If you live in the greater Palm Beach region (including Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale), contact Dr. Tzikas today for your facelift, brow lift, rhinoplasty, or eyelid surgery needs.
Thomas L. Tzikas, M.D., P.A.
190 Congress Park Dr.
Suite 160
Delray Beach, Florida 33445
561.330.9500
Palm Beach Area - Facelift, Brow Lift, Eyelid Surgery, and Other Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures
If you live in or around Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale and are interested in a facelift, brow lift, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), or other facial plastic surgery procedure, you have a renowned expert at your disposal. Dr. Thomas L. Tzikas specializes in cosmetic and restorative surgery relating to the face and neck region. He is even skilled in hair restoration. Click on the links below to learn more about the facial plastic surgery procedures he offers to patients in the region surrounding Palm Beach, including Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
The eyes have been called the windows to the soul. More than any other facial feature, the eyes have a tremendous impact on our appearance as they are usually the first feature that others notice. Unfortunately, the eyelids are also often the first place to show signs of aging. Loose skin may develop around the upper and lower eyelids as well as fatty deposits, which can cause bulging and protrusions. The most important factor in aging of the eyelids is the loss of soft tissue volume. As fat, muscle and bone volume deceases with age, the tissue surrounding the eyes undergoes deflation. This causes an apparent droopiness of the eyebrows, the appearance of excess upper eyelid skin, visible fat pads under the eyes, and a hollow look. Dark circles are caused by thinning of the lower eyelid skin and soft tissue, causing the underlying dark muscle and blood vessels to become visible. Dr. Thomas L. Tzikas offers patients in the Palm Beach area precision eyelid surgery to correct these problems.
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Eyelid Surgery Options
Most Palm Beach area blepharoplasty patients have upper and lower eyelid surgery performed simultaneously. For aging eyelids, the procedure is frequently performed in combination with facelift or brow lift surgery. In the upper eyelid, surgical incisions are placed in the natural skin creases, excess skin and fat are removed, and the incisions are closed with sutures. Dr. Tzikas usually performs the transconjunctival type of lower blepharoplasty, in which fat is removed from within the eyelid without the need for an incision. An ultrasonic probe is used for this procedure, and no sutures are required. A chemical peel is then used to tighten the lower eyelid skin and erase the wrinkles in this area.
Fat can be injected into areas lacking volume around the eyes (see Lipografting for more detail). Fat is integrated into the soft tissue to create a subtle, lifted appearance. Fat is a long lasting filler that improves the shape of the eyes in the most natural way possible.
The blepharoplasty procedure takes about one to one-and-a-half hours and is performed under IV sedation. In the post-operative period following eyelid surgery, there is usually little or no pain. The newer techniques we offer to Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale area eyelid surgery patients result in less bruising, less swelling, and a faster recovery.
Dr. Tzikas is an expert facial plastic surgeon serving Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and beyond. For more information on improving the appearance of the eyelid with blepharoplasty surgery, contact our Delray Beach, Florida cosmetic surgery office.
Endoscopic Brow Lift
Sagging of the eyebrows and deep lines on the forehead can give one a tired, even angry appearance. The endoscopic forehead and eyebrow lift (commonly referred to as a brow lift) is designed to smooth wrinkles and correct drooping eyebrows and heavy eyelids to provide a younger, friendlier, and more alert appearance.
Offered to patients in the Palm Beach area, the brow lift procedure is performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. The brow lift surgery involves making four small openings behind the hairline and with the use of a lighted endoscope the forehead and eyebrow tissue is released and elevated. The muscles between the eyebrows, which are responsible for the frown lines, are made dysfunctional by removing and disrupting the muscle fibers.
As the eyebrows of Palm Beach brow lift patients are elevated to a more natural position, some excess skin may be removed in the temple areas to allow a gentle redraping of your forehead skin. Since the majority of the eyebrow elevation is on the sides, a surprised look is avoided and the result is a younger and natural appearance for our brow lift patients.
Endoscopic Brow Lift Advantages
The major advantage of the endoscopic brow lift procedure over the traditional forehead lift is that the incisions are small and therefore the risk for bleeding, hair loss, scarring, and scalp numbness is significantly reduced. Since the brow lift surgery is less invasive, recovery is faster with most patients returning to work within one week. Patients in the Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach area often combine the endoscopic brow lift with a facelift or blepharoplasty (eyelid lift). One point that patients sometimes find surprising is that lifting the brow can often dramatically improve the appearance of the upper eyelids and allow the surgeon to perform a more conservative upper blepharoplasty while still realizing a beneficial effect.
For more information regarding the endoscopic brow lift, contact the Delray Beach office of plastic surgeon Thomas L. Tzikas today.
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Facelift
The face and neck lift is one of the most common facial plastic surgical procedures for reducing the signs of aging. Many times patients from the Palm Beach area often have a facelift performed in conjunction with other procedures such as eyelid surgery, forehead surgery, microdermabrasion, or laser resurfacing. Dr. Tzikas almost always combines facelift surgery with his lipografting procedure, which results in permanent volume enhancement to the face using a patient's own fat. This combination achieves the most natural outcome without having a windswept or pulled appearance.
Facelift Surgery
The primary concerns of Palm Beach area facelift patients during a consultation are the loose skin and soft tissue along the jaw line, the lax skin in the neck, and the accumulation of fat under the chin. The facelift incisions are placed within the natural skin creases around the ear and extend into the temple hair and the scalp behind the ear. The skin is lifted out, the underlying muscle and connective tissues are repositioned and the overlapping skin is removed.
Excess fat in the neck may be contoured with liposuction at the same time. No hair is shaved for the procedure and the hairline is not altered. The facelift procedure takes between two and a half to five hours depending on the combination of procedures performed. Monitored anesthesia with intravenous sedation is the anesthesia of choice and is administered by the anesthetist.
At the conclusion of the facelift procedure, small rubber drain tubes are placed in the back of the ears and are removed the next morning. No bandages or wraps are used because these facilitate more post-operative swelling. The facelift patient is cared for by a registered nurse in our overnight recovery suite. The next morning the face, neck, and hair are washed and the incisions are cleaned. The patient then goes home without a bandage.
Facelift Recovery
The sutures are removed at four to five days. Bruising is minimal and swelling will be reduced significantly within seven to 10 days. Make-up may be worn at five to seven days and the facelift patient can return to most of his or her normal routine within two to three weeks.
Several methods are used to accelerate healing and decrease bruising and swelling after a facelift procedure. These include Sin Ech, Platelet Gel and Low Level Laser Light Therapy. Sin Ech is a homeopathic version of the herb Arnica Montana. When taken in this form for 4 days, swelling and especially bruising are dramatically reduced. Platelet Gel is manufactured by separating your own blood to concentrate platelets. These platelets are very rich in growth factors and are used as a spray gel under the skin and on the incisions. Growth factors have been proven to significantly accelerate healing and decrease swelling and discomfort. Low level laser light therapy is a recent FDA approved technology for pain control. Our body's cells respond in a positive manner to low level laser light of specific wavelengths. This remarkable therapy when used for several days following surgery can essentially eliminate any discomfort and accelerates healing by up to 40%.
Today's facelift is more effective, natural-looking and longer lasting than ever. Many patients can look as much as 10 to 15 years younger, naturally, without having the operated look. The ultimate goal of the facelift surgery is a more rested and youthful appearance.
If you live in the Palm Beach area (including Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale) and are considering a facelift, contact Delray Beach plastic surgeon Thomas L. Tzikas today to schedule a consultation.
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Rhinoplasty
Surgery of the nose, or rhinoplasty, can accomplish a variety of things. It can reduce the overall size of the nose, improve the tip, remove a bump, narrow or widen the width, improve the angle between the nose and the upper lip, or improve obstructions inside the nose that cause breathing problems.
Rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today but it is regarded by the experts in the field to be the most difficult. The technical skill and experience of the surgeon and his complete understanding of the details of nasal anatomy, physiology, and facial aesthetics is imperative. The surgeon must also be able to predict the changes that will result from the alteration of each anatomic element of the nose. The operation must be performed with maximum precision in order to obtain predictable and consistent results. Palm Beach rhinoplasty patients can rest assured that Dr. Tzikas has the necessary skills and experience.
The overall goal of the rhinoplasty procedure is to create balance and harmony between the nose and the remainder of the face and to enhance a patient's other attractive features, such as the eyes for example. The final result should always give a natural improvement to the appearance of the nose without drawing attention to it.
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Rhinoplasty Procedure
Rhinoplasty can also be performed in conjunction with reconstructive nasal-septal surgery to relieve obstructions inside the nose. The obstruction is removed through internal incisions and the interior of the nose is resutured.
The procedure is usually performed using local anesthesia with intravenous sedation and not general anesthesia. The patient returns home the same day of the surgery, thus eliminating the extra expense of an overnight stay in a hospital.
The definition of rhinoplasty is, literally, shaping the nose. First, incisions are made and the skin of the nose is lifted from its underlying bone and cartilage support system. The majority of incisions are made inside the nose, where they are invisible. In some cases, an incision is made in the area of skin separating the nostrils. Next, certain amounts of underlying bone and cartilage are removed or rearranged to provide a newly shaped structure. For example when the tip of the nose is too large, the surgeon can sculpt the cartilage in this area to reduce it in size. The angle of the nose in relation to the upper lip can be altered for a more youthful look or to correct a distortion. The skin is then redraped over the new frame and the incisions are closed.
Rhinoplasty Recovery
A splint is applied to the outside of the nose to help retain the new shape while the nose heals. Your face will feel puffy, especially the first day after rhinoplasty surgery. Pain medication may be required. We will advise you to avoid blowing your nose for several days after surgery. In the immediate days following surgery, you may experience bruising and discomfort. Nasal splints are usually removed six or seven days after surgery. Dr. Tzikas never uses nasal dressings or packing inside the nose which can be very uncomfortable and can create more swelling.
It is crucial that you follow your surgeon's directions, especially instructions to keep your head elevated for a certain period after surgery. Some activities will be prohibited in the weeks after the procedure. Sun exposure, exertion, and risk of injury must be avoided. If you wear glasses, special arrangements must be made to ensure that the glasses do not rest on the bridge of the nose. Tape and other devices are sometimes used to permit wearing glasses without stressing the area where surgery was performed.
After the rhinoplasty operation, some swelling and bruising of the nose can be expected. The swelling usually subsides within the first few days, and the bruising is gone within seven to 10 days at which time most patients return to work and many of their normal activities. The patient is usually pain free, but if mild discomfort is present it can be totally eliminated with a mild pain reliever.
Sin Ech, a homeopathic medication containing Arnica Montana is given to all Palm Beach rhinoplasty patients post operatively and has proven to cut bruising by at least 50 percent in most patients. The combination of local anesthesia, medications given in the operating room to decrease swelling, and the surgeon's skills, allow the rhinoplasty patient today to have a much faster recovery.
If you are a Palm Beach patient considering rhinoplasty, contact Dr. Thomas L. Tzikas today to schedule a consultation.
Tumescent Liposuction
Over the years, many advances have been made to improve liposuction procedures. The tumescent procedure used by Dr. Tzikas involves the infiltration of large volumes of a dilute solution of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the drug epinephrine which temporarily shrinks capillaries. The removal of fat is accomplished by a suction cannula creating tiny passages through the fatty layers. Then after the surgery these tiny passages collapse and result in an improved body shape. The procedure is comfortably performed with minimal sedation required. Dr. Tzikas also pretreats the area to be liposuctioned with low level laser as a way to allow for easier removal of the fat during the procedure.
The tumescent technique minimizes post-operative discomfort. Because the residual local anesthesia lasts for 12-18 hours or more, over the counter Tylenol may be sufficient to treat post-operative discomfort, although you will be provided with stronger medication if needed. With the tumescent technique there is no post-surgical nausea, nor the unpleasant feeling of "hang-over" usually associated with general anesthesia.
The tumescent technique dramatically reduces both the bleeding during surgery, and the post-operative bruising and swelling as compared to liposuction done purely by general anesthesia. Minimal bleeding reduces post-operative recovery time. Most patients can return to work within three to four days after surgery. An elastic support garment is worn for a few weeks following surgery.
About 90 percent of patients can actually see at least some improvement in their silhouette by one week post op. However, because of the slow resolution of post-surgical swelling, the final results following liposuction cannot be assessed until six months after surgery.
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Otoplasty (Ear Pinning)
Otoplasty is surgery designed to pin the ears closer to the head or lessen the appearance of larger than average ears. It is most commonly performed on children and teens. However, many young adults seek otoplasty to improve their appearance.
Otoplasty is performed under intravenous sedation as an outpatient procedure with a local anesthetic. The procedure, which generally takes no more than three hours, typically involves a small incision at the back of the ear where cartilage is reshaped or removed allowing the ear to rest closer to the head. It may also involve creating a fold in the upper ear in order to fix "shell ears" or "lop ears" in which the folds are not properly formed.
After the surgery, patients are typically required to wear a head dressing. This helps to reduce swelling and protect the ears as they heal. After three to six days, the dressing is removed and replaced with a sweat band. Stitches are usually removed about seven to 10 days after surgery.
For more information on ear pinning or to schedule an otoplasty consultation, contact Dr. Thomas Tzikas today.
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Chin Augmentation
The position of the chin is of prime importance to the facial profile. A recessive chin due to weak skeletal features usually results in an unbalanced appearance of the face. It can often make a nose look larger and more conspicuous and many times a double chin may result because the chin is too short. Often Palm Beach rhinoplasty patients also have chin augmentation performed in order to create a more harmonious profile.
A short chin can be easily corrected under local anesthesia with sedation by making an incision either in the natural crease line just under the chin or inside the mouth, where gum and lower lip meet. By gently stretching this tissue, the surgeon creates a space where an implant can be inserted. This implant, made of synthetic material that feels much like natural tissue normally found in the chin, is available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. This allows custom fitting of the implant to the configurations of the patient's face. After implantation, the surgeon uses fine sutures to close the incision. When the incision is inside the mouth, no scarring is visible. If the incision is under the chin, the scar is usually imperceptible. Immediately after surgery, the surgeon usually applies a dressing that will remain in place for two to three days. You will experience some tenderness. Post-operative discomfort can be controlled with prescribed medications. Chewing will likely be limited immediately after chin surgery, and a liquid and soft food diet may be required for a few days after surgery. Most patients feel a stretched, tight sensation after the procedure, but this usually subsides in a week. Chin augmentation is a relatively simple procedure which can dramatically improve a patient's appearance by strengthening the chin and creating a more balanced face.
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If you live in the Palm Beach or Ft. Lauderdale area and are interested in a brow lift, a facelift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty ( eyelid surgery), or our other surgical procedures, contact Delray Beach plastic surgeon Thomas L. Tzikas today to schedule a consultation.