Facial Plastic Surgery Sydney

The face assessed as a whole, not feature by feature.

Facial plastic surgery covers the eyelids, brow and forehead, nose, ears, lips, chin, cheeks and neck, along with the excision and reconstruction of facial skin cancers. Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, MBBS FRACS, performs all of this from her rooms at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington, in Sydney.

Facial surgery divides roughly into three groups. Some of it is functional, such as upper eyelid surgery where skin is blocking your field of vision, ptosis repair, or rhinoplasty that straightens a deviated septum. Some is reconstructive, most often rebuilding the face after a skin cancer has been removed. The rest is cosmetic, changing proportion or reducing the visible signs of ageing.

The face is assessed as a whole rather than feature by feature, because the parts affect each other. A low brow can make eyelid skin look heavier than it is, a set-back chin can make the nose look larger and blur the jawline, and neck laxity limits what a facelift alone will achieve. Dr Maryam has a particular interest in eyelid surgery, considering both function and appearance.

Who facial surgery may suit

• Heavy or hooded upper eyelids, under-eye bags, or an eyelid that sits low over the eye
• Loose skin and lost definition in the cheeks, jawline or neck
• A nose you are unhappy with, or blocked breathing through one or both sides
• Ears that project noticeably, in adults or in children from around five or six
• A chin, brow or hairline that sits out of proportion with the rest of your face
• A facial lesion that has been biopsied as a skin cancer and needs excision and repair

Facial procedures we offer

Eyelid Surgery

Upper and lower blepharoplasty and ptosis repair. Upper eyelid surgery removes excess skin and can improve the upper field of vision, lower eyelid surgery addresses under-eye bags and tear trough hollows, and ptosis repair raises a low lid margin by tightening the levator muscle.

Facelift and Neck Lift

Repositioning of the deeper facial tissues and removal of excess skin, using deep plane, high SMAS, short scar or MACS techniques. The neck is addressed either by a complete neck lift or by the minimally invasive MyEllevate suture suspension technique.

Brow Lift and Hairline Lowering

Raising and reshaping the brows and softening the forehead, and where a forehead is long in proportion to the face, advancing the hairline to shorten it.

Nose and Ear Surgery

Rhinoplasty addressing the shape of the nose and, where relevant, the septum and the nasal airway. Otoplasty reshaping the cartilage of prominent ears through an incision in the fold behind the ear.

Lip, Chin and Facial Contouring

Lip lift to shorten the distance between the nose and the upper lip, genioplasty to reposition the chin bone, and submental liposuction with skin tightening to define the jawline.

Facial Skin Cancer Surgery

Excision of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma with margins confirmed by histopathology, and reconstruction using direct closure, local flaps, cartilage grafts or skin grafts, including reconstruction after Mohs surgery performed by a Mohs surgeon.

Recovery

Recovery differs widely across facial procedures, and individual healing varies. The points below are general indications only.

• Eyelid surgery is among the quicker recoveries, with bruising and oedema usually settling over roughly two weeks.
• Facelift, neck lift, brow lift and jaw surgery commonly need two to three weeks away from work and social commitments.
• Rhinoplasty involves a splint for about a week, with tip swelling continuing to settle for twelve months or more.
• Facial sutures are generally removed within about five to ten days, sooner than elsewhere on the body.
• Scars on the face are placed in creases and hairlines where possible, and typically soften over six to eighteen months.

Risks and considerations

All facial surgery carries risk. Depending on the procedure this includes bleeding and haematoma, infection, delayed wound healing, skin loss with markedly higher risk in smokers, visible or widened scars, hair loss near incisions, asymmetry, altered or lost sensation, and injury to branches of the facial nerve affecting movement, which is usually temporary but can be permanent. Eyelid surgery carries additional risks of dry eyes, difficulty closing the lids and, rarely, complications affecting vision. General anaesthetic carries its own risks including blood clots.

Ageing continues after surgery, so results are not permanent and further change should be expected. Revision surgery is sometimes needed and is a separate operation with its own recovery and fees. Skin texture, pigmentation and fine lines are generally not corrected by surgery.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

In Australia a referral from a registered medical practitioner is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery, and a GP referral is preferred so your general health is reviewed. A cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between consultation and booking surgery, extending to at least three months for patients under 18, who must also be assessed by an appropriate registered health practitioner. Referrals for medical concerns such as a suspicious facial lesion follow the usual pathway, and a referral allows a Medicare rebate to be claimed where a procedure attracts an item number.

Dr Maryam examines your face, takes planning photographs, and discusses the risks, the alternatives including non-surgical treatment and no treatment at all, and what she considers achievable for your anatomy before you decide. Fees are quoted after your consultation. She operates at St Luke’s Hospital in Potts Point, East Sydney Private Hospital, Sydney Day Hospital, The Skin Hospital in Darlinghurst and Double Bay Day Hospital. Call 1300 067 668 to arrange an appointment.