Facial plastic surgery remains one of the top types of procedures that patients request. Since the face is often what people notice first about someone, it's only natural for many people to want a fresh, appealing look. Whether for age or medical reasons, the types of surgeries performed by a San Francisco facial plastic surgeon help anyone feel better about themselves as well as the world around them.

Face Lift
A popular type of facial plastic surgery is the facelift. The area of the surgery is the face or neck, but this term can refer to procedures covering both. This surgery involves three separate parts:

•    Taking out extra fat
•    Getting the facial muscles tighter
•    Skin pulled to make the surface appear firm

It can be done in a hospital or as an outpatient procedure at certain medical offices. The facelift is done under general anesthesia or with a local anesthetic per patient and doctor recommendations. A sedative can be given when using a local anesthetic. Depending on how much surgical procedures are done at any time, the surgery can last up to six hours. Afterward, bandages are put on to help cut down swelling, but there may be swelling or inflammation for several weeks. Facelift surgery may also be combined with other surgeries having to do with the face like a brow lift, eye lift, and nose job.

Neck Lift
A neck lift usually goes hand in hand with a facelift; it gets rid of excess skin and wrinkles that have occurred. Fat can be removed with liposuction and most procedures feature a pressure bandage wrapped around the area. There may also be a tube placed at the site of the surgery to drain any fluid that might collect. The procedure lasts several hours and there is no hospital stay as this is done on an outpatient basis with general anesthesia or IV sedation. Recovery should only be for a couple of weeks.

Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, or as it's commonly known as a nose job, is a sought after surgery among patients of all ages. This type of surgery is done to change the shape of the nose or to help with better breathing. It also helps those that have injuries in that particular area. Done as outpatient surgery, it only takes several hours. General anesthesia is used for most patients, even those with a history of procedures. The nose can have splints and packing to aid healing, yet a person will see swelling and bruising afterward.

Eye Lift
This surgery can help with the appearance of the eyelids as well as take care of problems with them. The procedure can be done with upper or lower lids. During surgery, the doctor will work excess skin, fat, and muscle. Upper eyelid surgery may be needed to help someone see better, it can be done as in a hospital or as an outpatient. This procedure uses either general anesthesia or local anesthesia in limited amounts based on medical history. A sedative is given when using a local anesthetic. Swelling goes down within two weeks.