Facial Rejuvenation Procedures Available to Maryland and Washington, D.C., Residents

Have you been considering facial rejuvenation? Washington, D.C., Maryland, and northern Virginia residents know that a youthful appearance can revive a person's natural beauty. If signs of aging are making you look older than you feel, a facelift may be just what you need. The effectiveness of a facelift can be augmented through the use of non-surgical injection procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and Restylane®. We also offer eyelid surgery, thread lift, and more. Our Maryland office is a little over one mile from the Washington, D.C., line. Contact Jennifer Parker Porter, MD, to schedule an information session. Don't let a few facial imperfections conceal the vigor and beauty within, read up on our cosmetic facial treatments and decide which procedure is right for you.

Facial Procedures

• Facelift
• Thread Lift
• Eyelid Surgery
• Brow Lift
• Otoplasty

Facelift: Complete Facial Rejuvenation

As a result of the natural aging process, the skin on the face begins to sag slightly as it begins to lose its elasticity. East Coast summers in the sun and city life stresses can result in premature aging that less effective methods of facial rejuvenation may be unable to combat. Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery provides facelift procedures to Washington, D.C., and Maryland residents. During a facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, excess skin and fatty tissue around the jaw and neck is removed and the skin is pulled back to reveal a tighter, more youthful facial appearance. A facelift will improve the contour of your face and jawline, but it will not correct sun damage or fine wrinkles that have developed on the skin's surface. To treat these conditions additional skin care may be needed.

Most facelift candidates are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Although the procedure can be performed on older individuals, it is best for patients who still have relatively good skin elasticity and a strong facial bone structure. When preparing to undergo facelift surgery you will have to abstain from smoking prior to the procedure and during the recovery process in order to avoid complications. Consumption of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs prior to facelift surgery is not recommended. These drugs are blood thinners, and may lead to increased bleeding during the course of the facelift. Washington, D.C., and Maryland residents planning to undergo more than 15 pounds of weight loss should discuss how this will affect their facelift results with Dr. Porter prior to surgery.

Contour Thread™ Lift: Minimally Invasive Lifting

A Contour Thread™ Lift at our Maryland office can improve many of the same facial imperfections that a facelift can. One of the benefits of getting a Contour Thread™ Lift, however, is that unlike the facelift operation which takes several hours, the thread lift procedure takes less than one hour. Often the bruising and swelling that occur right after most facial operations are less prominent in the case of a thread lift. The recovery time for a Contour Thread™ Lift is slightly shorter and scarring is minimal. A thread lift can raise mildly sagging cheeks, lift the neck, create better brow balance, and improve the jaw line. Because the procedure is less invasive than a facelift, the patient can be conscious while Dr. Porter performs the thread lift. Maryland and Washington, D.C. residents can contact our office for a complete consultation.

A Contour Thread™ Lift is not the right procedure for everyone. The results of a thread lift are more subtle than those obtained from a facelift. Although most patients who undergo thread lift treatment are happy with the results, those looking for a more dramatic transformation might be more appropriate candidates for a facelift. A thread lift should not be attempted on individuals with thin, fragile skin. A Contour Thread™ Lift gently lifts facial tissue using an FDA-approved barbed suture. For the technology to be successful enough facial fat must be present to allow the barbs to take hold of the tissues. Patients with heavy jowly faces and severe sagging, should consult with Dr. Porter, but may be advised to seek a facelift rather than a thread lift. Patients interested in undergoing a facial rejuvenation procedure such as thread lift or facelift can contact our Maryland practice just outside of Washington, D.C., to schedule a consultation.

Eyelid Surgery: Wake Up Sleepy Eyes

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery is sought by many Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia residents. These people grow weary of hearing how tired they look even after they have had a full night of rest. The blepharoplasty procedure can correct drooping upper lids that tend to sag with time and the puffy bags below the eyes. Eyelid surgery can be performed at our Maryland office as a single procedure, or in conjunction with other facial surgery such as a facelift or a brow lift.

The healing time for blepharoplasty is relatively quick for a procedure of this type. The stitches will be removed five to seven days after surgery and any bruising should subside after 7 to 10 days. The best thing to do right after surgery is to keep your head elevated and get plenty of rest. After two or three days you'll be able to read and watch television again. You'll be able to go back to work after about a week to 10 days. Contact lenses will have to be avoided for two weeks. For several weeks after surgery you can protect yourself from wind and sunlight sensitivity by wearing sun glasses. Dr. Jennifer Parker Porter can give you tips on how to achieve a smooth recovery post-surgery.

Brow Lift: Smoothing the Forehead

A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, can lift a drooping brow line, reducing the creases and furrows that can give others the impression that you are frustrated, angered, or tired. By undergoing the brow lift procedure you can also reduce the appearance of crow's feet, which are the fine lines that appear on the corners of the eyes. The procedure can also raise brows that have been too close to the eyes since birth and reduce the signs of aging.

The brow lift procedure is performed using an endoscope, an instrument that allows Dr. Porter to see beneath your skin into the very small incisions that are made above the hairline. Occasionally patients are able to get by with a temporal brow lift. A temporal brow lift only lifts the outer aspect of the brow. This less invasive surgery allows for fewer incisions then a traditional brow lift. The minimal scarring that occurs post-operatively after either procedure is performed is fully concealed by your natural hairline, making the procedure hard to detect visually. Combining the procedure with BOTOX® Cosmetic can prevent worry lines from reappearing.

Otoplasty: Cosmetic Ear Surgery

Otoplasty, or cosmetic ear surgery is usually done on children once they have reached the age of 6, though it can be performed on adults as well. The surgery is most often performed to move protruding ears closer to the head or reduce the size of over-sized ears. Alternately, otoplasty is also effective in treating "lop ear" which is a condition where the tips of the ears fold down and forward, and "shell ear" where parts of the outer rim are missing.

Otoplasty procedures usually take about two to three hours to complete. For young children, general anesthesia is typically employed so that the child can sleep through the operation. For adults and older children, monitored anesthesia may be preferred. A bulky bandage and later a light head dressing is worn after surgery for a period of at least a week. Patients can return to work or school after seven days, though all who undergo the surgery should be mindful of engaging in any activity where the ears may be bent for several weeks following otoplasty.

Schedule a Consultation at Our Maryland Practice

To schedule a consultation about a thread lift, facelift, eyelid surgery, or another facial surgery, contact our Washington, D.C., area practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland today. Dr. Jennifer Porter can help you determine which facial treatment will help you achieve your cosmetic goals.