Ask Dr. BARBER - Your Plastic Surgery Questions Answered Dr. W. Byron Barber II
Q: I have been thinking of having a facelift, but I don't want to look phony. How can I be sure that it will look natural?

A: Patients often tell me that what they are looking for in a facelift is a more rested, rejuvenated appearance, but not to look different than their normal look. This can be accomplished by a facelift and sometimes eyelid surgery done at the same time. It is rare that a patient gets that "operated-on" look after the first facelift.In my experience, patients who get that "too much plastic surgery" look are those that have had procedure after procedure which in time really just changes the person's appearance to the point that she just doesn't look like what she used to look like. If you are considering a facelift, a frank discussion with a board certified plastic surgery is certainly in order. Consulting with more than one plastic surgeon can often give you needed confidence in the one that you do choose. Seek out friends who have had surgery by the plastic surgeon you are considering to see what kind of results you might expect. Finally inquire about patient satisfaction with a plastic surgeon, including but not limited to pre-op education, post-op care, availability if needed and of course quality of the surgeons work. You have only one face, so it is prudent to spend as much time investigating a plastic surgeon as you feel is necessary.

Q: What are Botox" and Restylane and what do they do?

A: Botox" is an extract from a bacteria that when injected into small muscles in the forehead or crows feet area, will cause these muscle to relax and work less vigorously Certain muscles in the face, specifically the forehead muscle, the "frown-line" muscles, and the crows feet muscle cause wrinkles when the muscle contracts. Injection of Botox" directly into these small muscles will temporarily reduce or in some cases eliminate the lines in the forehead and crows feet areas. Botox" will last from 3-5 months before re-treatment is needed.

Restylane is a filler material that will partially or completely flatten certain lines on the face. The most common line that is treated with Restylane is the line from the nose to the corner of the mouth, called the naso-labial crease. This filler material can also be used to plump the lips to a fuller appearance. Restylane will last about 6-12 months before it disappears. Restylane can be used to treat lines in the face that are not as a result of specific muscle activity
Often, to get the maximum results from these products, they are used together to eliminate or soften both types of facial wrinkles.

If you have a question pertaining to any form of plastic and/or cosmetic surgery, please e-mail Dr.Barber at drbarber@barberplasticsurgery.com. Chances are the answer to your question will appear in a future issue of this magazine.