Ronald J. Caniglia, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Facial liposuction is a procedure which involves the removal of excess fat through small incisions in order to sculpt and rejuvenate the face. It is commonly performed with other facial rejuvenating procedures like the facelift. When facial liposuction is performed on its own, it is best suited for younger patients who have good skin elasticity, good muscle tone and a strong bone structure. This procedure is not for patients with excess skin and little fat. Women's skin tends to respond better to liposuction alone than men's skin does.
All of Dr. Caniglia's patients choose to have their facial liposuction surgery performed at the Plastic Surgery Center at Kierland (PSCK), which is conveniently located in the Caniglia Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. The PSCK is an AAAHC-accredited and state- and Medicare-licensed outpatient surgery center.
Facial liposuction is most commonly performed on an outpatient basis with procedural times ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Dr. Caniglia performs all of his facial liposuction procedures under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation (deep twilight sleep). In this way, the patient remembers nothing from surgery and feels no discomfort. This type of anesthesia also allows patients to feel much more alert and refreshed after surgery. All of Dr. Caniglia's patients have their vitals monitored by a board certified anesthesiologist who is present at all times before, during and after surgery.
The most common incision location for neck liposuction is in the submental crease, a naturally occurring crease underneath the chin. This incision is small, measuring just 1 – 2 cm. At times, an additional incision can be hidden in the crease behind the earlobe. Working through the incision, Dr. Caniglia will use a small, round, blunt liposuction cannula to perform full neck liposuction. Once the procedure is complete, dissolvable sutures are used to close the incision and a light gauze pressure wrap is applied.
On the day after surgery, patients feel fine with little to no discomfort. The gauze wrap is removed in the morning. All sutures dissolve on their own and need not be removed. Some patients are able to return to work as early as a few days after their procedure. However, this can sometimes depend on the amount of bruising the patient experiences. Bruising may result for 1-2 weeks. Exercise and strenuous activities should not be resumed for two weeks.
As with all types of surgery, there are potential complications associated with facial liposuction and these may include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and saggy skin. It's important to note that facial liposuction is more commonly performed in conjunction with facelift surgery. It is very important that one visit with a skilled facial plastic surgeon as overly aggressive facial liposuction can lead to significant facial soft tissue deformities.
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