April 3rd, 2012
The Smile Network trip to Puebla MX was a success. Over 140 children were seen and evaluated for cleft lip and palate abnormalities, and 65 children had surgery during our operative week. Dr. Muskett and Dr. Peet the surgeons were joined by Billings anesthesiologists Chuck Aragon, Mark Kipa, and Dave Rietz, as well as nurse anesthetist Diane Fischer. Dr. Muskett’s son Luke and Dr. Aragon’s daughter Alexa made up a great scrub team.
Both Dr. Alan Muskett and Dr. Steve Grosso at Billings Plastic Surgery are grateful for their patients in Billings. If we didn’t have a healthy and busy practice and such loyal patients, we wouldn’t be able to do these trips which take three work weeks a year. The children of Puebla thank you!
March 6th, 2012
It looks like the Smile Network medical mission to Puebla Mexico is a go. We’ll depart this Thursday morning, March 8, for ten days of cleft lip and palate repair. There have been some sticky issues with the Mexican government regarding the use of the facilities and other logistical matters, but for now it looks as if we have people and patients and places and that’s all we need. Former Billings Plastic Surgery godfather Walter Peet will be teamed up with current BPS surgeon Alan Muskett, and all four of the anesthesia crew are from Billings as well. We’ll keep you posted!
February 29th, 2012
“Wow, did you do something to your hair?”
“Did you lose weight?”
“Have you been on vacation?”
That’s how I know a face lift operation has been a success. Friends, family, and coworkers know you look great, but can’t pinpoint the reason why.
It is important to understand the goals of any rejuvenation procedure.
Do you want to look younger? It is possible to have a stunning, youthful appearance after a facelift but look … not quite the same.
Technically, singer Kenny Rogers had a good result but he doesn’t look like Kenny Rogers. Some patients want to look different, because they have never been satisfied with their flat cheek bones or retrusive chins. But for the majority of patients, looking like themselves seven to 10 years ago is about right.
The key words in successful face lifting, in my mind, are: safe, subtle and natural.
Safety means the procedure is designed to avoid complications that can occur. Avoiding extensive undermining of the skin means fewer healing problems. Refraining from deeper, extensive dissections prevents injuries to critical nerves that move muscles on the face. Shorter scars mean quicker recovery times and less swelling and bruising.
A subtle, but striking effect results from rearrangement of the fat pads and muscles of the face. Much of what we perceive as aging is not so much wrinkles as the redistribution of volume lower on the face. It is critical to replace muscle and fat in their original location. By doing so, a youthful look is achieved. Simply stretching skin creates an unnatural “done” look. It is this look that patients fear most, and it can be avoided.
A natural look comes from lifting sagging jowls, excess neck skin and the heavy lines around the nose and mouth that result from sagging cheeks. By lifting the deeper structures of the face, an aged, heavy look is replaced by a more youthful one. The extra skin is gently redraped and not “pulled,” avoiding the distortion around the eyes and mouth that shout, “Facelift!”
Most facelifts can be comfortably performed under local anesthesia with sedation such as Valium or Versed.
The procedure takes from three to five hours, and patients return home about an hour after surgery with a friend or family member. Light activity is recommended for a couple of weeks. Bruising and swelling are different with everyone, but most patients can be socially presentable with makeup in seven to 10 days. For a major event such as a big trip or a wedding, it is best to wait four weeks or so.
Incisions are placed just in front of the ear and along the hairline in the sideburn area. They are well hidden in the natural skin creases and just behind the hair. If there is a lot of extra neck skin, an incision behind the ear will be required as well. Occasionally, an incision under the chin will be needed for excess fat or to treat neck bands.
Facelift incisions generally heal very well, but let your doctor know if you have a tendency to scar. Contemporary facelifting is characterized by shorter incisions and more rapid recovery times.
As with any operation, complications can occur with a facelift. Early postoperative bleeding can result in a hematoma, which is a blood collection under the skin which must be drained. Infection, fortunately, is rare, as are problems with healing.
The most feared complication is damage to a facial nerve, resulting in weakness of facial muscles. This is almost always temporary, but very distressing. I feel techniques that minimize this risk still provide great results.
My patients have told me that they want to look like themselves, but without the tired, heavy, saggy or droopy features that time has settled upon them. Some feel their business or personal relationships are effected by the perception that they appear unenergetic.
If you are young at heart, but the mirror says otherwise, there are safe, subtle, and natural methods to help you look like you feel.
Please contact Dr. Alan Muskett at Billings Plastic Surgery serving the areas in and around Billings, Montana and Wyoming.
February 29th, 2012
It was a wild weekend of reconstructive for the boys of Billings Plastic Surgery. We were reconstructing tongues, repairing bit off ears from horsebites, treating gunshot wounds to the face, and a couple of vehicle versus person encounters. It isn’t all Hollywood glamour in the plastic surgical world.
February 29th, 2012
Our blog will update events in our practice and in the interesting world of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery
November 1st, 2011
Welcome to our blog! Within this regularly updated feature of our website, we will provide visitors with practice news and specials, as well as information regarding the most recent technological advances and new treatments in plastic surgery.
We believe that patient education and open communication with your doctor are the keys to achieving healthy, aesthetically-pleasing results and patient satisfaction, which is why we strive to provide the highest quality of aesthetic care for patients of all ages. This is done by combining technical skill and broad experience with cutting-edge technology for impeccable medical and cosmetic results.
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to visit our new blog. Please check back often to learn about the latest news, updates and additions to the practice and within the field of plastic surgery, and feel free to post comments and/or suggestions on any posts that you find of interest.
