Dr. Sultan Ahamad

The first thing anyone notices about you is your face and often people find themselves wishing for things like a slimmer nose, fuller lips etc. This is where facial cosmetic surgery comes in. Facial cosmetic surgery can address areas like your eyebrows, nose, cheeks, chin etc to give you the facial structure you've dreamed of.

Take a look at some of the common types of facial cosmetic procedures:

1. Brow lift: Frown lines and creases that develop across the forehead, between the eyes and over the nose bridge can be addressed through this procedure. This surgery is performed mainly to combat signs of aging and involves raising eye brows that may be sagging over the eyelid.
2. Eyelid surgery: Puffiness in the upper eye lids may be caused by excessive fat deposits. When combined with sagging skin, it can disturb the contours of the eye and in some cases cause vision problems. Blepharoplasty or eye lid surgery removes this excess skin and corrects fine lines, wrinkles and bags under the eyes.
3. Nose: A rhinoplasty is used to reconstruct the nose. The nasal skin is separated from the tissue and cartilage structure underneath which is then reshaped as desired and then sutured together again. Rhinoplasty is of two types; open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty.
4. Ears: An octoplasty is a facial cosmetic surgery aimed at correcting protruding ears or large outer ears and correcting ear deformities such as a lop ear, cupped ear or shell ear and torn ear lobes. This surgery is usually performed on children between the ages of 4 to 14.
5. Chin: Surgery on your chin can reshape it to make it look smaller or bigger as desired. This can be done by reshaping the jaw bone or inserting an implant. In some cases the procedure may be combined with liposuction.
6. Forehead: Signs of aging on the forehead, frown lines or heavy brows triggered by stress and hereditary furrowed lines above the nose can be addressed with a forehead lift. This procedure is often performed along with a facelift or eyelid surgery.
7. Facelift: As we grow older, our skin loses its elasticity. This triggers the development of wrinkles and deepens creases along the nose and cheek. Facelifts address these signs of aging by tightening skin and strengthening the muscles beneath it. Facial cosmetic surgery can also be used to correct congenital defects such as cleft lips and to treat scars.

Surgery to repair a cleft lip or cleft palate not only enhances appearances but also enhances the quality of life by improving functionality. Scar revision surgery involves the injecting or application of steroid medication to lighten the scar and make it less obvious. To treat burns that leave behind prominent scars, a procedure called Z plasty may be used.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Paraganglioma is a rare condition where tumors grow in the peripheral nervous system. Basically, these tumors are found near nerve clusters in the adrenal gland and even near certain blood vessels. There is no way to ascertain, whether these tumors are malignant or benign, which is why doctors should monitor such growths at regular intervals to check for cancer. Sometimes, the tumors may be caused outside the adrenal gland. These growths are often known as extra-adrenal paragangliomas. If you or anyone else you know suffers from paragangliomas, here are 3 ways by which this condition can be treated -

1. Surgery: Almost all patients suffering from paragangliomas are recommended to undergo surgery. This is the best course of treatment and ensures that the tumor is removed from the source. However, owing to certain medical conditions, some people may not be able to undergo surgery. For these patients, other forms of treatment have to be used. However, if you are cleared for surgery, you will need to prepare for the same extensively. For instance, alpha-blockers will be used at least 10 to 14 days prior to the operation. These medications will ensure that the effects of adrenaline can be limited during the administration of anesthesia during the surgery. Doctors will also check whether the alpha blockers are working. Just 3-4 days prior to the operation, the patient may also be prescribed beta blockers, in a bid to slow down the heart. The surgery is caused with the help of general anesthesia and the patient is put to sleep. In most cases, an open surgery is conducted to remove the paraganglioma tumor. However, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries may also be successful in some cases. Generally, laparoscopic surgeries have a shorter recovery period and lesser pain post operation.
2. Medical therapy: If the patient suffering from the paraganglioma cannot be operated upon, he/she needs to undergo treatment with medicines. While these are effective in reducing the level of adrenaline in the body, medication alone is rarely as effective as surgery.
3. Radiation therapy: If the tumor from paraganglioma turns malignant or cancerous, standard treatment comprising medicines and surgery may not be feasible. In such cases, radiation therapy may be the best course to follow. Chemotherapy may also be prescribed for dealing with these cancer cells.

At any rate, it is essential to start treatment for paragangliomas immediately after it is diagnosed. Leaving the condition unattended can lead to severe complications that may be difficult to treat.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!