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Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Dentistry Produce Dramatic Effects
In some cases, major enhancements are needed to meet a person’s aesthetic expectations. People with short, crooked, uneven, or misshapen teeth can greatly improve their smile with porcelain veneers or crowns. A plastic surgeon can help to recreate a more youthful appearance of the face with an advanced procedure, such as a brow or facelift.
Unlike the minor treatment options, namely tooth whitening and shaping, facial peels and Botox® injections, major cosmetic dental and plastic surgical procedures produce more dramatic improvements that last longer, but require longer recovery and a more substantial financial investment.
Porcelain veneers are custom-made porcelain wafers that the dentist places over the fronts of the teeth to enhance their appearance and repair damage. Porcelain crowns are similar to porcelain veneers except that they cover the entire tooth. Porcelain veneers or crowns can significantly change a person's smile and help improve their self-confidence. They can be used to improve a wide variety of cosmetic dental problems. They can whiten stained or discolored teeth, close gaps between teeth, "correct" a crooked smile without the need for braces, repair chips and imperfections, and create a more attractive or youthful looking smile.
The procedure involves preparing a relatively small amount of the tooth to create room for the porcelain. After the laboratory crafts the porcelain veneers or crowns, the dentist bonds them to the teeth, improving their appearance and strength. The procedure takes about two weeks from start to finish.
“Some of the most visible signs of aging first appear on the face”, says Dr. Scott Chapin, a board-certified plastic surgeon. In some cases, a facelift is the best option to smooth loose skin of the face and neck, as well as tighten underlying tissues and remove excess fat. As a result, the face appears firmer and fresher. The procedure is usually performed with sedation or general anesthesia in a doctor's office or hospital. Pain is generally minimal following the procedure, and bruising and swelling usually subside within a week to ten days.
A forehead lift, or "browlift," is a procedure that restores a more youthful, refreshed look to the area above the eyes. Dr. Chapin recommends this procedure to correct drooping brows and improve the horizontal lines and furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired. In a browlift, the muscles and tissues that cause the furrowing or drooping are removed or altered to smooth the forehead, raise the eyebrows and minimize frown lines.
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