American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [776]
For the procedure, the doctor uses a tiny needle to inject the collagen (which is mixed with a local anesthetic) into the facial area being treated. More than one injection may be needed if the wrinkle is especially deep or long. The procedure can be completed in minutes, and you can go back to your daily activities immediately. The effects of collagen treatments last only a few months. Repeat treatments are needed to maintain the desired look.
Ear Surgery
Plastic surgery of the ear (medically known as otoplasty) is performed to position protruding ears closer to the head, decrease the size of overly large ears, repair earlobes that have been torn by injury, or replace an ear lost in an injury or missing at birth. Corrective surgery to fix protruding ears is usually done on children between ages 4 and 14. However, the surgery can be performed on older children and adults.
If your child has protruding ears and is not bothered by their appearance, wait until he or she expresses a desire for corrective surgery. Your child will be more cooperative during the process and happier with the results.
The Procedure
Ear surgery is usually an outpatient procedure. Younger children are usually given general anesthesia so they can sleep through the surgery. Older children and adults are usually given a local anesthetic combined with light sedation. The surgery takes about 2 to 3 hours.
The surgeon makes an incision behind each ear, in the crease where the ear meets the head. The surgeon may remove or remold the cartilage in the ear to reduce or reshape the ear, or simply bend the cartilage back toward the head. Then the surgeon sews the cartilage into its new position with absorbable stitches, which do not need to be removed.
The surgeon places protective dressings over the ears that must stay in place for a week. Sometimes a person has to wear a headband over the ears for the first month after surgery to hold them in place as they heal.
After Surgery
The doctor will recommend that the person get up and walk around a few hours after surgery. The incisions may hurt for a few days, but the doctor can prescribe medication to relieve the pain. The stitches usually dissolve in about a week, and the person will be able to return to school or work. However, he or she should be careful not to injure his or her ears. The scar is inconspicuous and will fade over time.
Rare complications of ear surgery include scarring caused by infection in the cartilage and a blood clot in the ear (which may go away on its own or can be drained with a needle).
Skin Rejuvenation
Skin rejuvenation or resurfacing refers to a number of techniques that can improve the appearance of your face by removing the top layers of skin. Your doctor will examine your skin to determine which rejuvenating technique will give you the best outcome. Before recommending a specific treatment, he or she will consider your skin type, how much sun damage or wrinkling you have, and the evenness of your skin color. The most common skin rejuvenation techniques include chemical skin peels, retinol treatments, dermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing.
Chemical Skin Peel
A chemical skin peel is the application of a chemical solution to the skin to diminish fine wrinkles and sun damage and to even out irregular skin color by peeling away the top layers of the skin. It is the No. 1 nonsurgical facial cosmetic procedure performed in the United States. Chemical peels are safest when performed by plastic surgeons.
Chemical peels differ in their ingredients and strength. Light peels are short but effective procedures that require minimal recovery time. Light-to-medium skin peels usually use acidic chemicals such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Most deep peels use a very caustic chemical called phenol and are riskier than milder peels. Deep peels are usually performed on people who have severe or coarse wrinkles or precancerous growths. Phenol can be dangerous for people who have