BOTOX® Injections

 

BOTOX® is a purified botulinum toxin which is used to block nerve impulses and cause temporary muscular paralysis in specifically targeted areas. Injections of BOTOX® are routinely used to paralyze muscles that cause facial wrinkles. BOTOX® injections are also used for medical purposes, such as to treat migraine headaches or eliminate excessive perspiration in the hands, feet or auxiliary areas.

Most commonly, BOTOX® is used by plastic surgeons on patients who, through non-surgical means, wish to reduce wrinkles in the top one-third of their face, including crow's feet, frown lines and forehead creases. BOTOX® is also used to treat patient wrinkles in the perioral area, such as the nasolabial fold, vertical creases above the upper lip and lines underneath the lower lip. In addition, BOTOX® may be used post-operatively to enhance the results of cosmetic surgery procedures such as facelift, forehead lift or eyelid surgery.

BOTOX® injections can be performed quickly and with little or no discomfort. Patients usually return to normal activities immediately. The beneficial effects of BOTOX® usually last three to six months before repeat injections may be needed. The FDA has approved BOTOX® injections for cosmetic use. BOTOX® injections for the temporary treatment of wrinkles has become increasingly popular (in 2001, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 850,000 people received BOTOX® treatments).


Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

 

Frequently referred to as "tummy tuck", Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure in which excess skin and fat are removed from the abdominal area, and abdominal muscles are tightened. The goal of this surgery is to smooth the appearance of the abdomen in people complaining of a large fat deposit and/or loose skin that are resistant to diet or exercise. This procedure is especially beneficial to women whose abdominal skin and muscles have been stretched by multiple pregnancies. Abdominoplasty can also be very helpful to women who have not experienced pregnancy.



Breast Augmentation

 

Breast Augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty) is a surgical procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of a women's breasts. Breast Augmentation may be performed for a variety of reasons, including:

  • to improve body contour and address a women's feeling that her breasts are too small
  • to balance a noticeable size difference between breasts
  • to correct a reduction in breast size and firmness following pregnancy as a reconstructive procedure after breast surgery
  • to achieve better fit in swimsuits and other clothing

Breast Augmentation procedures are performed in our AAAHC-Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center.


Breast Lift

 

Pregnancy, nursing and the force of gravity over the years can cause a women's breasts to lose their shape and firmness. Breast Lift (mastopexy) is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to raise and reshape sagging breasts. This procedure can also reduce the size of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). Mastopexy can also be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation surgery when breasts are smaller than desired. Breast Lift surgery cannot completely alleviate the effects of gravity and age, but it can delay and reduce the impact.


Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

 

Otoplasty is surgery performed to improve the appearance of patients who have disproportionately prominent or large ears. Otoplasty usually improves appearance by setting the patients ears closer to their head. Otoplasty can be performed on children once they have attained the age of five or six (or even earlier to avoid emotional distress in cases of severe disfigurement). Otoplasties can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the age and needs of the patient. Incisions, made in the back of the ear, are designed to reshape the ear cartilage and restore the fold in the back of the ear, making the ear lie flatter against the head.


Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

 

Drooping, wrinkled upper eyelids and puffy bags under the eyes can make you look tired, sad and older than you are. Drooping upper lids can even interfere with your vision. By removing excess fat and skin from these areas, cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can correct these problems, resulting in a brighter, more rested and alert appearance. Blepharoplasty is performed on adults of all ages. While most often done to correct the effects of aging, it is also used to treat people in their 20's or 30's who wish to improve on genetically inherited traits.

Facelift

 

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a procedure designed to smooth loose skin and wrinkles on the face and neck, providing a firmer, fresher appearance and more pleasing contours. These improvements are surgically achieved by carefully placing incisions (usually hidden by the ears and hair), pulling facial skin up and back, and removing excess skin. Facelift surgery can be an effective means of improving or correcting the following conditions: jowls, loose skin on the cheeks, or a poorly-defined jawline deep wrinkles in the cheeks and a sagging of facial skin deep line running from the nose to the corner of the mouth neck problems such as loose skin, wrinkles, excess fat or vertical cords. While the above problems can be improved by facelifts, this surgery cannot correct conditions such as excess skin and fat in the eyelids or sagging eyebrows.

Forehead Lift (Brow Lift)

 

Sagging eyebrows, "hooding" over the eyes and prominent forehead creases can cause a person to look tired, sad or older than they are. Forehead lift surgery, also known as brow lift, can minimize the visible signs of aging by altering the skin and muscles that cause the problem. The results can be a more relaxed, alert and youthful look. Forehead lift surgery is performed in our state-licensed Ambulatory Surgical Center. It can be performed alone, or in conjunction with facelift, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, or other procedures.

Laser Hair Removal

 

Unwanted hair on the upper lip, chin, sideburns, eyebrows or elsewhere on the face can be a difficult problem for many women. Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona offers the Epitouch Alexandrite Laser, a technology that brings hair removal to a new level of effectiveness and convenience, with longer lasting results. Epitouch laser selectively targets the pigment inside each hair follicle. because the Alexandrite laser works far more quickly than other lasers, the Epitouch can be used to treat not only facial hair and bikini areas, but also legs and larger areas such as men's backs. Freedom from unwanted hair is now easier to achieve than ever before! Unlike other laser hair removal systems, the Epitouch takes only minutes. No painful waxing beforehand, no need to suffer through growing the hair out first.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

 

Facial skin tends to loosen and sag with time. Fine lines appear near the eyes, on and around the lips, and even across the cheeks. Creases deepen around the mouth and between the eyebrows. Any number of environmental assailants may accelerate lines and wrinkling. Cigarette smoke, stress, cumulative lifetime sun exposure, poor nutrition, pollution and alcohol can all spell disaster for your skin. At Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona, Doctors Lex, Quigley, and Bruggeman use the SilkTouch Laser like the artist's brush, tailoring the skin resurfacing procedure to your individual needs. Fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth can be smoothed. Deep laugh and frown creases can be softened. Some acne and surgical scares can be minimized. The surface of the skin can be "freshened", revealing the new skin underneath and also stimulating a renewal of the skin's collagen for a softer, smoother appearance. To determine whether or not SilkTouch laser skin resurfacing is right for you, you will want to discuss with Dr. Lex, Dr. Quigley, or Dr. Bruggeman the type of skin improvement you hope to achieve. Together you can decide if your expectations are realistic, and redefine your goals if necessary.

Liposuction

 

Liposuction (also known as lipoplasty) is the surgical removal of fat from areas of the body that are resistant to diet and exercise. Such areas frequently include hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, calves and ankles, neck, chin and facial areas. Because it is a highly effective procedure, liposuction has become the cosmetic procedure most commonly performed by plastic surgeons in the United States. Most liposuction surgery can be performed in an outpatient setting; the majority of liposuction done by Dr. Lex, Dr. Quigley, and Dr. Bruggeman is performed in Northern Arizona SurgiCenter, an outpatient surgery facility conveniently located one floor beneath Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona.

Liposuction is commonly performed on both women and men. It is not a weight reduction technique and is best suited to individuals of relatively normal weight who have pockets of fat that cause certain areas of the body to appear out of proportion. such pockets of fat may not be responsive to changes in diet or exercise. In some cases, liposuction may be the only way to eliminate them.

The latest advancement in liposuction, Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL), is available at Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona. The Lysonics 2000 UAL system uses ultrasonic vibrations to fragment and "melt' fatty pockets prior to removal from the body. UAL is an exciting addition to the available technology for body sculpturing.

Rhinoplasty

 

Cosmetic surgery of the nose, technically known as rhinoplasty, is a widely performed procedure. Rhinoplasty can improve the size and shape of the nose, resulting in a better balance between the nose and the remainder of a person's facial features. A significant improvement in the overall appearance of the face can result. Rhinoplasty is generally not performed until the patient's nose is fully developed. Thus, it is typically not done until patients are at least 14 years old or older. There is no upper age limit for the procedure, assuming reasonably good health of the patient. Along with aesthetic improvement, rhinoplasty can sometimes be used to correct certain breathing problems related to the structure of the nose. If you feel that your nose is too large, too wide, too asymmetrical or crooked, or otherwise displeasing in appearance, you may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty.

Spider Vein Sclerotherapy

 

Spider veins, technically known as telangiectasias, are small clusters of purple, blue or red veins which commonly appear on the legs of women as they age. Spider veins are a very common cosmetic concern- it is estimated that more than half of the adult female population is bothered by spider veins. Plastic surgeons are able to treat spider veins with sclerotherapy, which involves injections of a sclerosing solution into the veins. This solution causes the spider veins to collapse and eventually become less visible. Sclerotherapy is performed in the doctor's office and ususallky takes only a short amount of time (15 to 45 minutes). A patient's activity usually is not limited following sclerotherapy. To achieve optimal results, two or more treatments are typically required.