The surgical anti-ageing procedures available today are broadly divided into minimal invasive surgical procedures and invasive surgical procedures. Let’s understand both to make an informed decision.

Minimally invasive surgical procedures

The procedures involve making tiny, carefully concealed incisions in the skin to correct facial ageing and to re-suspend the sagging face as well as to promote collagen production. Thus, there are no visible scars on the face, and hence no tell-tale signs of the procedure.

There is also no down-time, no limitation of social life, no bruising or pain. These procedures do not require hospital stay and you can walk out within an hour of the surgery.

Thread Lift

Thread lift uses threads to suspend facial skin. The threads are absorbable as well as of the non-absorbable variety. The absorbable threads dissolve in three months and the non–absorbable threads get covered by collagen tissue. The threads are the same threads that are used in cardiac, intestinal or eye surgeries and are safe. They are USFDA approved for use in facial anti-ageing surgeries.

Ribbon Lift

Ribbon lift uses a slender tape called ribbon to anchor the face and correct the facial skin sag. It re-suspends the soft facial tissue, making your face appear fresh and youthful. The ribbon dissolves completely in three to nine months and provides a strong collagen support to the face. It is made of USFDA approved completely dissolvable biomaterial. It is the most popular anti-ageing procedure among celebrities, both in India and abroad.

Endotine

Endotine device is a small triangular device similar to the ribbon. It is used for brow-lift as well as endoscopic forehead lift. The incisions are about 0.5cm – 1cm size hidden in the scalp. Threads can also be used for brow lift. Endotine is an alternative to the Botox injection as results last for 3 – 5 years. However, unlike in Botox, the procedure does not have to be repeated every six months.

Autologous fat injections

Autologous fat injections help correct age-related loss of facial volume. It involves taking fat from either your tummy, hip, buttocks, love-handles or saddle bag region [lateral and outer thighs] and injecting it in the muscles and soft tissue of the face to restore facial volume.

Invasive surgical procedures

Surgical face and neck lift

In this procedure, facial ageing is corrected by elevating skin flaps, suspending the soft tissue of the face and excising the excess skin that remains after facial rejuvenation. The scar is carefully hidden in the hairline of the temples in case of a face lift and behind the ear in case of a neck lift.

The procedure is done either under general anaesthesia or under local anaesthesia with sedation. It requires staying in the hospital for at least two days. Swelling and bruising can occur, which subside in a week.

Face lift is the treatment of choice after a certain age when the sag of the face and neck is excess. The downtime, or time spent in the hospital, is the only disadvantage of this procedure.

Baggy eyelid surgery

This surgery is done when the eyes look tired, baggy and have excess eyelid skin that gives a hooded appearance. Here, skin incisions to remove the eye bags are carefully hidden in eyelid folds in upper eyelid and in the eyelash area in case of lower eyelid.

The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, so no hospital stay is required. The downtime required is about seven days as the eyelids swell after surgery. The swelling gradually subsides. After baggy eyelid surgery, not just the eyes, but even your face appears rejuvenated as you don’t have the tired look on the face. The surgery is safe and there is no damage to the eyes.

Cheek and chin augmentation

These procedures are done to replace the lost facial volume as a result of ageing and loss of bone density. It involves using silicone or PTFE implants, which are placed via hidden incisions inside the mouth. It takes 3 – 5 days to recover. There is no fear of the implant shifting position as it is firmly anchored with sutures or with screws.

A combination of these procedures along with Botox for forehead lines and lasers to resurface the facial skin can totally rejuvenate you. You can look young for long. Isn’t it wonderful?

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Excessively large breasts too cause feelings of dissatisfaction and lead to a negative body image. It also makes them self-conscious. In fact, heavy-set women also suffer from severe physical discomforts owing to their size—chronic backache and postural changes are some common distresses they face.

Breasts represent womanhood, and are a source of pride for a woman. So, when a woman loses even one of them to breast cancer, not only does it lead to emotional turmoil, but also severely impacts her mental health. However, no woman need languish in despair. Cosmetic surgery has solutions to offer.

For women with a small size

Women with small breasts are recommended breast enlargement or ‘breast augmentation’ in order to increase the size. This surgery involves making an incision either near the armpit or below the breast line.

Size and volume of the breasts are increased by using breast implants made of silicone, an inert material, which does not react with our body tissues. It is therefore absolutely safe. Since their invention, silicone implants have had a good safety record. The implants are either saline implants or gel implants.

Saline implants have an outer shell made of silicone and are filled with sterile saline water on the inside to augment the breast. In gel implants, both the outer shell and inner shell have silicone gel. These make the breast look life-like and natural.

Breast augmentation requires you to stay in the hospital. Typically, recovery takes seven days.Another way to augment the breast is to use fat from your own body. This is known as autologous fat transfer. More recently, synthetic fillers [like macrolane] are also available for breast enhancement and this procedure does not require hospitalisation.

For women with a large size

Significantly large breasted women are suggested breast reduction surgery to downsize the breast and reshape it. It is a highly specialised surgery and the breast can be reduced to several sizes, so as to achieve a good, aesthetic breast that is proportionate to the women’s body.

This procedure involves a key-hole scar around the nipple and areola. You need to spend 2 – 3 days on an average in the hospital.

For women who need firming up

Often, pregnancy or significant weight loss leads to loose and sagging breasts, known as mastopexy. The sagging breast is suspended back so that it rests against the chest wall and appears more firm. Breast implants may also be done along with this procedure if volume also needs to be restored.

For those missing a breast

Women who have lost breast tissue due to cancer can go for breast reconstruction. In this, the breast is newly made from the available tissue at the same site or from another site on the woman’s body.

Generally, the back muscles are used along with the overlying skin to form the breast mould as well as the cover. If this is not possible or inadequate to match the size of the other unoperated breast, then a silicon breast implant is used to increase the volume. Or, tissue from other sites like the thigh, buttock or the abdomen can be used.

This is a highly-specialised procedure and requires special skills in surgery. Breast reconstruction after post-cancer mastectomy can improve the body image and quality of life for the woman.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure? How are they handled?
• How many such surgeries have you performed and can you share some testimonials?
• How can I expect my lifted breasts to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my lifted breasts?

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