Blog in Albany, NY

Brazilian Buttocks Lift (BBL)

Post Bariatric Body Lift

Pinched Tip

PINCHED TIP

Typically there are two reasons why a patient would have a pinched tip.  There are a number of patients who present with growth of the lower lateral cartilages in an unfavorable direction, and as a result have developed a pinched or unnatural looking tip. Secondly, a more common result is a previous nasal surgery (primary rhinoplasty) with an attempt at refining the tip by a technique that may have been too aggressive. 

To view before and after pictures of pinched nasal tip rhinoplasty’s

Correcting this type of deformity is generally accomplished by using an external or open approach to the nasal tip and restoring the lower lateral area by rebuilding it from cartilage harvested from either the nasal septum or ear. Many of these patients also have nasal airway obstruction as a result of a pinched nasal valve. Revision tip rhinoplasty provides patients with a more natural appearing nasal tip.

Crooked Tip and Nasal Base

CROOKED NASAL BASE AND TIP

The crooked nasal base of the nose often results in a crooked tip since the nasal base is the foundation of the nose. Rhinoplasty patients often have severe nasal obstruction and a deviated nasal septum which causes difficulty breathing. 

Click here to view before and after pictures of crooked nasal base Rhinoplasty’s

Similar to repairing the crooked nose, many patients seeking a reconstructive effort require cartilage grafting from the nasal septum to re-build the nose in the midline and restore harmony and a more aesthetically pleasing view of the base of the nose. Most often the fuctional portion of a Rhinoplasty is cover by your insurance company.

Brow Lift

Brow Lift and Forehead Lift

A brow lift, also known as a forehead lift or upper face lift, is a surgical procedure that can minimize the signs of aging in the forehead and restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance. During a brow lift, the deep tissues over the eyes are elevated, the muscles altered, thereby improving the appearance drooping eyebrows and hooding over the eyes. Brow lifts are performed as an endoscopic procedure. Good candidates for this procedure include physically healthy men and women who have realistic expectations and are interested in improving the appearance of the forehead area. Though most patients are in their forties to their sixties, brow lifts may be performed at just about any age when the face and forhead area have begun to show the signs of aging.  View the results of the browlift procedure in our browlift before and after photogallery. 

Brow lift surgery is performed in an outpatient surgical center or a hospital. The procedure typically takes one to two hours to complete and can be performed with either local anesthesia and sedation or with general anesthesia. For an endoscopic brow lift, a few small incisions are placed within the hairline. Once the incisions are made, the skin is separated from the underlying tissues and muscle. The muscles are altered or released, and the incisions are closed.

After a brow lift, some swelling, bruising, and numbness can occur. Patients may experience some discomfort or a headache and this can be controlled with pain medication. Itching may also occur. Head dressings will be removed within three days after surgery, and patients should keep the head elevated during the first few days. Stitches will be removed in one week. The swelling should fade within about a week or so, though the bruising can take seven to ten days to fully fade. Endoscope procedures typically involve less bruising and swelling and a reduced recovery period. Patients are typically able to return to work in about seven to ten days. More strenuous activities will need to be postponed for several weeks and sun exposure should be limited for several months.

As with all types of surgery, there are potential risks associated with brow lifts and these may include the following: adverse anesthesia reactions, asymmetry, bleeding, infection, nerve injury, and the need for additional surgery.  Click here to see Post-op Care Instructions for Brow Lift / Midface Lift Surgery

In addition to the browlift procedure, the Williams Center offers several facial plastic surgery options including a full facelift, blepharoplasty, mini facelift, neck lift and non-surgical treatments such as Botox, laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels which refresh the face and can erase some of the signs of aging.  See a full offering of the surgical facial plastic surgery options here or call our Albany area office at (518) 786-7000 .

Brachioplasty

Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma presents as a bulbous swelling of the nose, particularly of the nasal tip, and is a result in part of overabundant oil glands. Although the exact cause of this condition is unknown, it has been associated with a skin disorder known as acne rosacea in which the skin becomes scaly and red. In the past, rhinophyma was mistakenly attributed to excessive alcohol intake, branding the individual who suffered from this condition with an unnecessary negative social stigma. Rhinophyma is most commonly seen in men and was perhaps most famously sported by the late actor, W.C. Fields.

 To view before and after photos of Rhinophyma click here

The tissue overgrowth can be dramatic and leave the patient severely disfigured. In the past, treatment options were primarily limited to dermabrasion or simple knife excision. Now with the advent of C02 laser technology, cosmetic results have significantly improved. Dr. Williams employs combined resurfacing techniques to achieve maximal benefit for the patient. The procedure is done as an outpatient in our Albany area surgical center, requires about one hour to perform, and has a 10 to 14 day recovery period.

Combined techniques for facial-skin resurfacing was the topic of one of Dr. Williams’ lectures at the Fifteenth Annual Symposium for Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Newport Beach, California on August 8-12, 2001. Dr. Williams is also actively pursuing both clinical and basic-science research at Albany Medical College in the area of various laser skin resurfacing and has submitted for scientific publication an article entitled “Combined Resurfacing Techniques: A Systematic Approach” to the International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology.

Minimally Invasive Facial Rejuventation

Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Facial Rejuvenation 

The effects of aging are inevitable. Often, the brow and the forehead show the first signs of aging. However, in many patients the skin begins to loosen in the face, neck, and jowl areas first. Lines will often appear first at the corner of the eyes. Fine forehead lines become creases in gradually deepening folds. The jaw line often softens into jowls, and beneath the chin, another “chin” of vertical folds appears in front of the neck. Heredity, personal habits, sun exposure, wind, and the pull of gravity all affect the aging process. After careful facial analysis and a consultation, Dr. Williams will often recommend a combination of minimally invasive endoscopic or laser techniques to enhance the final results as seen below. Alone or in combination with other facial rejuvenation procedures, the technological advances with laser, endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques have significantly reduced the recovery period with an earlier return to normal social activities.

Forehead and Brow Lift
As aging occurs one of the first areas affected is the eyes and tissues surrounding the eyes. This leads to a tired appearance and may even produce a feeling of tiredness as the forehead weighs on the upper eyelids creating excess folds of skin. A brow lift can reverse this feeling and appearance of fatigue by elevating the tissue over the eyes to its more youthful position thereby relieving the heaviness, leading to a bright, youthful, more rested look. To see what a forehead lift can do for your face, put your hands above your brows and outside the edges of your eyes and gently raise the skin upward. Dr. Edwin Williams performs this minimally invasive surgical procedure utilizing an endoscopic technique whereby a few small incisions are placed in the hair bearing scalp which minimizes and conceals the fine scars. Additionally, because he performs the procedure endoscopically the swelling and bruising of the procedure is decreased allowing a reduced recovery period.

Click here to view Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Facial Rejuvenation Surgery before and after pictures

Upper or Midfacial Lift/Cheeklift
Often in conjunction with the browlift as a comprehensive rejuvenation of the area around the eyes, Dr. Edwin Williams, who has been one of the innovators of endoscopic midfacial surgery, will recommend an upper facelift. Just as the brow descends over the upper part of the eye, the downward descent of the temple and cheek area leads to the dark circles and puffiness under the eyes due to loss of the youthful superior placement of the cheek tissue over the bony orbital rim. Through the same incisions as the brow lift, since 1995, Dr. Williams has developed and mastered a unique, minimally invasive technique to restore this sagging cheek tissue to its more youthful position.

Dr. Williams has presented his experience in over 300 patients recently at the Eighth International Symposium for Facial Plastic Surgery in New York City, and the data on this innovative technique will soon be published in the scientific literature. Just like the endoscopic brow lift, this surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure in our surgery center and has a short recovery period of 7 to 10 days.

To determine if a patient is a good candidate for an endoscopic brow or midfacial lift, Dr. Edwin Williams will recommend a consultation utilizing computerized imaging and a complete facial analysis. Successful facial plastic surgery is the result of a good rapport between the patient and the surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations in exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery. Dr. Edwin Williams can answer questions related to specific needs. For questions or additional information, patients are welcome and encouraged to call.

Click here for Post-op Care Instructions for Mid-face Surgery

Laser Facial Skin Resurfacing

Laser Skin Resurfacing

A laser is a high-energy beam of light that selectively transfers its energy into tissue to treat the skin. Lasers contain a material that produces and amplifies light. Two mirrors cause the light to reflect back and forth through this material. The result is a light beam that is collimated and intense. Then the light is either one pure color or several different pure colors. The properties, which separate the lasers high from the light bulb, are important to medical application of lasers. The laser often makes it possible to treat tissue by changing it without making an incision.

Click to view before and aftre photos of laser treatments

The degree of precision when treating with the laser will often reduce the surgical trauma and assists in the recovery period, however, there are many surgical procedures that Dr. Edwin Williams will perform without using the laser. Laser treatments of tissue has revolutionized the field of facial plastic surgery in the area treating of wrinkled, sun-damaged and aged skin as well as treating birthmarks and spider veins.

To determine if a patient is a good candidate for laser surgery, Dr. Edwin Williams would recommend a consultation utilizing the computerized imager and a complete facial analysis. Successful facial plastic surgery is the result of a good rapport between the patient and the surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery. Dr. Edwin Williams can answer questions related to your specific needs. For questions or additional information, patients are welcome and encouraged to call.

Combined techniques for facial-skin resurfacing was the topic of one of Dr. Williams lectures at the Fifteenth Annual Symposium for Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Edwin Williams is also actively pursuing both clinical and basic-science research at Albany Medical College in the area of various laser skin resurfacing and has submitted an article for scientific publication entitled “Combined Resurfacing Techniques: A Systematic Approach” to the International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology.

Dr. Williams teaches laser application and laser courses for training physicians and is an instructor for Sharplan Lasers Inc., and Candela Lasers, Inc.

For more information about Chemical Peel and Lasers from the AAFPRS

FractionatedCO2Laser

Fat Transfers

Fat Transfers (Injections & Contouring)

Fat injections are cosmetic procedures able to treat loss of volume in the face and restore a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. Fat injection, also known as autologous fat transplantation or microlipoinjection, may be used to fill in hollow areas under the eyes and cheekbones, laugh lines, smile lines, crow’s feet, jowl lines, and other facial creases and wrinkles. Fat injections may be used to fill in some types of scarring and to plump the lips. Good candidates for fat injections include men and women who are physically healthy, realistic in their expectations, and looking to improve the appearance of the facial skin. Fat injections can be long lasting, however, results can vary depending on lifestyle behaviors such as smoking and or stressful life events. A large factor in the lifespan of the fat transfer will be how the patients body continues to age.

Fat injection procedures are often performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility or Ambulatory Surgery setting and typically take about an hour to complete. Local anesthesia is used on both the donor and recipient sites and, if desired, sedation may be used as well. For the procedure, fat is removed from a donor site, often the abdomen or thighs, using a syringe and a cannula attached to a suction device. The donor fat is then prepared and injected with a cannula into the recipient site.

After the procedure, the treated area may appear puffy and swollen and this can last for several weeks. Bruising and redness can also occur on both the recipient and donor sites. Despite this, patients are typically able to return to work and other normal activities immediately after treatment, though sun exposure will need to be avoided for about two days. There are few possible side effects associated with fat injection, such as redness, swelling, tenderness and infection.

For questions or additional informatiom, patients are welcomed, and encouraged to call to make an appointment for a consultation. 

Click here to view before and after photos of fat injections some times called lipo contouring

Testimonials

FAT INJECTIONS

RESTYLANE

RADIESSE

Click here to see Post-op Care Instructions for Fat Transfer / Lipo Contouring