Teens
Teens seek plastic surgery for many of the same reasons as adults, to improve their appearance or to increase self-esteem. Many teens state that their self-image and self-confidence improves when their perceived physical shortcomings are corrected. Common plastic surgery procedures that benefit both male and female teens are rhinoplasty (nose job),gynecomastia (male breast reduction surgery), breast augmentation, breast reduction, correction of breast asymmetry, otoplasty, treatment of acne scars, repair of lacerations and scar revisited.
NASAL FRACTURE
The nose is the most commonly fractured facial structure. Nasal fractures account for approximately 50% of sports-related facial fracture. The fact that broken noses are so common may account for the high number that go undertreated. This is a risk itself as acute nasal fractures lead to chronic nasal deformities. Sometimes breathing difficulties that may impair the performance of competitive athletes can develop as well.
ORBITAL FRACTURE
The risk of injury to the eye is highly related to the type of sport. High-risk sports are those with high-speed projectile objects, clubs, or aggressive body contacts. A badly set or corrected orbital fracture can alter the shape of the eye or the face.
CHEEK BONE FRACTURE
Fractures of the cheek bones or zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) account for approximately 10% of sports-related facial fractures. This type of fracture typically occurs when significant force is directed at the prominence of the cheekbone. When left untreated, cheek
BREAST AUGMENTATION
BREAST REDUCTION
TUBEROUS BREASTS
Tuberous breasts are a condition which you inherit, and results in an abnormality or congenital anomaly that occurs in women. During puberty the breasts fail to develop normally and fully. The exact cause of this condition is not exactly known. Only 1 to 5 percent of patients seeking breast augmentation have this condition.
Tuberous breasts are not a condition of simply having small or underdeveloped breasts; it is an actual deformity that occurs during the process of breast bud development and maturation. The result is a herniation of the nipple-areola complex due to a fibrous band of tissue in the lower part of the breast. The breast base is narrower than usual, and the distance between the lower portion of the areola and the fold under your breast is short. The nipple may appear abnormal and slightly domed. The appearance of the breast varies from individual to individual and can range from mild to severe. Typical characteristics of a tuberous breast deformity include:
- Enlarged and puffy areola
- Narrow breast base
- Wide space between the breasts
- Limited amount of skin and breast tissue, especially in the lower poles
- Sagging of the breast (ptosis), in its entirety or a specific portion
- Breast fold that is higher than normal.
This condition can affect the ability of a woman to breastfeed. There are some cases where the breast and milk glands have not developed enough to even produce milk. There are no other fertility or pregnancy issues affected by this condition. There is no known cause for tuberous breasts at present. Tuberous breasts can cause significant embarrassment during puberty and throughout the patient’s life.
Correction of the tuberous breasts depends upon the severity of the deformity. It is more complicated than regular breast augmentation and usually requires a combination of surgical techniques. All techniques involve the surgical release of the constricting tissue in the lower portion of the breast, and the release is maintained by the placement of a tissue expander or breast implant. This procedure is combined with or followed by mastopexy (breast lift) breast parenchymal reshaping.
What to Expect
Recovery following surgery for tuberous breast correction is fairly quick, but may require a 1 night hospital stay. If tissue expanders have been placed you will need to come back regularly to your surgeon to insert saline (salt water) into the expanders to stretch the surrounding skin of your breast tissue. Tuberous breast correction with a combination of internal release, breast implants, and possible nipple surgery is stable. The appearance of your breasts will change if you gain or lose weight, become pregnant or breast feed. These are changes that also occur in normal breast tissue and the outcome is not predictable.
SCAR REVISION
Scars may be the result from everyday falls, while others may be due to severe acne. There are more problematic cases caused by car accidents, fires, wounds, viruses, and surgeries. While the most common symptom is low self-esteem, other symptoms may cause limited mobility, itching, or pain.
Dr. Walker meets with her patients to discuss the type of scarring (keloid, hypertrophic, depressed, elevated, etc.) and the best course of action to remedy it. It is important to note that nothing can totally eliminate scars however, they can often be improved in appearance.
Q: What Happens During Scar Reduction Surgery?
A: The various techniques used to reduce scars include injecting raised (hypertrophic and keloid) scars with steroids and 5-Fluorouracil or injectable fillers for depressed or indented scars.
The Best Candidates for Scar Reduction
Scar reduction is a good option for you if:
- You are physically healthy
- You do not smoke
- You have specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance
Scar Treatment Options for Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars
Hypertrophic, keloid, painful, and itching scars will usually respond to a combination of injections with steroids and 5-FU. These treatments may be combined with surgical excisions or lasers that interact with capillaries (pulse dye or YAG lasers.)
Injectable Filler for Treatment of Depressed Scars
To learn about how injectable fillers can be used for treatment of depressed scars and learn about fat injection, and products we believe in like Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse.
In some rare cases scar tissue is excised and the incision closed with a delicate surgical technique, leaving a much-improved, less noticeable scar.
LACERATIONS
A laceration is a wound anywhere on the body caused by a sharp or dull object. Depending on the sharpness of the object the edges may be jagged, dirty, or bleeding. Lacerations most often affect the skin but any tissue may be lacerated, including subcutaneous fat, tendon, nerves, blood vessels, muscle, or bone.
Plastic surgeons form part of the team of primary care physicians, emergency room physicians, and surgeons who repair lacerations. The main goals are to stop bleeding, prevent infection, preserve function, and restore appearance.
Dr. Walker is trained in the techniques and suture materials available to minimize scarring and using these can improve the appearance of many scars by simply handling the laceration correctly.
Laceration surgery falls into four categories
- Direct closure or stitches are primarily used on wounds that are not very deep. The ultimate goal is to permanently close the wound and minimize scarring .
- Skin grafts are used on wounds that are too wide to be closed directly. The surgeon removes healthy skin from another area on the patient’s body and covers the open wound with it.
- Tissue expansion is a technique used in cases where a significant amount of skin has been lost, creating an area too large to be covered with a small amount of skin grafted from the patient’s body. This requires the surgeon to acquire new tissue to cover the area. This is achieved by inserting a balloon under a healthy area of skin, slowly inflating it with salt water until the skin stretches to the required size. Eventually the wound can be repaired using the extra skin formed by the expansion process.
- Flap surgery involves the removal of living tissue, including its blood supply, from one area of the body and transplanting it to the area that needs it.
