Facial Procedures
Facial plastic surgery has come a long way since its humble beginnings. The advancement in technology alone has provided the industry with a much broader range of facial surgical options. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Black Hills Plastic Surgery in Rapid City, SD have the training, technology, and experience to enhance the natural beauty of your face.
Face Enhancement Options:
Facelift / Rhytidectomy
Remove the signs of time from the lower portion of your face with this long-lasting facial surgery procedure.
Rhinoplasty / Nose Job
Patients choose rhinoplasty to improve the look of their nose, as well as to improve breathing.
Eyelid Surgery
Attain a more youthful, refreshed look with this popular procedure.
Ear Surgery
Otoplasty enhances the appearance of both children and adults, and it can even increase self-esteem.
Brow Lift / Forehead Lift
Reduce or eliminate lines on your forehead and between the eyebrows to restore a youthful face.
Neck Lift / Chin Lift
Get rid of loose skin and fatty deposits around your neck and under the chin.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, just ask. You can also explore our interactive patient education center and read more information below.
- Sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck
- Excess skin and fat on the neck
- Sagging jaw line
- Crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin
General Procedure
A surgical facelift involves the contraction and realignment of facial and neck skin, and in some instances the removal of excess fat deposits. The standard facelift procedure commonly involves making small incisions just inside the hairline, following the contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. Tissue and fat deposits are separated, the skin is stretched and tightened, and any excess skin is removed. If the neck line requires attention, an additional incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again followed. Minuscule stitches are used to close the incisions and to reduce any chance of scarring. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline. A faceliftmay take several hours or longer depending on whether other cosmetic procedures are completed at the same time. Sometimes other procedures may be performed in separate appointments. There are several different facelift techniques that can be employed. When you come in for your consultation, you can discuss with your surgeon which method is best for you.Recovery
Immediately after a surgical facelift, the face is fitted with bandages to decrease the recovery time and to reduce swelling. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery process. The stitches, clips, or staples are normally removed within a week. Patients sometimes report some minor pain associated with facelift surgery. Any discomfort can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions we give to you after the procedure.- Bringing a better proportion to the nose and facial features
- Reducing the size of a nose that is too large or too wide
- Correcting an overly arched or Roman nose
- Reforming a crooked or elongated nose tip
- ·Restoring the nose if damaged from an accident or sports injury
- Correcting breathing problems by rebuilding the nasal passage
General Procedure
Rhinoplasty usually involves reducing the size of the nose by removing and sculpting the nasal tissues to enhance the facial appearance. The results are unique to each individual and depend upon such factors as skin condition and thickness, nasal and facial structure, genetic contributions, and age. The rhinoplasty procedure lasts from one to three hours. Your surgeon may elect to utilize either local or general anesthesia, depending upon the complexity of the operation. To begin the surgery, tiny incisions are made that allow the surgeon to access the underlying nasal structure. Once the skin is opened, the cartilage and bone are reshaped to form the basis for the new look.Recovery
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement to speed up the healing process and to reduce the recovery time after nose surgery. Some swelling may be noticed; however, it will disappear within a few weeks. A splint, bandages, and/or gauze are applied immediately following surgery to aid in the healing process and to minimize movement of the nose. Patients must refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after their surgery. In addition, any corrective glasses that are worn must be taped up and off the nose. The nose will need to be well-protected from the sun for the first year after the procedure while the body is adjusting to the new look. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with rhinoplasty surgery. Pain can be effectively treated with oral medication and/or cold compresses. While complications are rare, you can minimize the risk of potential problems by carefully following the post-surgical directions given by your surgeon.- Dark circles or bags under the eyes
- Excessive skin or wrinkles surrounding the eyelids
- Tired appearance or puffiness due to inherited factors
General Procedure
Blepharoplasty involves making tiny incisions in the natural contours around the eyes, which should leave no visible scarring. Your surgeon will usually work on the upper eyelids first to remove any fatty tissue and tighten loose skin. Lower eyelids are completed next to eliminate puffiness and reduce dark circles. Newer techniques may include BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to firm fine lines and wrinkles. At Black Hills Plastic Surgery, our surgeons will use the latest and most reliable techniques to give you the results you deserve. Eyelid surgerygenerally takes about one to three hours and is performed in the surgery center. Having additional cosmetic procedures performed can increase the overall length of the surgery.Recovery
Normally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time after eyelid surgery. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with blepharoplasty, which can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, plastic surgery patients can minimize the risk for potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given after eyelid surgery. The healing process for this procedure is slightly longer than most other forms of cosmetic surgery; however, the benefits are long-lasting.- Bringing proportion to the face if the ears stick out too much
- Correcting folded ear tips (lop ear)
- Reshaping long or offset earlobes
- Enhancing very small ears or other congenital defects
- Remedying an accidental injury, including the loss of an ear
General Procedure
Ear surgery is commonly performed under general anesthesia for children and local anesthesia for adults. The standard otoplasty procedure brings the ears closer to the head. Otoplasty begins with an incision hidden in the crease behind the ear. This incision allows the cartilage located behind the ears to be reshaped in order to position them closer to the head. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours, depending upon the extent of surgery. There are various surgical techniques involved in correcting irregularities other than protruding ears. Feel free to ask your plastic surgeon at Black Hills Plastic Surgery about these techniques during your initial consultation.Recovery
After otoplasty surgery is completed, large bandages will be wrapped around the head. This method secures the ear in place and assists with the healing process. The bandages are usually removed within a week and replaced with smaller dressings. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement to speed up the healing process and reduce the recovery time after ear surgery. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery. Any pain can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, you can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given by our office.A brow lift (or forehead lift) is done to smooth or soften forehead wrinkles and raise sagging eyebrows, which can make you look like your younger self. If you are bothered by the horizontal lines on your forehead or the vertical lines between your eyebrows, a brow lift improves the appearance of both. Brow lifts can be performed alone or as part of a facelift.
The surgeon will make one incision or several small incisions behind the hairline. The underlying muscles and skin are tightened to raise the eyebrows and eliminate wrinkles. You may want to grow your hair out before surgery so that it is long enough to cover the healing incision after surgery.
Facial Plastic Surgery in Rapid City, SD
Would you like to learn more about our facelifts, rhinoplasty, and other facial procedures? Call Black Hills Plastic Surgery in Rapid City, SD today at (605) 343-7208 or request an appointment online.