Plastic surgery – what are the options?

Whether you’re considering liposuction or a facelift, getting cosmetic surgery done to your face or body is a decision that requires a lot of research and thinking through beforehand. We’ve rounded up three popular plastic surgery procedures and asked top aesthetic doctors what’s important to know before going under the knife.

Upper eyelid surgery

We speak to Dr Wong Chin Ho from W Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

What are the benefits of blepharoplasty?

There are cosmetic and functional benefits of eyelid surgery. The upper eyelid crease may be restored to a more crisp and bright appearance and with ptosis correction, the upper eyelid opens easily without chronic strain that some patients feel.

With aging, the eye opening becomes more strained and excess skin drapes over the upper eyelid crease, resulting in a tired appearance. Upper eyelid surgerycan help to functionally and cosmetically rejuvenate the upper eyelid.

Who is it for?

It may be performed for patients with droopy upper eyelids. Upper eyelid surgery, along with ptosis correction, can also help patients who suffer from chronic strain in keeping their eyes open.

What are the steps involved?

The excess skin and fat on the upper eyelids are removed. The eyelid opening mechanism, if weakened, may be tightened to restore the efficiency of the eye opening. This part of the procedure is called eyelid ptosis correction (ptosis in Latin means “failing leaves”).

Is there any downtime?

Downtime generally ranges from two to three weeks but patients may go about their usual activities with sunglasses from the first day. Potential risks include prolonged swelling and bruising in some patients. Minor asymmetry may be seen rarely but this can be addressed with a minor touch-up procedure.

W Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
#06-28/29 Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Center
38 Irrawaddy Road
6570 2528 | waesthetics.com

Deep plane facelift

What type of facelift should I go for?

For a natural-looking, undetectable lift, try the deep plane facelift, which is an effective alternative to the popular SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) lift. Compared to the SMAS lift, it involves moving the skin from much deeper within, which often requires much more experience and skill from the surgeon. Targeting noticeable signs of ageing, especially around the cheeks and jawline, the deep plane lift is usually performed through incisions.

Are there risks of going for an SMAS facelift?

The SMAS facelift concentrates on the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, also known as the underlying layer of facial muscles adjacent to the platysma muscle in the neck. While a lift in the area can help to improve sagginess in the lower face and neck, the procedure results in an overly “tight” look since only the skin is separated from the deeper muscles and soft tissue. Another downside is that the SMAS lift only treats the lower one-third of the face and neck area, which can result in artificial-looking results. This is why a deep plane facelift is an excellent alternative.

Regen Plastic Surgery
+82 10 4345 8766 (WhatsApp) | infoglobal@regengroup.co.kr

Liposuction

We speak to Dr David Loh, founder of David Loh Surgery

What are the types of liposuction available?

There is conventional liposuction, and there are power-assisted liposuction methods.  The first one involves a surgeon removing the fat via a cannula, through the negative pressure of the suction. Power-assisted liposuction uses “power” in the form of high-frequency sound waves, mechanical vibrations of the cannula, water-jets or lasers to help dislodge the fat before it gets sucked out. 

What’s involved?

Several steps are involved in liposuction, which is usually performed as a day surgery. First, there is sedation, then tumescent anaesthesia is injected into the treatment areas. This helps to reduce bleeding and post-operative pain. If a power-assisted method is used, this will precede the actual suction. For example, with VASER liposuction, high-frequency sound waves are used to dislodge the fat to prepare for suction. Lastly, suction is applied through a cannula which the surgeon moves within the target areas to remove the fat. After the patient wakes up, a compression garment is applied and the patient goes home.

How long is the downtime?

This may differ according to the extent of the surgery. We normally recommend that they take three to seven days off from work. There will be some swelling and bruises, which usually peak at one week and take anything from four to 12 weeks to completely subside. Compression garments help to minimise the swelling and provide comfort during recovery. The final results are evident immediately after waking up from the surgery before the swelling sets in, otherwise, after several weeks when the swelling has subsided.

David Loh Surgery
#05-16 Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road
davidloh.sg

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