At the work-place and in private life attractive and youthful appearance is an advantage. More men in the Houston area are considering plastic surgery. Dr. Geppert understands that men have unique concerns when facing cosmetic surgery.
At Harbour Plastic Surgery she avoids an overdone or feminized look, preserves the masculine features and achieves a fresh and natural male rejuvenation.
In order to harmonize your body contours, local fat deposits can be removed by liposuction from the abdomen, upper arms, or thighs. The results will only last if bodyweight remains stable. Liposuction is not a procedure for correcting general excess weight, but rather a body sculpting operation where small, localized fat deposits resistant to exercise can be successfully removed to achieve an aesthetically pleasing body contour. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. The fatty tissue is injected with tumescent solution and suctioned off via a thin cannula inserted through tiny incisions. The patient needs to wear a compression garment for four to six weeks post-operatively in order to aid healing. The usual bruising and feeling of numbness nearly always subside by themselves after a few weeks. The incisions leave barely visible scars. Any irregularities that may arise with certain skin types are usually treatable. The patient will be able to shower just two days after the operation. Depending on the circumstances, patients may resume work again after one week. Compression garments are worn for six weeks post-operatively.
Gynecomastia is a medical condition in which men develop female breast. It may involve one or both breasts and could be caused by certain drugs or medical conditions, but in most cases its cause is not known. During the gynecomastia procedure Dr. Geppert removes fatty breast tissue using liposuction. The residual glandular breast tissue is removed through a small incision under the areola. In extreme cases of gynecomastia, when the breasts are very large, skin might need to be removed in addition to glandular tissue resulting in larger scars. For men who feel conscious about their appearance, gynecomastia surgery helps them achieve a flat, well contoured chest.
The eyes are a very expressive facial feature. Wrinkles, saggy eyelids or bags under the eyes form when the skin and the muscles of the eyelids lose their elasticity, and can make you look old and tired. To correct this, Dr. Geppert removes excess skin and fatty tissue. The patients keep the natural shape of the eyes and their individual expression, but their face appears pleasingly younger and their eyes slightly larger. The eyelid lift could also be combined with a laser resurfacing procedure in order to improve the elasticity of the skin around the eyes and the entire face.
The eyelid lift is performed on an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia, for upper and lower eyelid tightening as well as fat pad removal or repositioning. If a patient needs only upper eyelid tightening, the procedure can be performed in the office, under local anesthesia. Dr. Geppert will mark out the areas of skin and fatty tissue to be removed and make an incision along the fold of skin of the upper eyelid. When operating on the lower eyelid the incision is made right below the eyelashes, however the fat can be removed from the inside of the lower eyelid. Dr. Geppert also tightens the muscles of the lower eyelid in order to give the patient a more youthful appearance, and to prevent an over-operated look.
After meticulously closing the wound, she will protect the eye with skin-friendly thin adhesive plasters. Full range of vision is immediately restored and pain is minimal. Any swelling and discoloration caused by bruising in the lower lid and cheek area subsides within one to two weeks. Cold packs can rapidly bring down any swelling. We remove the skin tape and stitches in one week after the operation. The eyelid lift will correct the drooping lids and puffy bags under the eyes giving the patient a more rested and youthful appearance.
Nose surgery not only adjusts the external shape of your nose, but is also used to improve respiratory function. The rhinoplasty procedure is tailored to each individual patient’s desires and can achieve delicate refinements of the nose or dramatic change depending on the goals of the patient. On an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia, two small incisions inside the nose provide access so that the cartilaginous and bony tissues can be reshaped. If more significant nasal reshaping is needed, or in the case of secondary rhinoplasty an open approach may be necessary which includes an additional incision along the collumela.
Occasionally an alar wedge resection might be performed as well to narrow the base of the nose. Incisions usually heal very well and are inconspicuous. A light plastic splint is placed to protect and support your nose for the first few days. Post-operatively the tissues around the cheeks and eyelids are initially swollen. This may impede breathing slightly. Sutures and splints are removed in one week. Post operative bruising disappears usually after two weeks, but it takes about six months for the permanent, new shape of your nose to be seen. The rhinoplasty procedure helps patients achieve a more balanced and refined nose that complements and enhances the rest of their face.
Facial implants are used to improve deficient facial structures and enhance facial contours. The most frequently used facial implants are for chin, cheeks and jaw bones. Most facial implants are inserted through small incisions inside the patient’s mouth, so no facial scars are present from this surgery. The procedure can be performed at any age, and is frequently combined with other facial rejuvenation surgeries, such as face lift, rhinoplasty or neck lift. As with all surgical procedures, there are possible complications, such as infection or displacement of the implant, however those are rare and can be easily corrected. When skillfully placed facial implants improve the overall balance and harmony of the face.
When the facial skin loses its elasticity during the course of life, wrinkles and jowls form, deep creases develop between the mouth and nose, and bands around the neck can be seen. In order to smooth out those facial lines, Dr. Geppert will tighten the skin and the subcutaneous connective tissue of the face. The patient’s features will regain their definition and the face will look fresher and younger.
Under general anesthesia, one incision in front of and around the ear enables the surgeon to detach the skin from the underlying tissue. The exposed fatty and muscular tissue can be gently tightened and the excess skin removed. The facelift could be performed in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as, forehead lift, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery and neck lift.
The bandages around the patient’s head and neck are removed the day after surgery at which point the patient may also shower and wash her hair. The usual swelling and discoloration of the face disappears after a few days. Most sutures are removed in one week. If the skin initially feels rather insensitive or tight, the symptoms usually disappear within a few weeks. Rarely, and mostly in heavy smokers, the wound may become infected or the blood flow may be impaired, delaying wound healing.
The patient would be able to return to work in two weeks or earlier if covered with make-up. Depending on the skin type, a facelift will last 6 to 10 years. After that, repeat facelifting is possible. Dr. Geppert performs a meticulous skin closure, avoids overtightening the skin, and strives to achieve a natural and graceful facelift. During a male face lifting procedure Dr. Geppert is extremely careful with the placement of her incisions so that they would not be visible even with a short hair cut or male pattern baldness. When combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures the facelift results in a more harmonious, fresh, and youthful look.
Protruding ears result when the ear cartilage has not folded correctly before birth. Dr. Geppert can correct the shape of the ear cartilage starting at five years of age, when the ears have completed most of their growth. The ears are reshaped and brought closer to the scalp. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.
Dr. Geppert will make an incision behind the pinna (outer part of the ear) in order to reshape or reduce the ear cartilage. Scars are hidden in the posterior fold of the ear and hardly visible after a few weeks.
Possible complications could be that the skin behind the ear might feel numb, but sensation eventually returns. Wearing a head bandage continuously for one week will help with the healing process. We recommend wearing a headband every night for two weeks post-operatively. After the optoplasty procedure the prominent ears are more proportionate to the face, more properly positioned, and thus less noticeable.
Botox Cosmetic has been used for many years to decrease the appearance of frown lines on the forehead, crows’ feet around the eyes, lines on the side of the nose and upper lip, as well as platysmal bands in the neck and excessive sweating. The procedure takes about 10 minutes and no anesthetic is needed. Botox is injected with an extremely small needle and most patients report that it feels like a mosquito bite.
The results become visible in 1-2 weeks and last 3-6 months. After that the procedure can be repeated if desired.
Dysport and Xeomin are newer botulinum toxins FDA approved in the US for glabellar frown lines. Their onset of action is also about 1-2 weeks and duration is 3-4 months.
Unsightly moles, cysts or skin cancers can be removed with excellent cosmetic results. Skin cancers or cysts are usually covered by most health insurances. The lesions can be removed in the office under local anesthesia. The excised tissue is sent to a pathologist for a microscopic evaluation. Larger lesions might require more extensive reconstruction with local flaps or skin grafts. Pain is minimal and controlled with over-the-counter medicine. Stitches on the face are left for 5-7 days and in other parts of the body 7-10 days.