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Women with high hairlines may opt for a high forehead lift. This technique can actually lower the hairline a bit. The incision is placed within the hairline, in a way that allows the hair to grow through the scar.

Endoscopic browlift can benefit younger patients with good skin tone and a minimum of excess skin. In this technique, the surgeon elevates but does not remove sagging tissues. Special instruments allow the surgeon to work through tiny incisions in the scalp.

In men, future hair loss must be taken into account when determining the best surgical approach. In many cases, surgeons can hide incisions in the lines and creases of the forehead.

For instance, mid forehead lift is often most appropriate for men with many forehead creases, as the incision can be made within a natural line across the forehead. This technique allow for maximum tightening of the forehead skin.

Direct eyebrow lift is best for men likely to have hair loss. Incisions are made within each eyebrow, where they are easily hidden. In an indirect browlift, the incisions are made within a natural crease just above each eyebrow. Both of these procedures raise the eyebrows and remove excess skin.

Ask The Surgeon

My daughter has a "ski-jump" nose and at 12 she's starting to care about her appearance. Is she old enough to have nose surgery?

When your daughter may have nose surgery will depend on her individual growth pattern and the internal structure of the nose. Problems with the appearance of the nose usually are corrected after puberty, but surgery may be indicated in a younger child if internal defects are causing serious breathing problems. The age for surgery to refine the shape of the nose is usually about 15 for girls and 17 for boys, but it depends on the physical developement of the child. In some cases, it may be appropriate to operate on a girl at 12 or 13 years of age. A consultation with your facial plastic surgeon can answer your specific questions about nose surgery.

Beauty Tip

If exposure to the sun has left you with freckles or "age spots" on your face and neck, help is at hand. Although solar damaged facial skin usually responds well to ordinary skin resurfacing procedures, doctors have been reluctant to treat the neck because its thinner shin is more prone to scarring. Now, however, new treatments are available to fade sun-induced age spots on the face and neck gradually.

These areas may be safely treated through a series of superficial peels, spaced two weeks apart. The milder acids used in these peels fade sunspots gradually with little risk of scarring. After two to four treatments, remaining brown spots may be treated with pigment-specific laser (such as a Q-switched Ruby, alexandrite, or NdYAG). The beam destroys the pigmented cells, leaving adjacent tissue unharmed.

Another altenative for treating solar damage is to use a topical skin-lightening cream. These over-the-counter products contain pigment-inhibiting ingredients, such as hydroquinone, kojic acid, or azelaic acid, that minimixe the appearance of brown patches over time. To be effective, however, the cream must be used consistently for serveral months.

Preventing further solar damage is essential when treating freckles and sun spots.

What's New?

Sutures may soon become unnecessary in some facial plastic surgery procedures, thanks to a new flexible skin adhesive called Dermabond. Derived from a variation of the chemical found in Super Glue, Dermabond can be used in many cases where sutures, staples, or sterile strip closueres would normally be used. The adhesive combines with the moisture found on the surface of the skin to form a strong, flexible film that bonds to the skin and holds the edges together. the adhesive gradually wears off as new skin cells grow beneath it, so there are no sutures to remove later.

Dermabond comes in a vial with an applicator tip. To use it, the surgeon simply rolls the applicator lightly over the edges of the incision, much like you would roll a tube of flip gloss. Within minutes, the glue sets, forming a flexible, see-through bond that lasts five to 10 days. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Dermabond is easier and more comfortable than sutures and reduces scarring, making it ideally suited for facial plastic surgery.

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