Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

As the years pass, we all notice the changes in our facial features. Fine lines and wrinkles become deeper folds, skin becomes less elastic and sags under the eyes, around the jaw line and into the neck. Certain personal habits, sun exposure and gravity all exacerbate the aging process. The goal of the face lift is to create a refreshed, rejuvenated, more youthful appearance that looks natural.

Face lifts remove loose, sagging skin, easing wrinkles and tightening the muscles and underlying supportive tissue of the face and neck. Since no two people are alike, Dr. Schmid tailors every face lift to the individual depending upon the degree of correction desired, gender, and other factors.

Recovery times vary with the extent of surgery, the attention the patient pays to post-operative care and follow-up, and patient's genetic healing abilities. Average recovery time is two weeks.

Eye Lift (Blepharoplasty)

When meeting a new person, usually the eyes are the first characteristic we notice. Consequently, the eyes are often the first feature that we notice aging in ourselves and others. People commonly complain that they feel great, but look tired, sad or weathered because of the way their eyes have aged. This would probably explain why one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for men and women is the eye lift, or blepharoplasty.

Upper and/or lower eye lifts are performed to remove excess skin, fat, under-eye bags, pouches and wrinkles. In extreme cases, the excess upper eyelid skin may impair the visual field or inhibit peripheral vision. Insurance sometimes covers these cases.

Factors like healing, gender and ethnicity are all taken into thoughtful consideration by Dr. Schmid. In this surgery of millimeters, Dr. Schmid's artistic sensibilities and surgical refinement creates natural, refreshed looking results tailored to you. With expert technique, Dr. Schmid carefully hides incisions within the natural folds of the eye and along the lash lines.

Structurally, men and women have distinct facial characteristics. For example, the height and arch of the eyebrow tends to be higher and more distinctly arched in women. In men, the brow is straighter, and generally closer to the lid. To create too much of an arch or raise the brow too high on a man could effeminize his entire appearance.

In addition to an eye lift, many people want to improve the appearance of the upper third of the face. Consequently, a brow lift, laser resurfacing or BOTOX® Cosmetic might be incorporated with their eyelift to optimize results.

Average recovery time for an eye lift is about a week. As with any cosmetic procedure, recovery times vary with the extent of surgery, the attention the patient pays to postoperative care and follow-up, and patient's genetic healing abilities.

Forehead Lift/ Brow Lift

The upper third of the face is one of the first areas to noticeably age. Creases in the forehead deepen and the brows descend, encroaching upon the upper eyelids. A forehead lift or brow lift lightens the effects of gravity giving a refreshed look to the face.

Brow lifts may be performed in two different ways. The traditional technique (open brow lift) requires an incision that can be carefully hidden in the hairline, behind the hairline or even in the mid-forehead area. The surgeon elevates the skin and muscles, eliminates excess skin, and tightens the forehead. An endoscopic brow lift creates similar results, but requires the use of an endoscope that allows the surgeon to use small incisions and tighten the brow. Dr. Schmid will recommend which technique is best for based upon your specific goals and the extent of correction desired.

An average recovery time is about one to two weeks. As with any cosmetic procedure, recovery times vary with the extent of surgery, the attention the patient pays to postoperative care and follow-up, and patient's genetic healing abilities.

Portrait PSR3 Plasma Skin Regeneration

As seen on Channel 7 News with Dr. Schmid. Introducing Portrait® Plasma Skin Regeneration, the clinically proven technology that delivers true skin regeneration. Now patients can benefit from reduced wrinkles, tighter skin and improved skin tone pigmentation and texture, all at the same time with the Portrait® procedure. Surface blemishes, discoloration and benign skin lesions are also effectively treated by Portrait®.

Portrait® Plasma Skin Regeneration is a dramatic leap forward in the science of beauty. Compared to other treatments that only improve skin at the surface, Portrait® works both at and below the surface. The results seen following treatment get better over time with clinical studies showing continuing improvement a year later. This is a unique and significant advantage that distinguishes Portrait® from all other skin treatments.

The Portrait® procedure creates the right conditions and natural growth factors for new collagen and continuing skin regeneration. It reduces wrinkles and improves the overall health and appearance of the skin. Clinical study patients across the board have given their improved skin tone and texture very high ratings in post-treatment evaluations. Portrait® works very effectively at the surface but it also activates and stimulates collagen growth deeper within the skin causing new, healthy skin to emerge naturally.

Portrait® is a simple procedure that takes 15 – 20 minutes for a full face treatment. Backed by years of clinical research, it is safe and effective, giving patients the results they want with an optimized downtime relative to the desired outcome and without the risks associated with other treatments.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Wrinkle Treatments

As we age, the forehead and brows descend. Many people unconsciously compensate for the weight of gravity by elevating the eyebrows, catalyzing the formation of wrinkles on the forehead. Squinting and frowning also exacerbate lines and wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes.

An affordable, safe and effective treatment, BOTOX® Cosmetic is an FDA-approved technique to safely and effectively smooth wrinkles in the forehead, glabellar and crow's feet areas. It works by weakening the muscles, preventing further damage and softening the appearance of the overlying skin.

At the Institute of Aesthetic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments cost less than $12.50 per unit. Because your safety is our first priority, BOTOX® Cosmetic is always administered by Board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Peter Schmid. The treatment takes only 10 to 20 minutes. There is minimal redness and swelling, and your activities are not restricted after your treatment. Complications with BOTOX® Cosmetic are extremely rare.

Thermage ThermaCool TC

An active lifestyle doesn’t have to mean there is no time to look and feel your best. The Thermage ThermaCool TC (Tissue Contraction) treatment is an FDA-approved non-surgical option for tightening the skin of the face, jaw line and neck. Because there is no surgery, there is no downtime. Dr. Schmid performs the procedure, and he will tailor your treatment to you.

Thermage ThermaCool combines radiofrequency heating with a protective cooling mechanism. It is intended to cause immediate collagen contraction followed by gradual collagen tightening or contraction to lift the skin without wounding the upper layers of the skin. A cryogen spray simultaneously cools and protects the skin’s surface throughout the radiofrequency pulse to protect the skin.

Thermage TC treatments take approximately 30-40 minutes for the forehead and eyes, an hour to an hour and a half for the mid and lower face, and about 40-50 minutes for the neck. A topical anesthetic is used to minimize discomfort, sometimes in conjunction with a nerve block. Usually only one or two treatments spaced about six months apart provide optimal tightening of the skin.

Fillers

For many women and men, nasolabial folds (lines extending from the side of the nose down to the corner of the mouth), deep creases between the eyebrows, and other types of wrinkles can be improved with facial fillers.

There are a variety of safe, effective fillers that address deep wrinkles and folds. The FDA-approved, popular choices include Restylane, collagen, Advanta, AlloDerm, Fascian and others. Collagen may be human derived (i.e., Cosmoderm / Cosmoplast) or bovine derived (i.e., Zyderm / Zyderm II / Zyplast). Many facial fillers are injectible, and while there may be some bruising and redness, there is little or no downtime.

During your consultation, you and Dr. Schmid will discuss the benefits and limitations of each, and help you decide which filler is best.

Lip Augmentation

The lips are a symbol of youth, health and sensuality. However, some of us are not endowed with the shape we prefer, or the lips have lost plumpness or wrinkle with age.

There are a variety of options available to enhance the shape of the lips. Collagen, Restalyne™, fat transplantation, AlloDerm™, Fascian™, SoftForm™, Dermalogen™ and GoreTex™ are among the most common fillers and implants. The decision of where to inject and which filler to use is based upon the extent of lip enhancement you desire and the genetic shape of your lips.

Patients who have moderate to extensive wrinkling around the lips may incorporate laser resurfacing or a chemical peel in combination with the lip augmentation.

Chin Augmentation

A well-defined chin helps give balance to the face, and is one of the most significant characteristics when a person is viewed in profile. For men, a strong chin and chiseled jaw line is often thought to be signs of masculinity or power. A refined, angular jaw line in women is often seen as a sign of youth and health.

In many cases, dissatisfaction with the way the profile looks is the result of two concerns: a weak chin and a proportionately larger nose. For these concerns, men and women choose to have the chin augmented with an implant in conjunction with nose reshaping surgery. Expertly performed, this combination may create facial balance from the frontal, oblique and profile views. The chin may be enhanced with an implant alone or further defined with liposuction under the chin area. Together, you and Dr. Schmid will decide the approach that will best achieve your objectives.