If you’re considering facial plastic or reconstructive surgery, choosing the right surgeon is perhaps the most important decision you’ll make. Whatever your reasons for undergoing surgery or facial rejuvenation, it’s vital to have a surgeon who has the training, experience, and ability to listen that success this field demands—and which you deserve.
Cooper has an entire team of highly qualified surgeons at your service.
Why Choose Us for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
A facial plastic surgeon is one who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. Achieving board certification in this field means that the surgeon has undergone rigorous, advanced training.
To be certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), a physician must complete five years of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery training after completing medical school, and one year of fellowship training through the AAFPRS.
At Cooper, we have a team of surgeons who have completed this specialized training in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Equally important, they have a track record of successful patient outcomes—and earn high marks for patient satisfaction.
The Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures Available at Cooper
Aesthetic facial plastic surgery aims to improve your appearance. The aesthetic procedures our facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons perform include:
- Eye lift(blepharoplasty): Blepharoplasty gives the eyes a more youthful appearance by lifting and removing sagging skin; it can be performed on the upper and/or lower eyelids. When excessive upper eyelid skin actually blocks vision, an eyelid lift may be covered by medical insurance. Most people return to normal activities within days after blepharoplasty.
- Facelift(rhytidectomy): A facelift involves well-camouflaged incisions made around the ears, through which the surgeon lifts and tightens the facial tissues, yielding a more youthful, refreshed appearance. The downtime from a facelift is generally a couple of weeks, with the results lasting for years.
- Neck lift (often performed as part of a facelift) – A neck lift is designed to address sagging neck skin and the unsightly vertical bands that develop in the front of the neck.
- Brow lift (often performed as part of a facelift) – This often accompanies a facelift for the best possible result, but can be done as a standalone procedure or with a blepharoplasty. It involves tiny incisions at the hairline.
- Rhinoplasty: Often referred to as a "nose job," rhinoplasty helps achieve facial symmetry (balance). In addition to serving a cosmetic purpose, rhinoplasty can also resolve nasal trauma, congenital defects, or breathing problems. Recovery from rhinoplasty is usually just over a week, but the nose continues to slowly refine itself over many months.
- Otoplasty: This is a procedure to improve the appearance of ears that are prominent or stick out from the head. Through an outpatient procedure, the ears can be repositioned closer to the head. Otoplasty is most commonly performed in children, but adults can benefit as well.
- Facial implants: Implants can bring balance and proportion to the structural appearance of your face. If you’re bothered by a small chin, weak jaw, or lack of facial contour, facial implants can help.
- Chin: Chin implants are useful in both men and women who have a small or receding chin.
- Cheek: Cheek implants can give a fuller, more youthful appearance. Because bone loss often occurs with aging, cheek implants can be a useful adjunct to a facelift. Lipocontouring: This procedure is often performed with a face and neck lift to eliminate fatty deposits under the chin, but can also be done as a stand-alone procedure. Downtime after most lipocontouring is minimal.
- Scar revision: The primary goal of scar revision is to make an unsightly scar less noticeable. While most scar revision is considered cosmetic, there are times when it is necessary to restore function, such as when a lower eyelid is pulled downward, preventing normal tear function. Minor scar revision usually involves resurfacing techniques. In general, the more significant the scar, the more involved the procedure to improve appearance and/or function.
Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation Procedures Available at Cooper
Cooper’s facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons also offer an array of non-surgical options for facial rejuvenation, including:
- Facial resurfacing: Resurfacing procedures give the skin a smoother, tighter, and rejuvenated appearance, and can help address wrinkles, pigment changes, scarring, and even precancerous lesions. The deeper the level of resurfacing (the level of penetration into the skin), the more dramatic the effect. However, a deeper level of resurfacing also incurs the most downtime and the greatest risks (e.g., pigment changes, infection and scarring).
- Chemical peels: Chemical peels can be categorized by their level of skin penetration and effect: superficial, medium, and deep. Medium and deep peels are done by a physician, often using local anesthesia or sedation.
- Lasers: The laser uses a specific wavelength of energy to selectively heat tissue; this damage and subsequent healing results in new collagen formation and tighter, more youthful skin
- Dermabrasion: Dermabrasion is a mechanical means through which the skin is selectively abraded (removed) to the desired level. It’s particularly useful for improving the appearance of scars from acne, injuries, and surgery.
- Injectables: Risks and side effects of injectable products are uncommon, and the pleasing results attract many younger patients who aren’t yet ready for surgical procedures:
- Neuromodulators: Botox and similar injectables are useful in treating dynamic wrinkles (the wrinkles seen when a muscle contracts, such as crow’s feet).
- Fillers: Several compounds, such as hyaluronic acid (a natural substance found in the body) can help restore volume to the face, lessen lines, or plump the lips.
Facial Reconstructive Procedures Available at Cooper
Facial reconstructive surgery restores both function and appearance to injured or weakened areas of the head and neck. Many conditions, from cancer to burns to traumatic injuries, can be greatly improved with today’s reconstructive techniques.
Through reconstructive surgery, congenital problems such deformed ears or a cleft lip/palate can also be repaired. While reconstructive surgery strives for the best possible aesthetic outcome, functional outcomes are the first priority.
Some of the areas of facial reconstructive procedures in which our board-certified surgeons have extensive experience include:
- Traumatic injuries: Traumatic injuries of the head and neck can range from a simple laceration (cut) or broken nose, to a gunshot wound or serious burn. As the only Level 1 trauma center in South Jersey, Cooper has extensive expertise in all areas of trauma care, including reconstructive surgery to restore function and appearance after such injuries.
- Cancer-related: Reconstructive surgery for cancer of the head and neck can be as simple as closing a small defect where a skin cancer was, or as complex as rebuilding a tongue that was removed due to cancer.
- Skin cancer: Many Cooper patients with skin cancer are initially treated by a specialized dermatologist trained in Mohs surgery, which aims to remove the least amount of skin possible. When the cancer is located on the head and neck, a facial plastic surgeon is often called upon to repair the wound and return optimal form and function to the surgical site.
- Head and neck cancer: Otolaryngologists are the first line when dealing with head and neck cancers. Cooper’s Head and Neck Cancer specialists not only are experts in surgically removing these types of cancers but also performing reconstructive procedures to restore function and appearance.
Contact Us
To learn more about the services available in the Division of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or to schedule an appointment, please call 856.342.3113
Scar Revision
Any time an incision is made deep enough into the skin, a scar results. It is the plastic surgeon’s job to help make those scars as imperceptible as possible. The primary goal of scar revision is to take an unsightly scar and make it less noticeable. While the majority of scar revision can be considered cosmetic, there are times when scar revision is absolutely necessary to restore function to the face (e.g., a lower eyelid that is pulled downward, preventing normal tear function). Minor scar revision can involve using resurfacing techniques. In general, the more significant the scar, the more involved the procedure to gain an improved outcome.
Dermatologic Procedures
- Resurfacing – Resurfacing procedures give the skin a smoother, tighter, and rejuvenated appearance. The techniques below can be used for a number of reasons: wrinkles, pigment changes, scarring (e.g., acne, traumatic, surgical), and even precancerous lesions. In some instances, a combination of procedures may work best. The deeper the level of resurfacing (the level of penetration into the skin), the more dramatic the effect with the most potential for long-term gains. However, a deeper level of resurfacing also incurs the most downtime and the greatest risks (e.g., pigment changes, infection and scarring). Therefore, a well-considered balance between the benefits and risks must be decided prior to the procedure. Each procedure aims to create a new layer of skin that is inherently smoother, tighter and less damaged in appearance.
- Chemical Peels – Chemical peels can be divided into three main categories depending on the level of penetration and effect: superficial, medium and deep. Medium and deep peels are done by a physician and local anesthesia and sedation are considered.
- Lasers - Lasers can be helpful in many realms of dermatologic surgery and procedures. In resurfacing, the laser acts by using a specific wavelength of energy to selectively heat tissue. This damage results in new collagen formation.
- Dermabrasion - Dermabrasion is a mechanical means through which the skin is selectively removed to the desired level. It is a technique that has been around since World War I. It is particularly useful for scars from acne, injuries and surgery.
- Injectables – These treatments are often useful in the younger population who may not need or want a more aggressive approach to more youthful appearance (lifts or implants). Risks and side effects are uncommon and the pleasing results drive many younger patients to seek these types of treatments.
- Neuromodulators – One of the most commonly known neuromodulators is Botox. Botox and other similar injectables are useful in treating dynamic wrinkles. These are the wrinkles that we see when a muscle is contracted (e.g., horizontal lines across the forehead or crow’s feet). These medications are not as helpful for lines and wrinkles that are present at rest. A resurfacing procedure is more likely to be beneficial.
- Fillers – Several different compounds exist to help restore volume to the face. Fillers, such as hyaluronic acid (a natural substance found in the body), can be used to lessen lines in the face or plump the lips.
Reconstructive Procedures
Reconstructive facial plastic surgery restores both function and appearance to injured or weakened areas head and neck. Many conditions, from cancer to burns to traumatic injuries, may be greatly improved with reconstructive techniques. Reconstructive surgery also includes the repair of congenital problems such deformed ears or a cleft lip/palate. While reconstructive surgery strives for the best possible aesthetic outcome, function of the head and neck always takes priority.
Traumatic Injuries
Traumatic injuries of the head and neck can range from a simple laceration or broken nose to a gunshot wound or worse. Cooper University Health Care is a level-one trauma center and has expertise in all areas of trauma care. Repair of these injuries may involve suturing (stitches), plates and screws, or even transferring tissue from other regions of the body to the injured site.
Cancer-related
Cancer of the head and neck can be as simple as closing a small defect where a small skin cancer was, or as complex as rebuilding a tongue that was removed for cancer.
- Skin cancer - Many patients with skin cancer are initially treated by a specialized dermatologist trained in Mohs surgery. When t Mohs surgery is situated on the head and neck, the facial plastic surgeon is often called upon to repair the wound and make all attempts to return the form and function to the surgical site.
- Head and neck cancer - Otolaryngologists are the first line when dealing with head and neck cancers. Unfortunately, the majority of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which are typically caused by tobacco, alcohol and the human papilloma virus (HPV). Cooper’s Head and Neck Cancer specialists have expertise in the surgical removal of head and neck cancers as well as reconstruction following removal. Some head and neck cancers cases require surgeons to transfer tissue, even bone, from a distant region of the body to repair the wound and reconstruct the area for both aesthetics and function.