Advanced Deep Plane Facelift Specialist in Atlanta Dr. Benjamin Stong | Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery

A Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon is one who has undergone dedicated training and certification to perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries on the face. These may include procedures to repair congenital abnormalities or defects from traumatic injury or disease. Although the primary focus of a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon is to restore function or create a normal appearance, he or she should also posses the talented artistry and cosmetic surgical skill it takes to provide the most aesthetically pleasing results.

The most qualified facial plastic surgeons have completed a five-year residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery followed by an additional year of fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. A facial plastic surgeon should be board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABOto)-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). Facial plastic surgeons are qualified to perform plastic surgical procedures from the neck up such as rhinoplasty, eye lid surgery and facelifts as well as reconstructive surgery of the head and neck.

A double board certified, fellowship trained plastic surgeon simply means that the surgeon has completed ENT training and is certified by American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He or she will have also completed an additional year long fellowship exclusively in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is certified by the ABFPRS. Dr. Benjamin Stong is among an elite group of facial plastic surgeons in the country who is dual board certified and fellowship trained, making him exceptionally qualified to perform both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures from the neck up.

The goal of cosmetic surgery is to improve or enhance the aesthetic appearance of a person, while plastic surgery is often used for reconstruction of form and function and may or may not include cosmetic enhancement. A cosmetic surgeon performs procedures and techniques that are primarily guided by enhancing visual appearance while keeping function in mind. This includes goals to improve aesthetic appeal and create balance and proportion. A cosmetic surgeon typically obtains training and experience after completing their residency training in plastic surgery or Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Cosmetic training is often acquired by completing a post-residency fellowship.

It is important to understand that not all cosmetic surgeons are board certified plastic surgeons. Some physicians who call themselves cosmetic surgeons are not practicing under the guidance of a properly credentialed board, such as The American Board of Plastic Surgery or American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and thus they are not held to the highest standards of training and certification.

A facial cosmetic surgeon is a physician who carries specialization and training in cosmetic surgery of the face. These may include Facial Contouring (Rhinoplasty, Chin, or Cheek Enhancement), Facial Rejuvenation (Facelift, Eyelid Lift, Neck Lift, Brow Lift) as well as Skin Rejuvenation (Laser Resurfacing, Botox®, Filler Treatments). When finding a facial cosmetic surgeon, patients should look for one who has a Board certification by The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOto-HNS) and The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. ABFPRS is held to the highest standards among all types of doctors that perform facial cosmetic surgery procedures.

General plastic surgeons can be dual board certified by The American Board of Surgery (ABS) or The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOto-HNS) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). They typically perform plastic surgery on the entire body with no advanced training in facial plastic surgery.

A dual board certified or double board certified facial plastic surgeon has undergone extensive education and training to obtain two certifications. Dr. Stong is dual board certified facial plastic surgeon. This means that he is board certified in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery as well as Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).

The ABFPRS outlines board certification credentials as surgeons who have completed the following:

• Has completed an approved residency in one of the two surgical specialties that include identifiable training in all aspects of facial plastic surgery

(otolaryngology/head-and-neck surgery or plastic surgery, generally)

• Is double boarded, having earned prior certification in one of those specialties through the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada
• Has successfully completed a two-day examination
• Has submitted for peer-review an acceptable record of at least two years’ clinical experience, including operative reports of a minimum 100 facial plastic surgeries
  Holds proper licensure and subscribes to the ABFPRS Code of Ethics.

Dr. Stong proudly displays an ABFPRS diplomate logo, which is a recognition of excellence and symbolizes the highest level of specialization, education, and certification in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery.

While men and women may both seek facial plastic surgery to restore a youthful appearance or enhance their natural beauty, there are specific procedures that are more effective and more common in men versus women. Men often seek procedures such as Rhinoplasty, Eyelid lift/blepharoplasty, Direct Neck Lift, Facelift and Botox to address the signs of facial aging and/or achieve a more atractive, masculine appearance. Women continue to request facelifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and Botox as leading facial plastic surgeries. Dr. Stong is careful to tailor each facial plastic procedure to the unique needs of a male versus a female patient, as there are distinct features that are attractive in men that may not be appealing for women. An experienced plastic surgeon understands how to create dramatic, natural-looking results in men without feminizing their appearance.

Patients choose plastic surgery to correct an aesthetic flaw or enhance their appearance. This can be driven by reconstructive needs to repair an abnormality or defect, which often includes restoring proper function and/or a normal appearance. Plastic surgery may also be chosen as an elective procedure to improve one’s self-image and restore a more youthful appearance. Plastic surgery that is cosmetic in nature typically involves procedures to improve the effects of aging on the face or body and enhance beauty in specific features. Plastic surgery involves a wide spectrum of procedures, including surgical and non-surgical techniques.

Patients who want the best and most long-term solution to address facial aging choose a facelift. Facial aging commonly includes loss of volume and skin elasticity, which produces sagging, wrinkles and fine lines on the face. A facelift involves removing, lifting, and tightening this loose skin and tissues of the cheeks and neck, which creates a more attractive definition and contour to the cheeks, jawline and chin. Patients who choose facelift surgery gain long-lasting results of a more youthful, rested appearance that facial injectables cannot offer.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most sought after cosmetic surgery procedures, especially among men. Patients choose rhinoplasty to address unwanted nasal features that may have developed over time, from an injury or that were present at birth, such as a large nose, crooked appearance, nasal hump, wide nostrils or bulbous tip. Rhinoplasty can involve specific techniques to reduce the size of the nose, re-sculpting the tip or bridge, narrowing the span of the nostrils and/or altering the angle between the nose and the upper lip.

Patients undergo blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) to rejuvenate the eyes and address aging concerns in the upper and lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty is an effective procedure to improve excessive upper eyelid skin (hooding) lower eyelid wrinkles, excess fat or puffiness in the upper and lower eyelids as well as bags underneath the eyes. Both men and women who are concerned with signs of aging around the eyes and want a long-term solution can make excellent candidates for eyelid surgery.

Bruise free injectables involve the use of the revolutionary Micro-cannula technique, in which a blunt-tip cannula (small cylindrical tube) is used instead of a traditional sharp hypodermic needle. This significantly reduces the likelihood of piercing a blood vessel during a facial filler injection, which means virtually no bruising and very minimal swelling in result. Micro-cannula injections are much safer and more comfortable for the patient and provide improved accuracy for the plastic surgeon. Dr. Stong is one of very few plastic surgeons in the country who use bruise free injectables almost exclusively when offering facial filler treatments.

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure used for men and women with hair loss, but is especially beneficial for patients with male pattern baldness. During hair transplant surgery, hair is harvested from the donor areas of the scalp (usually the back and/or sides) and transplanted into to areas that are thinning or bald. These recipient areas typically include the front, top, or crown of the scalp. Hair transplant is performed using one of two methods: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) (strip method) or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) using automated NeoGraft technology. Once the healthy hair follicles are transplanted, the hair looks very natural and will continue to grow for a lifetime. FUE using NeoGraft continues to be the preferred hair transplant method available, as it involves no linear scar, no stitches and minimal downtime. With an FUE transplant, patients are free to wear their hair short.

Laser therapy can be used to address wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, telangiectasia, veins, acne and scars on the face. The use of lasers to provide skin rejuvenation can be considered a multiplatform approach, as there are many different types and levels of lasers available that are specifically designed to target certain skin concerns. At Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC, we offer the most advanced laser systems, including those that treat spider veins and vascular lesions, those that target rosacea, age spots and pigmentation as well as those that build collagen and smooth out the skin surface. Our practice offer the latest laser technology in fractionated and non-fractionated ablative laser skin resurfacing that provides total skin rejuvenation while also adding mild skin tightening through thermal contraction.

In general, laser therapy works by using short, concentrated single wavelength energy pulses to the affected area of skin. This removes the unwanted or damaged target. With skin resurfacing or ablative procedures, new skin cells replace the ones removed and fibroblasts are stimulated to produce collagen, which ultimately gives the skin a firmer, more youthful appearance. Laser skin rejuvenation can be used alone or to enhance other cosmetic facial cosmetic surgeries.

Patients may need reconstructive surgery to repair or restore function to a defect or abnormality of the face or body. This may include defects from a congenital condition, accidental injury, burn, surgical revision or skin cancer. Examples of facial reconstructive plastic surgery includes oculoplastic surgery, Mohs skin cancer reconstruction, scar revision, nasal reconstruction and facial paralysis correction. An experienced facial plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery understands the primary goal of restoring proper form and function of the affected area, but will ultimately be guided by aesthetic principles to create the most natural and attractive outcome.

There are many ways that plastic surgery can improve or enhance your quality of life. A rejuvenated and attractive appearance can improve self-confidence, enrich your relationships and even strengthen your professional career. For many patients, plastic surgery simply allows them to look as good as they feel, which can be an invaluable advantage at any stage of life. For reconstructive patients it can restore ones confidence and self-esteem allowing them to live normal lives.

As with any type of surgery, there is often an associated level of patient anxiety and health risks. However, for plastic surgery, many patients are concerned about the post-operative period including social downtime, finding someone to take care of them as well as managing their work schedule and family/social commitments during recovery. We carefully listen to each patient’s concerns prior to surgery. Many patients are pleased to discover that we offer multiple plastic surgery procedures that involve minimally invasive techniques and require little downtime.

While each procedure is distinct, complete healing from most plastic surgery occurs over a year to 18 months time frame. This does not mean that you will not see results much sooner, as this is a general guideline as to when your body should be fully healed and recovered internally and externally. Bruising and swelling may last about 2 weeks. However, the initial recovery and healing time period is variable based on the specific plastic surgery procedure performed. The use of drains following a procedure may extend healing, but they may sometimes be necessary and can ultimately improve outcomes.

Your plastic surgery outcome is only as good as the plastic surgeon you choose. It is very important to consider a balance of experience and training when electing a plastic surgeon. In addition, choose a plastic surgeon that carries the best board certifications (or dual certifications) for your specific desired procedure. For example, to avoid complications in facial plastic surgery, consider a surgeon who is double board certified in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery as well as Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) for the most highly regarded credentialing. A plastic surgeon with both strong experience and elite training can profoundly increase your chances of achieving results that are natural, balanced and aesthetically pleasing.