Robert Singer MD

Facelift

Each face is unique in appearance and anatomy. To sculpt the face through plastic surgery requires an approach that is individualized, studied, and measured. Plastic surgery is the fusion of art and science. Achieving the most appropriate result for each face requires the ability to evaluate facial anatomy, and then to apply scientific principles, skill, and artistry. Dr. Robert Singer is known worldwide for his expertise and skill in the facelift procedure. He has performed this delicate surgical procedure for many people wanting a rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. At Singer Surgical Center in La Jolla, San Diego, Dr. Singer customizes the facelift procedure to each of his patients' desires and goals.

• Facelift Indications
• Facelift Consultation
• Facelift Procedure
  • Surgical Procedure
  • Anesthesia
  • Facelift Results
• Facelift Variations
  • "Maintenance" Facelift (Mini or Mid-Facelift, Short-Scar, MACS Lifts)
  • Buccal Fat Removal / Cheek Reduction
  • Secondary Facelift

Facelift Indications

Time, gravity, stress, and sun exposure alter facial skin and features. Lines and wrinkles develop, and the skin and deeper tissues lose their youthful tone, loosen, and sag. Fatty deposits in the cheeks shift downward while fatty deposits develop around the eyes. Jaw lines soften and become jowls. Double chins and folds appear under the chin and in front of the neck. These changes may create a tired and unhappy look or even an angry appearance.

Today, men and women increasingly want to look as young as they feel. No one wants to look tired, especially when he or she isn’t. The facelift (rhytidectomy) helps reverse the signs of aging, producing a more natural, youthful facial appearance. As performed at our renowned San Diego practice, the goal of the facelift is to improve the overall facial appearance in a natural manner.

Facelift Consultation

During a facelift consultation, Dr. Singer will personally listen to your desires and expectations for your procedure. He will then evaluate your anatomy and physical appearance to create a custom treatment plan that best suits your needs. There is no ideal single technique or single approach that is appropriate for every patient. That is why the procedure should be customized for each person. As performed at our renowned San Diego practice, the goal of the facelift is to improve the overall facial appearance, in a natural manner.

Facelift Procedure

Facelift techniques have evolved significantly over the past 15 years. Prior generations of facelift operations tightened only the skin and ignored important principles of aging and facial structure. Unfortunately, tightening only the skin can produce distortions of the facial features and result in an unnatural, flattened, wind-blown, pulled look, as well as a shorter length of efficacy.

Dr. Singer performs a modern multi-vector underlying support facelift at his surgical center in La Jolla. This facelift procedure is more precise, more natural, and longer lasting than prior types that only tightened the skin. The supporting deeper tissue, the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system), is tightened, lifting the underlying muscle layers of the cheek and the neck. The fat in the cheek is contoured into an improved position, or sculpted if it is excessive. The fullness of the upper cheek area below the eyelid (the malar fat pad) is corrected by elevating it into a more youthful position, counter-acting the direction of the descent of the tissue that occurs with aging. The skin is then redraped without tension, and any excess tailored. The loose skin, muscle, and fat under the chin and neck are addressed if those areas need improvement.

Surgical Procedure

Dr. Singer will personally perform the entire facelift surgical procedure. Facelift surgery can take between 2 1/2 and 6 hours depending on the individual case. Focus is put on not how quickly, but on how successfully the procedure can be completed. Incisions are placed along the hairline and hidden in the curves around the ear, and there may be a small incision under the chin. Fat is repositioned and may be removed, and the deeper areas are tightened and supported. Then, the skin is redraped and trimmed. Additional tissue may be added to fill depressions and creases.

While any surgical procedure entails risk, facelifts are generally considered to be a safe procedure. Choosing an experienced facelift surgeon like Dr. Singer can help to significantly lower your risk of potential complications. Newer type of less or minimally invasive procedures, with Short Incision Facelifts and the limited incision MACS Lifts offer patients customized surgical procedures for their individualized anatomy and needs through shorter incisions that have made it easier to minimize and hide scars and produce improved natural-looking results, with a more rapid recovery.

Anesthesia

Dr. Singer and his staff make every effort to ensure a safe and comfortable experience when you are having facelift surgery at our surgical facility in La Jolla, California. Your comfort and safety is always our primary concern.

Our AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) accredited private operating facility utilizes the services of well-trained personnel, including selected, experienced, board-certified physician anesthesiologists.

Our patients are anesthetized using sedation, allowing them to be asleep while breathing on their own, but usually not requiring deeper general anesthesia. Procedures that may last from 2 1/2 to 6 hours are performed more comfortably and safer with sedation rather than general anesthesia.

Newer and more effective medications will be prescribed pre-operatively, and administered during surgery and after surgery to make the patient more comfortable, reduce postoperative side effects, and speed recovery.

Facelift Results

You must have realistic expectations of facial plastic surgery. A facelift is not meant to completely alter your appearance and make you look like someone else. It is a way to turn back the hands of time and restore a more youthful, vibrant appearance.

The facelift does not improve the complexion or smooth all wrinkles. However, Dr. Singer offers procedures, such as injectable fillers, skin resurfacing, and facial peels, to improve skin texture. In conjunction with the facelift, the cheeks, chin, and lips can be selectively enhanced and augmented with other tissue, such as fat. Additional procedures on the eyelids, forehead, and nose can be performed at the same time as a facelift to enhance the results.

Facelift Variations

Dr. Singer customizes the facelift procedure for the results each patient desires. In addition to a full facelift, he also offers the maintenance facelift (mini or mid-facelift), cheek reduction, and secondary facelifts.

"Maintenance" Facelift (Mini or Mid-Facelift)

We live in a youth-oriented society with an emphasis on fitness and a youthful appearance. Patients who show early signs of aging, in their 30s to 50s, may attain a significant improvement and rejuvenation with less invasive, short-scar or limited incision “maintenance" procedures. These less invasive facelift procedures help diminish the progression of the signs of aging, and avoid the more extensive procedures that would be necessary later.

For patients who have begun to notice drooping of the cheeks and mid-face, Dr. Singer offers the Mid-facelift. Unlike traditional facelift surgery, only incisions hidden behind the hairline are usually required to complete the mid facelift and gently lift the mid-face area to a more youthful position.

Short Incision Facelifts and the limited incision MACS Lifts with incisions just in the temporal hairline offer patients customized surgical procedures for their individualized needs.

Dr. Singer combines and modifies a number of facelift techniques to achieve the desired natural result while decreasing the recovery time of bruising and swelling. Rather than remove excess skin, younger patients may only require a repositioning, shaping, and sculpting of the tissue below the skin. In others, an isolated neck lift may be performed, without a mid-facelift if most of the changes of aging are below the chin and neck. These less invasive facelift options can be performed alone or in conjunction with other facial surgery.

Buccal Fat Removal / Cheek Reduction

Some individuals are self-conscious about the appearance of their cheeks, feeling that their cheeks look round or chubby. These "cherub cheeks" or "chipmunk cheeks" can result from a variety of conditions. Young individuals may temporarily have full faces ("baby fat") that will naturally slim with time. Others simply have a genetic predisposition to carry fat in their faces, and finally some have full faces as a result of their general body type. The technical name for some of the fat in the cheeks is, 'buccal fat.’ The Singer Surgical Centre offers buccal fat removal, also called cheek reduction surgery, as a solution to those who want to reduce the size of their cheeks. Removal of these fat pads can slim the cheeks and contour the face for a more chiseled and defined appearance.

Secondary Facelifts

Secondary facelifts are a solution for individuals looking to improve the results from a previous facelift, or desiring further improvement of the signs of aging. The goal is to restore balance and harmony.

Brow / Forehead Lift

The brow lift, also known as forehead lift, is an excellent procedure for rejuvenating the eye and forehead area and may be combined with other facial procedures. At his surgery center in La Jolla, San Diego, Dr. Singer offers several brow lift variations that can produce stunning results.

• Indications for Brow Lift / Forehead Lift
• Brow Lift Consultation
• Brow Lift / Forehead Surgery Variations
  • Endoscopic Brow Lift / Forehead Surgery
  • Traditional Brow Lift
  • Eyelid Approach Brow Lift

Indications for Brow Lift / Forehead Lift

As we age, the skin and soft tissue of our brows and foreheads tend to droop. The position of the brows and accentuation of the furrows and creases may impart an angry appearance. This includes prominent transverse lines and vertical lines above the nose and between the eyebrows.

While certain frown lines may be corrected temporarily by injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic, a longer lasting improvement can be achieved through surgical procedures such as brow lift or endoscopic brow lift. These procedures can remove excess tissue and diminish contracting muscles that cause forehead creases.

Brow Lift Consultation

When you have a brow lift consultation at our office in La Jolla, San Diego, Dr. Singer personally listens to your desires and expectations for surgery and then evaluates your facial anatomy. Dr. Singer can then create a custom treatment plan that best suits your individual needs.

Brow Lift / Forehead Surgery Variations

Dr. Singer offers many brow lift techniques that can be customized for each patient's desired results.

Endoscopic Brow Lift / Forehead Surgery

Endoscopic forehead surgery (brow lift), which is minimally invasive, involves making several small incisions in inconspicuous areas on the scalp. During the procedure, an endoscope - a miniature pencil-like camera that is attached to a television monitor - is inserted through the incisions to view the tissues underneath the skin. Dr. Singer uses the endoscope when appropriate to visualize and modify the muscles and tissue beneath the skin. Results are predictably pleasing and the scars are small, inconspicuous, and hidden in the hairline. However, not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. Contact our office in La Jolla, San Diego to find out whether you are a candidate for endoscopic forehead surgery.

Traditional Brow Lift

The traditional brow lift, an open approach with incisions behind or occasionally at the hairline, may be indicated in some patients. Incisions for a traditional lift must be individually tailored to accommodate the patient's hairline. During this procedure, forehead size can be either reduced or increased. Once the location has been determined, the necessary incisions can be made. Dr. Singer then lifts the skin and removes and/or repositions excess tissue. The muscles that were causing the forehead to crease can be relaxed, and the skin is trimmed and redraped to smooth out major wrinkles and creases.

Eyelid Approach Brow Lift

In some patients, the central forehead frown lines can be improved through the same incision that is used to remove excess fat and skin from the upper eyelids during eyelid surgery. The muscles responsible for the frown lines are modified through the eyelid incision while avoiding any scalp incision.

Eyelid Surgery

Wrinkles and pouches beneath the eyes and sagging upper lids can be effectively treated with eyelid surgery. Renowned throughout Southern California, Dr. Robert Singer has performed exceptional eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) for many discriminating patients at his practice in La Jolla, San Diego.

• Indications for Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
• Eyelid Surgery Consultation
• Eyelid Surgery Procedure

Indications for Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)

As one grows older, the skin begins to lose some of its elasticity, and the area around the eyes often begins to sag. An experienced facial plastic surgeon can reduce some of the signs of aging through eyelid surgery. Dr. Robert Singer performs exceptional eyelid surgery, and he can customize a treatment plan to help you achieve the results you desire.

Eyelid Surgery Consultation

During your eyelid surgery consultation, Dr. Singer will listen to your desires for and expectations of the procedure. He will evaluate your facial anatomy and create a custom treatment plan that best suits your individual needs.

Eyelid Surgery Procedure

During eyelid surgery, medically known as blepharoplasty, excess skin and fat are removed, and stretched muscles are tightened. Using the latest techniques in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Singer smoothes and sculpts upper lid creases and eliminates wrinkles and pouches beneath your eyes. All eyelid surgery incisions are carefully positioned beneath the lashes or along your natural eyelid creases so that they are scarcely visible. Eyelid surgery patients find that their eyes appear larger and more attractive, which brings a brighter, more youthful appearance to their face.

Dr. Singer often performs eyelid surgery with a brow lift for optimal results. If a patient has only eyelid surgery, but leaves the other problems uncorrected, the result may not be ideal. Dr. Singer will consider a brow lift when there are deep forehead wrinkles, frown lines between the eyes, lines over the nose, or wrinkled, sagging upper eyelids caused by drooping eyebrows.

Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

Whether it is performed to correct breathing problems or to improve a cosmetic issue, nose surgery is one of the most satisfying facial plastic surgery procedures available. Dr. Robert Singer customizes the nose surgery (rhinoplasty) procedure at his La Jolla, San Diego practice for each of his patients to ensure optimal results.

• Indications for Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
• Nose Surgery Consultation
• Nose Surgery Procedure

Indications for Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

Many patients seek out nose surgery to adjust the appearance of the nose and bring it into proportion and balance with other facial features; others choose it to correct breathing problems. The goal of rhinoplasty is always to create a nose that is natural in appearance and is in harmony with the other facial features. In general, nose surgery patients should be in their mid teens or older, after the growth and shape of the nose has stabilized.

Rhinoplasty for cosmetic reasons, or to correct deformities from injuries, is frequently performed in combination with internal nasal surgical procedures to correct breathing problems. Medical insurance will often cover a portion of the surgical fee if nose surgery is performed to correct breathing problems.

Nose Surgery Consultation

During your rhinoplasty consultation, Dr. Singer will listen to your expectations and desires for surgery. He will then examine your facial and nasal features and speak with you about your nose surgery options. Dr. Singer can customize your nose surgery to fit your needs and achieve your desired result.

Nose Surgery Procedure

During nose surgery, which typically lasts one to two hours, Dr. Singer will make a small incision either across the columella (the skin that separates the nostrils), or inside the nose. He will then shape and sculpt the cartilage and bone that give the nose its appearance until the desired result is achieved. The incisions are then stitched closed.

The degree of improvement possible through rhinoplasty is limited by an individual's basic nasal skeleton and skin thickness. Wide noses and nostrils can be narrowed, noses with a hump can be straightened, drooping noses can be lifted, and bulbous tips can be reduced. Dr. Singer can also perform nose surgery at the same time as a facelift, eyelid surgery, chin augmentation, or another facial plastic surgery procedure, for a more comprehensive rejuvenation.

Neck Lift

Neck lift surgery can create a rejuvenated appearance for people who have extra fullness in the neck area. At Dr. Singer's plastic surgery center in La Jolla, he performs neck lift procedures for local residents in San Diego, as well as for discriminating patients worldwide.

• Indications for Neck Lift
• Neck Lift Consultation
• Neck Lift Plastic Surgery Procedure

Indications for Neck Lift

Some men and women inherit the appearance of a double chin and poorly defined neckline. For others, the muscle and skin of the neck begin to sag and lose definition with passing time. Jowls droop as skin and muscles loosen, while fat deposits along the jaw line and under the chin create fullness or a double chin. The neck muscles weaken and separate, creating vertical “cords.” Some individuals feel self conscious about these characteristics. Fortunately, the neck lift procedure can correct all of these cosmetic issues to create a younger appearance.

Neck Lift Consultation

To find out whether you are a candidate for neck lift, contact our office in La Jolla, San Diego. We can schedule a facial plastic surgery consultation with Dr. Robert Singer. During your consultation, Dr. Singer will speak with you about your expectations and goals for neck lift surgery and examine your facial features. He will create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve the appearance you desire.

Neck Lift Plastic Surgery Procedure

Neck contouring procedures are performed either in conjunction with facelifts or alone. Neck lifts are ideal for sculpting areas that will not improve with diet and exercise. There are several options for improving the jaw line and neck:

• Liposuction
• Minimal incision neck lift - through a small incision under the chin.
• Limited lower face neck lift - through a small incision under the chin and inconspicuously placed incisions behind the ear.

In addition, if your chin is small or “weak,” a chin implant may safely be used in conjunction with the neck lift to further improve your jaw line and profile.

Dr. Singer will individualize the neck lift procedure for you, depending on your anatomy and the elasticity of your tissue. He will utilize the most appropriate plastic surgery procedure with the smallest incisions to accomplish the ideal aesthetic natural improvement.

Injectables

A range of injectable treatments including BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, collagen, hyaluronic acid products, and microfat grafts are available at the La Jolla, San Diego practice of Dr. Singer. These non-surgical treatments smooth the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, and require no downtime.

• BOTOX® Cosmetic
• Dysport®
• Injectable Facial Fillers
  • Collagen - Zyderm® / Zyplast®, CosmoPlast®
  • Hyaluronic Acid Facial Fillers - Restylane®, Perlane®, JUVÉDERM™
  • Sculptra®
  • Radiesse® / Radiance™
• Microfat Grafts (Fat Injections / Fat Transfer)
  • Benefits of Fat Transfer
  • Results of Fat Transfer

In order to provide the highest level of patient care and safety, Dr. Singer personally performs the injections, rather than relegating them to other staff members.

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic is made from a naturally occurring substance that works as a muscle relaxant and is used to treat the deeper wrinkles in certain areas of the face. It is best used in the upper face and neck, and as an adjunct in the lower face to diminish muscle movement. The procedure is quick with no downtime.

BOTOX® Cosmetic works by decreasing the activity of muscles that produce facial wrinkles, including forehead lines, frown lines between the eyes, and crow’s feet. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the specific muscles that cause the wrinkles to form which relaxes the attached skin, temporarily smoothing the skin to achieve a younger and more rested appearance.

When used appropriately, FDA approved BOTOX® Cosmetic is quite safe. The resulting effect of BOTOX® Cosmetic is variable in each patient; however, it usually lasts three to four months. Some patients feel that subsequent injections produce a result that lasts longer. In addition to smoothing facial lines, there is scientific evidence that BOTOX® Cosmetic may decrease the frequency or intensity of tension headaches.

Dysport®

Dysport® is an FDA approved botulinum serotype A neurotoxin used for medical and cosmetic treatments. It is similar to BOTOX® Cosmetic, but diffuses more readily into the injection sites, so dosage is slightly different and the onset of action in some patients is quicker.

Injectable Facial Fillers

There are many types of injectable soft tissue fillers now available to fill in skin lines and creases to restore a youthful appearance. Some facial fillers can also provide volume and fill in cheek and under eye hollows, enhance cheekbones, lips, and the chin area. These fillers can produce the appearance of a non-surgical mini facelift in patients without a lot of skin laxity.

Combinations of fillers and neurotoxins (BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport®) have been marketed as nonsurgical miracle “Lliquid Lifts” or “Liquid Facelifts”. They may be quite effective in providing a temporary rejuvenation in the appropriate patient, but they do not provide the same long term results that are achieved with natural appearing facelifts

The results of injectable facial fillers depend on many factors, including your age, general medical condition, skin quality, genetics, the location treated with the filler, and any underlying reasons for the loss of tissue or lack of its development. During a consultation with Dr. Singer, he can help you choose which of the facial fillers will allow you to attain the results you desire.

Collagen - Zyderm® / Zyplast®, CosmoPlast®

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body. Collagen injections are used to increase fullness in the lips and to fill in facial lines and wrinkles. Collagen injections act as a temporary replacement for the decrease in natural collagen that occurs as we age.

• Zyderm® / Zyplast® Injections: You will need a pretreatment test dose to ensure your body will accept the collagen without an allergic reaction.
• CosmoPlast®: A new collagen material that doesn't require a skin test.

Hyaluronic Acid Facial Fillers - Restylane®, Perlane®, JUVÉDERM™

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar that is found in the human body - in the skin, cartilage, and eyes. In the skin, hyaluronic acid fills the space between collagen and the elastin fibers. It delivers nutrients, hydrates the skin by holding in water, and acts as a cushioning agent.

• Restylane® is clear gel that is made from synthetic hyaluronic acid that is created in a laboratory from non-animal sources, so there is little or no risk of transmitting diseases or allergies. It provides natural beauty enhancement and is considered extremely safe. It can be used to add volume and fullness to your skin, reducing wrinkles, and augmenting facial features. Restylane® can be used in conjunction with Radiesse® injections to fill out both the deeper and more superficial lines of the face. The dramatic results are immediate and can last six to nine months.
• Perlane® is a denser form of hyaluronic acid, designed for more pronounced wrinkles, facial folds, and depressions.
• JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel is a next generation non-animal hyaluronic acid dermal filler with results that last six months or longer.

Sculptra®

Sculptra® is a breakthrough injectable facial filler composed of poly-L-lactic acid, related to re-absorbable suture material, which is carefully injected beneath the skin to plump the area and gradually thicken facial skin. This is a good filler to restore youthful fullness to the mid- and lower-face. Initially, you may require two to three applications of Sculptra™ to achieve ideal results, which last 18 to 24 months.

Radiesse® / Radiance™

Radiesse® is purely synthetic. It is comprised principally of calcium hydroxyapatite, a natural substance that is already found in your body. Radiesse® injections will build up the tissues of the face, reducing deeper folds and creases, and restoring fullness. Radiesse® requires no skin test and the results are instantaneous. It is used off-label cosmetically and lasts 9 to 24 months.

Microfat Grafts (Fat Injections / Fat Transfer)

Injection of a variety of facial fillers, specifically your own fat, can fill out depressed areas of your face, minimize the nasolabial folds next to the mouth, smooth hollows under the eyes and enhance cheek bones, the chin, and jaw lines through three dimensional contouring. Microfat grafts (fat injections) are also useful for enhancing the lips. Candidates for fat injections are patients who have facial contour defects, have lost fat and overall volume, and want to use a filler that is totally natural.

Benefits of Fat Transfer

With fat injections, there is no chance for rejection or allergic reaction, since fat is your own tissue. Other benefits include:

• Large amounts of fat are usually available
• A natural, more youthful appearance
• Can be used for wrinkles, folds, cheekbones, hollows under eyes, and chin and lip enhancements
• Fat transfer combined with BOTOX® Cosmetic provides significant results without invasive surgery for the upper face
• Can give the appearance of a mini facelift
• 30 to 50 percent of the injected fat is typically retained long term

Results of Fat Transfer

The results of microfat grafts depend on age, genetics, skin quality, and location of the injection. The underlying reasons for loss of the tissue or lack of its development, and your general medical condition, also play significant roles in the results.

Although patients typically retain 30 to 50 percent of the injected fat long-term, a second or third session of fat injections often results in a longer lasting and improved cosmetic result. Fat injections can be performed alone or in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures.

Face

Men and women we consider to be especially attractive do not necessarily have perfect facial features. More often, they appeal to us because their eyes, nose, cheeks, chin, and lips are in harmony and balance. The nose is in proper relationship to the eyes and chin. The cheek bones have an appropriately strong definition in relationship to the length of the face and the size of the nose.

Few of us are fortunate enough to be born with these ideally proportioned facial features. Nature’s omission, however, can be rectified by aesthetic plastic surgery. Dr. Robert Singer customizes each procedure to the patient’s needs and desires, and uses minimally invasive facial plastic surgery techniques whenever possible. At his La Jolla center in San Diego, he has performed modern facial plastic surgery procedures on several thousand patients from the San Diego area and around the world. He can create stunning results through the procedures listed below.

• Facelift - Mid Facelift and Minimally Invasive Facelift Options
• Buccal Fat Removal / Cheek Reduction
• Forehead / Brow Lift
• Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
• Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)
• Neck Lift
• Lip Enhancement
• Injectable Treatments: Facial Fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, and Microfat Grafts
• Chin and Cheek Augmentation
• Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Facelift - Mid Facelift and Minimally Invasive Facelift Options

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is one of the most sought-after and satisfying aesthetic surgical procedures available. It can remove many, but usually not all, wrinkles. It can also remove much of the sagging skin of the face and neck. Excess fat can be removed or sculpted as needed. The facelift will give you a fresher, more youthful appearance that looks completely natural, avoiding an over-operated appearance. Dr. Singer performs several variations on the facelift procedure, including the short scar technique, limited incision facelift, mid facelift, MACS Lifts, and partial facelift. As a leader in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Singer can help you decide which technique is right for you.

Lip Enhancement

As we age, the lips lose their fullness. The distance from the tip of the nose to the upper lip lengthens as gravity makes the upper lip descend. If you have always wanted fuller, lusher lips, or wish that your once full lips were still that way, there is an increasing assortment of procedures that can give almost any woman more sensuous lips.

Lip lift, also known as lip augmentation, will increase the fullness of the lips, which creates a more attractive contour and appearance of youthfulness. The Singer Surgical Center offers a variety of techniques and procedures that can enlarge, reshape, or otherwise help improve asymmetrical or uneven lips, including:

• Fat Grafting
• Injectable Facial Fillers - Collagen, Restylane®, JUVÉDERM™ Injectable Gel
• Advanced Surgical Techniques - Local flaps and lip shortening

Some of these treatments produce permanent results while others are temporary. Dr. Singer will discuss the various options, advantages, and disadvantages of each procedure with you and then develop an individualized approach to your treatment — one based on your specific anatomy and aesthetic desires. The results can be dramatic while looking natural. He often performs a minimally invasive procedure, such as lip enhancement, along with another facial plastic surgery procedure, such as facelift, for an overall rejuvenated result.

Injectable Treatments: Facial Fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport®, and Microfat Grafts

Injectable facial fillers are semi-liquid materials that are injected to fill out the lips and other areas of the face to provide a cosmetic improvement. The procedure is repeatable in order to maintain results, carries little risk of problems, and may create long-lasting results, depending on your individual anatomy and the material being used. In addition to creating fuller, lusher lips, fillers can be used to fill out sunken areas of your face and provide definition to your cheeks and chin. In addition to fillers, Dr. Singer also offers BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport®, as well as fat injections (microfat grafts), for the improvement of facial wrinkles.

In order to provide the highest level of patient care and safety, Dr. Singer personally performs the injections, rather than relegating them to other staff members

Chin and Cheek Augmentation

Both chin and cheek augmentation create a new, natural look that is in harmony with other features. A weak or recessive chin can be improved with an implant or microfat grafts. Similarly, malar augmentation can enhance flat cheeks. Chin and cheek augmentation can also be performed in conjunction with other facial plastic surgery procedures for a comprehensive enhancement.

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

Excessively large or protruding ears are often a source of ridicule, teasing, and embarrassment. Aesthetic ear surgery, called otoplasty, can reshape the "outstanding" ear, by altering its size, position, or configuration. The improvement, which lasts a lifetime, usually results in one feeling less self-conscious about one's appearance.

Timing is always an important consideration. Undergoing the procedure at a young age has two benefits: the cartilage is extremely pliable, allowing greater ease of shaping, and the young patient will experience the psychological benefits of the cosmetic improvement for their entire lifetime. Otoplasty may be performed on adults or children anytime after the ear has achieved its nearly normal adult size, which is usually after five years of age.