Procedure:

Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles and redraping the skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.

Length:

3 to 5 hours.

Anesthesia:

Local with sedation, or general.

Outpatient:

Performed at Via Christi Surgery Center. Does not require an overnight stay. Overnight stay is optional at an additional cost for cosmetic patients.

Side Effects:

Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.

Recovery:

Back to work: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.

Duration of Results:

Usually 5 to 10 years.

Procedure:

Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. (Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects)

Length:

1 to 3 hours.

Anesthesia:

Local with sedation, or general.

Outpatient:

Performed at Via Christi Surgery Center. Does not require an overnight stay. Overnight stay is optional at an additional cost for cosmetic patients.

Side Effects:

Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks.

Recovery:

Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.

Duration of Results:

Several years. Sometimes permanent.

Procedure:

Reshape nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing problems. (May be covered by insurance.)

Length:

2 to 3 hours or more.

Anesthesia:

General only.

Outpatient:

Performed at Via Christi Surgery Center. Does not require an overnight stay. Overnight stay is optional at an additional cost for cosmetic patients.

Side Effects:

Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes and nose. Headaches. Some bleeding and stiffness.

Recovery:

Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Optimal results can take up to on 1 year or more.

Duration of Results:

Permanent.

Procedure:

Minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead and frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the forehead skin. May be done using the traditional technique, with an incision across the top of the head just behind the hairline; or with the use of an endoscope, which requires 3 to 5 short incisions. Most often done on people over 40.

Length:

1 to 2 hours.

Anesthesia:

General only.

Outpatient:

Performed at Via Christi Surgery Center. Does not require an overnight stay. Overnight stay is optional at an additional cost for cosmetic patients.

Side Effects:

Temporary swelling, numbness, headaches, bruising, possible itching or hair loss.

Recovery:

Back to work: 7 to 10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead lift. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery from bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Limit sun exposure for several months.

Duration of Results:

Usually 5 to 10 years.

Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. (Occasionally covered by insurance.)

Length:

2 to 3 hours.

Anesthesia:

General only.

Outpatient:

Performed at Via Christi Surgery Center. Does not require an overnight stay. Overnight stay is optional at an additional cost for cosmetic patients.

Side Effects:

Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness.

Recovery:

Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days. Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months.

Duration of Results:

Usually permanent.