eyelid, thus leaving no visible external scar.

Often, individuals will come to our office requesting upper eyelid surgery when they would actually obtain better benefit and a more natural result from an endoscopic browlift procedure, or browlift combined with blepharoplasty. What they haven't recognized is that their eyebrow has descended under the effect of gravity and facial muscle action, pushing extra skin onto the upper eyelid. Frequently, correcting the eyebrow position will eliminate the appearance of excess skin. If only eyelid skin is removed, however, the eyebrow can be seen to later move downward, erasing much of the benefit of eyelid surgery. Be sure that your surgeon is familiar with the full range of eyelid and browlift procedures so that you can obtain the very best results from your surgery.

If you are interested in blepharoplasty, we invite you to arrange a consultation at our greater Seattle area practice.

Rhinoplasty

Most plastic surgeons feel that rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging of all cosmetic surgery procedures. This is due to the fact that the nose is located in a very prominent part of the face and small changes as little as a millimeter can result in a significant visual difference. For this reason, Puget Sound Plastic Surgery uses computer imaging prior to performing rhinoplasty in order to help patients assess the potential changes that can be produced with the surgery. The computer image cannot be completely accurate; however, it can help the patient and surgeon understand what is desired, and what is achievable. It is also very important for all patients who visit our greater Seattle area practice to understand that any rhinoplasty procedure will produce significant swelling and that it will take at least six months for the swelling to resolve and the final result to become apparent. If rhinoplasty surgery is performed aggressively to create a dramatic early result, the final result after the swelling has resolved may not be quite as satisfactory. With rhinoplasty surgery, patience is truly a virtue . For more information about rhinoplasty, greater Seattle area residents are invited to contact Puget Sound Plastic Surgery today.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing works best for people of lighter skin colorations who have significant wrinkles or sun damage. It also works well for people with more severe degrees of acne scarring. It has much more limited benefit for people with darker skin colorations, such as Asians, Hispanics, or African-Americans. When chosen for the appropriate person and condition, it can be extremely effective. We currently use the Sciton laser, which we feel is the most sophisticated and controllable laser available. The laser energy can be finely tuned to produce a very superficial and quickly healing Micro Laser Peel, or set to produce a deeper, more dramatic peel that requires longer healing times.

Laser resurfacing is often portrayed by some practitioners as being "non-invasive" and thus a lesser procedure than say, for example, a facelift. It is not! In fact, Puget Sound Plastic Surgery patients who have received a facelift and laser resurfacing will say, without hesitation, that healing from a laser resurfacing procedure is more difficult. Facelift and laser resurfacing procedures accomplish different things. A facelift repositions the soft tissues to where they were at a younger age, while laser resurfacing removes wrinkles and surface sun damage. It typically takes about seven to ten days to initially heal from a deep laser resurfacing and there is residual redness, a problem that can last several months. More superficial laser treatments such as the Micro Laser Peel typically heal in three to four days with minimal redness. At Puget Sound Plastic Surgery, we also provide a laser treatment that requires essentially no healing time. This is the Nlite laser, which works by stimulating your skin to produce new collagen, and thus reduces wrinkles without injuring the skin surface. Contact us today if you would like to find out more about our laser skin resurfacing procedures at our practice near Seattle.

Endoscopic Brow Lift

Also known as a forehead lift, this procedure raises the eyebrow position and lifts sagging skin above the eyes to alleviate the “tired” or “angry” look that can accompany the aging process. This procedure is performed through small (less than one inch) vertical incisions just behind the hairline. A small endoscopic camera is inserted through one of the incisions for viewing on a monitor. Instruments are then inserted through the other incisions to perform the lift. We feel that endoscopic browlifts are less invasive and produce a more natural appearing lift than the older style browlifts, which used a long incision across the scalp from ear to ear. Many times patients seek blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, not realizing that a better result can be obtained through an endoscopic browlift. What they did not notice, is that a sagging brow has actually pushed down excess skin above the eyelid. By performing an endoscopic browlift, the sagging brow is raised and the excess skin is removed. This produces a better cosmetic result than just removing excess skin, which can pull the brow further down. Contact our practice today if you would like to learn more about endoscopic browlift and what it can do for you.

Restylane®

Restylane® is the latest solution to the problem of facial lines and creases. This soft tissue filler offers the benefits of wrinkle correction for up to twice as long as collagen (six months or longer). Restylane® contains no animal proteins and is completely biodegradable, so the risk of an allergic reaction is minimal. Our patients and staff have been very impressed at how effective Restylane® is in treating skin creases of the lower face. It is also an excellent option for lip augmentation.

Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation may be done using either surgical or non-surgical techniques. Surgical lip augmentation is performed using autologous fat transfer. In this technique, a modest amount of fat is liposuctioned from a body area that has a little fat excess. The liposuctioned fat is then concentrated in a centrifuge and layered into the lips using a special blunt needle. Some of this fat will reabsorb, so initially the lips must be over-corrected. After this occurs, the result is natural and long-lasting. Restylane®, an injectable filler, is also available for lip augmentation. Restylane® is made from Hyaluronic Acid, a natural component of human tissues. Restylane® is very effective at creating fuller, more sensuous appearing lips. Restylane® is also great for filling creases and lines that form from the nose to the corners of the mouth, or below into the chin area. Dr. Stridde and his staff at Puget Sound Plastic Surgery can advise you on the best solution. Contact our greater Seattle area practice today!

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic works! It is the most frequently performed minor procedure in our office. What is it? BOTOX® Cosmetic is the purified form of the toxin produced by the botulism bacterium. BOTOX® treatments are produced in a laboratory, thoroughly tested, and are safe when used appropriately. BOTOX® injections work by blocking the signal between the nerve ending and the muscle that the nerve activates. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected in very small amounts into small facial muscles where it essentially paralyzes that muscle for three to six months. These facial muscles are the primary cause of many facial wrinkles. When these facial muscles are temporarily paralyzed, the wrinkle will disappear or diminish significantly.

BOTOX® therapy works best on wrinkles between the brows, or frown lines; transverse forehead wrinkles; and the wrinkles lying outside the eyesocket, or "crow’s feet." After the first treatment, the muscle activity will begin to return in about three to four months, and will return completely within six months. For optimal benefit, we recommend re-treatment before the muscle function has completely returned. We find that after several treatments, the time before return of muscle function lengthens with each successive treatment. The manufacturers of BOTOX® Cosmetic recommend that it be used within six hours after being reconstituted or it starts to lose its effectiveness. Some practitioners try to save BOTOX® injections in the refrigerator for use at a later date. We do not save BOTOX® injections for later use and feel that doing so shortchanges the patient as the BOTOX® treatment loses its potency. As a board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Stridde is intimately familiar with the facial muscles where BOTOX® therapy is used from the surgical procedures he routinely performs in these areas. Due to his unique familiarity with the facial muscles, he can more accurately place BOTOX® injections to accomplish the greatest benefit . To learn more about BOTOX® Cosmetic, please contact Dr. Stridde at Puget Sound Plastic Surgery today.

For more information about facial procedures such as BOTOX® injections, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and facelift surgery, greater Seattle area residents are invited to set up a consultation at Puget Sound Plastic Surgery.

Thermage®

The Thermage procedure is the only non-surgical treatment that delivers tighter skin, renewed facial contours and healthier collagen – the building block that provides structure to your skin. The Thermage procedure is available only in the offices of qualiified physicians who specialize in cosmetic procedures. Your physician is your best information resource for determining how this treatment will most benefit you.

What is the Thermage procedure? – The Thermage procedure employs a patented capacitive radiofrequency (CRF) technology called ThermaCool™. It has been clinically proven to tighten and gently lift skin to smooth out wrinkles and renew facial contours. The incision-free procedure is fast and easy, and requires no downtime from normal activities. Unlike lasers, the procedure can be performed on patients of all skin types. The ThermaCool device has been cleared by the FDA for the non-invasive treatment of facial wrinkles and rhytids.

How does it work? – The ThermaCool device uses a sophisticated treatment tip call ThermaTip™, which delivers a controlled amount of CRF energy. With each touch to the skin, the ThermaTip device uniformly heats a large volume of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue while simultaneously protecting the outer layer of the skin with cooling. This deep uniform heating action causes deep structures in your skin to immediately tighten. Over time, new and remodeled collagen is produced to further tighten skin, resulting in healthier, smoother skin and a more youthful appearance.

What does the Thermage procedure feel like? – With each touch of the ThermaTip device, you will experience a brief, deep heating sensation as the RF energy is delivered to your skin and underlying tissue. This deep heating sensation is your indication that your collagen is reaching effective temperatures for tightening. The physician controls the amount of energy delivered to balance procedural comfort with maximum results. The ThermaTip device is cooled before, during, and after heating to protect your skin and make the treatment more comfortable. Additionally, your physician may also prescribe relaxants.

When will I see results? – Recently published studies conducted by Thermage show that measurable tightening improvements appear gradually over 2 to 6 months after a single treatment session. However, many patients have reported seeing an earlier response.

How many treatments will I need? – Thermage has produced results in the majority of patients in a single treatment, unlike many laser procedures which require up to four or more sessions. Your physician will determine the coarse of treatment that is right for you.

How long does it take? – The Thermage procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the treatment area. Additional time may be required for skin preperation prior to the procedure.

What will my skin feel like after the procedure? – Immediately following a Thermage procedure, your skin should feel tighter, smooher and more youthful. Over time, you will notice additional tightening.

How long will the effects of the Thermage Procedure last? – The Thermage procedure causes immediate tightening of the collagen structure, with additional tightening over time. Unpublished reports by experienced cosmetic physicians indicate that results may last 24 months or longer based on the patient's natural aging process.

Is the Thermage Procedure safe? – The Thermage procedure has and excellent safety record. With over 190,000 estimated worldwide patient treatments to date the reported incidence of side effects is less than 0.4%. The most frequently reported incidents are classified as swelling, redness, bumps, and blisters on or around the treated area. These side effects have disappeared in a few days or weeks. A rare (<0.11%) but longer lasting side effect described as a surface irregularity has also been reported. Consult with your physician regarding this and any other questions you may have on the safety record of the Thermage procedure.

How long before I can return to my normal activities? – Most people return to their regular activities immediately following the Thermage procedure. Some people experience mild redness (like a sunburn), but it usually disappears quickly. No special care is needed after treatment unless otherwise instructed by your physician.

How much does the Thermage Procedure cost? – The cost for the Thermage procedure depends on the facial areas being treated. Certainly, the more treatment area involved, the more the procedure will cost. Your physician will discuss his or her fees with you at the time of your consultation.