Facial Rejuvenation Q & A with Dr Charles Cope
PS Hub talks to Dr Charles Cope – Facial Rejuvenation Q & A – Sydney Plastic Surgeon
Question: Is it true that jowls can reappear just a few years after a lower face/neck lift?
Answer: Most SMAS (deep plane muscle tightening) facelifts give a result in terms of turning back the clock by 10 years or more. However, having the surgery does not stop the ageing process, so you will develop more skin laxity over the jawline as you continue to age. There are a number of skin-tightening lasers such as Thermage, SkinTyte and Ultraformer III that improve skin laxity with minimal or no down-time, and these can be used to slow down the ageing process, and delay the need for further surgery. These however need to be continued for ongoing improvement.
Question: I am concerned about my eyebrow and lower face asymmetry, what do you suggest?
Answer: Minor degrees of facial asymmetry are normal, but if this is concerning you then there are simple non-surgical options that will improve this. Small doses of Botox will improve your eyebrow asymmetry, while injectable dermal fillers will improve the facial asymmetry – these are temporary and need to be performed regularly (fillers last at most 12-18 months). If you are happy with the improvement with these treatments, then there are more permanent options such as facial fat transfer which lasts for years – this is a relatively simple day surgery procedure. Blepharoplasty is also a more permanent option to turn back the clock.
Question: I have a crepey, saggy neck, what are my options?
Answer: There are many options for improving the texture and skin laxity of the neck skin, with a number of skin-tightening lasers such as Thermage, SkinTyte and Ultraformer III that improve skin laxity with minimal or no down-time. These however need to be continued for ongoing improvement. The surface texture of the skin can be improved by laser resurfacing with the HALO and Medical grade Fraxel DUAL lasers the best for this, although there are other options such as needling. For a more long-lasting result then a lower facelift and necklift is the best option to improve skin laxity, although these do not improve the actual skin texture, so other resurfacing treatments may be necessary.
About Dr Charles Cope – Based in Sydney and Central Coast
With a depth of training, experience and expertise, Dr Charles Cope graduated from Sydney University in 1989 with First Class Honours. He trained in General Surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital and in Plastic Surgery at RNSH and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals. Dr Cope then underwent further specialised training, including a Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship and a Microsurgery Fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, specialising in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. We were able to do this Q & A with Dr Charles Cope recently to find out more about face and neck surgery and non-surgical options.
Dr Charles Cope regularly attends and participates in continuing medical education meetings to ensure a high level of expertise in surgical practice and regularly gives lectures to both other doctors and the public. Dr Cope works out of his three practice rooms; in Mosman and Wahroonga on Sydney’s North Shore and in Gosford on the Central Coast.
You can visit Dr Charles Cope website here.
NOTE** These photographs of before and after results are examples only, and do not constitute an implied or any other kind of certainty for the result of surgery or a non-surgical procedure. All surgery carries risks, you should seek a professional opinion before proceeding.