Out Of State and Overseas Patients

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FACIAL COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS

The world is now a small place: we welcome patients from around the globe. We have treated cosmetic and reconstructive patients from most of the States in the USA and from many countries worldwide. We help our patients from the rest of the United States and our International patients in several ways:

Video reviews of conditions can be arranged
Photographs and clinical information can be e-mailed to us by the prospective patient or referring surgeon
When Dr. Patel is lecturing or operating in other States or Countries, we can arrange for patients to meet and be examined by him
As Dr. Patel has trained residents and fellows from many countries around the world, he can arrange for his prior fellows to see and examine you locally

Many patients will travel to be treated by us here as Utah is a well-known holiday destination with many beautiful recreation areas. Our links below will connect you to local hotels where many of our patients find it convenient to stay. If you let the hotels know you are coming to have surgery by us, they often have discounted promotional rates for our patients.

WHAT IS A BROWLIFT

With aging and sun damage, the forehead skin loses its elasticity and the brows descend. This results in horizontal forehead lines, lower brow positions, and

horizontal and vertical frown lines. This combination can give us a “tired” look and can also exacerbate upper eyelid heaviness. The changes can also give one a prematurely aged look. In a properly performed browlift, these changes are improved. The aim is to improve the horizontal forehead wrinkles, the frown lines between the brows and to elevate the brows and change the shape of the brows into a more pleasing arch.

Analysis of the youthful face allows us to determine what is possible and how. Attention is paid not just to tissue laxity and ptosis, but to tissue fullness, position, arches, curves, prominences, hollows and proportions.

There is no such thing as the “standard facelift” as it simply gives a ho-hum result without the beauty inherent in all of us. Look at our method of analysis, planning and techniques and review our results to get an idea of what is possible and our approach.

INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS

Although the world is now a much smaller place, certain political and physical changes have made it a less friendly place than of yore! We will make every effort to make your visit and stay as happy and comfortable as possible. To that end, international patients need to plan their visit well ahead of time. Once we have made a proper diagnosis and proposed a treatment plan, you will need written documentation from Dr. Patel to apply for visas to come to the United States for medical treatment. As the visa applications have become somewhat more onerous for certain countries,

please plan to apply for visas well ahead of your visit.

“Well, the last time I had a picture taken I could hardly see my eyes because of the weight of heavy eyelid. Then I paid attention to how I was actually using my eyes and I really noticed when I was looking at anything especially the computer I was straining my forehead to see better. Since I have had it done I no longer have to lift the forehead and tilt my head to see. It is amazing! I love…” D. Rock 63 Yrs Old with Fat Droopy Eyes – Salt Lake City, UT

INTERNATIONAL SURGEONS

If you are an international surgeon visiting us, please ensure you have corresponded with Dr. Patel’s international division: the division arranges all itineraries well ahead of time. You may need to submit an application a year ahead of your desired visit. My academic office will ask you to send in your curriculum vitae, three references and a cover letter of the reason for your visit. A personal introduction by a surgeon trained by Dr. Patel will smooth the process! We have a large group of “family of surgeons” now, scattered all over the globe. My fellows and ex-fellows maintain a healthy relationship via the internet and we frequently arrange to meet in many exotic locations around the world to operate, lecture, discuss or sail!

SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS FOR US TO REVIEW

It is always best to send photographs of the whole face and neck as shown in the montage below. Please ensure that someone else takes these photographs: selfies may be cute but are usually not very helpful!

Additionally, please send close-up photographs of the specific area of interest. As many of our patients have had several procedures before they see us, it is vital for you to obtain the original photographs prior to your surgeries and also any operation reports, medical reports and scans (on a disc, not just reports) so we have all the information we need. Most documents, other than the scans, can be e-mailed to us. Send the scans via mail or hand-carry them with you. We like to correspond with your local surgeons, so kindly bring their names and addresses as well. We are also happy to give advice to your local surgeon, if that saves you a trip!

PATIENTS FROM THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES

It is much easier to arrange a visit and treatment for you! However, as certain procedures are booked out several months, please be patient as we help you with finding the best time to have your surgery. Certain times of the year are popular with all patients so please be aware that availability will vary! For patients coming into town for face and neck lifts, we have several of our patients who are very happy to share their experience, expectations and advice with you. If we put you in touch with one of these patients, they will be under strict advice not to convince you to have surgery, but just to share their experience. We have found that there are aspects of the postoperative period that only a patient who has been through the experience can describe. Many of our patients have found this discussion very helpful. Please don’t take advantage of the kindness of these people and please respect their time and their privacy.

HOW TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS

Although the best photographs are taken with an SLR camera, these days other digital cameras and cell phones also take excellent photographs. If your camera or cell phone allows you a setting called a “Macro” setting, please put the camera on that “Macro” setting.

No selfies! But comments help…
This is what she wanted. And she knew it!
We managed to help her and give her a nice long-term result.

STEP BY STEP

Stand in front of a blue (light blue to Oxford blue are best) background (a towel or sheet will suffice)
Have the photographer stand back to get the needed framing.
You can use the flash but it is very helpful to take two sets: one with a flash and another without a flash but indirect light like light through a window or from a light from the side (but not behind you).
All photographs must be taken with the face relaxed. When necessary, one photograph with you smiling but looking straight into the camera may be helpful, especially if trauma is involved.
Keep your head level: no posing!
When showing me your brows or eyelids, relax your brows.
Close-up photos of brows and eyelids can be taken as shown in the second set below.
If you are sending photographs for assessment for a face and neck lift, please send us photographs of yourself from the age of 18 onwards. In particular, if you have any photographs where you think “boy I looked great then!”, then please send us a copy of that photographs. We all look brilliant at 18 years, but ladies often look their best in their 30’s and in some cases at other ages.

HOW TO TAKE A FULL FACE SEQUENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHS

“I had a excellent eye lift done by Dr. Patel. He knows what he is doing and is very pleasant. Dr.Patel was easy to get an appointment and he works with you. The office staff was very pleasant and made you feel calm.” D. Gull Highly recommended for eye lift surgery – Salt Lake City, UT

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FAQs

WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA WILL BE USED?

Facelifts are performed in an operating theatre for the sake of sterility and your comfort. We have a team of anesthesiologists and nurses who are trained to specifically look after patients undergoing these procedures.

WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA WILL BE USED?

General anesthesia is best for facelifts, although in some instances, sedation anesthesia may also be used.

WHAT KIND OF SUTURES ARE USED?

With a 3-D procedure, there are several layer of sutures, accurately placed to give the lifting, tightening and filling, without leaving any tell-tale pull-lines. Some are slow dissolving sutures, others are more permanent. The skin sutures are generally removed between 7 and 14 days.

DO YOU USE LASERS FOR THIS SURGERY?

Lasers will be used to treat peri-oral lines, “sleep lines” on the cheeks and other skin irregularities. The advantage of using all the skills and modalities available to us, rather than performing quick or weekend or one-hour facelifts is that it allows us to give you a remarkable improvement not only in the structure and appearance of the face, but also the health and smoothness of the skin as seen here:

HOW LONG DOES THE SURGERY TAKE?

Facelift surgery can take between 3 and 5 hours of surgery time, depending upon the planned procedures, patient’s face-type, age and other factors.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON RISKS OF FACELIFTS?

Bruising and swelling are de rigeur! However, significant long-lasting complications are rare.
Bleeding is not common as we pay close attention to proper hemostasis. On rare occasions, a small hematoma may collect.

Everyone will experience some numbness in the face: this resolves over weeks to months. This occurs because of the dissection of the face. This is not a complication.
Because of the dissection and repositioning of the tissues, it is common for there to be small differences in the smile between the right and left sides: this is usually only noticeable to the patient and to Dr. Patel! It recovers over a few weeks.

All faces have asymmetry and there will be some degree of asymmetry. This is to be expected.
Permanent weakness of nerves and muscles is rare.
The scars are usually very well hidden. However, some patients may have a tendency to cause hypertrophic scarring: in such cases, certain lasers and treatments will help. By-and-large, scars are rarely a problem. With Caucasian skin, pinkness of scars is to be expected for several weeks. With darker skin, some hyperpigmentation may occur.

HOW MUCH BRUISING AND SWELLING WILL I HAVE?

Bruising around the jawline and upper neck is common for the first two weeks. The face itself usually will not get much bruising, but may be pink from any laser work. Swelling is to be expected because of the extent of the surgery: the swelling abates over about two weeks.

DOES INSURANCE COVER FACELIFTS?

Only if insurance will buy you a Rolls Royce (Phantom, of course).

HOW PAINFUL IS A FACELIFT?

A sensation of firmness will be there because of the swelling: this is present for the first few days. Most patients do not need prescription pain medication after the first two to three days.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS AND WHEN MAY I RETURN TO WORK?

We will provide you with a special neck dressing which you will wear as much as you can for the first couple of weeks. You will also apply a moisturizer (any brand will do) to the face as healing skin and lasered skin requires moisturizer. Icing the face also helps for the first two to three days. Many of our patients will ice the face for longer as it feels good. You may be up-and-about the day after surgery. Gentle exercise (treadmill and stationary bicycle) may be commenced by day 3. More vigorous exercise like skiing and tennis may be resumed by about day 10.

SHOULD I LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE MY FACELIFT?

Ideally, you should be within about 3 – 5 pounds of your desired weight. Whereas I can create the most beautiful angles and curves in slim patients, if you are able to get close to your ideal weight, we can wonders as can be seen in this patient who lost some weight before her surgery and is absolutely chuffed at her result:

In the first few days, everyone will experience some degree of dryness and blurry vision. You will also feel that your lids look a little tight on the outer corner where you will also feel some of the deeper sutures if you put your finger there: this is of no concern. The tightness and the bumps under the skin settle over a few weeks.
More serious complications which are very rare include excessive bleeding, hemorrhage and loss of vision.

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Contact Info

Dr. BCK Patel MD, FRCS
1025E 3300S
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106, USA

(801) 413-3599 (phone/text)
E-Mail: bckpatelmd@gmail.com
bckpatel.info

Dr. BCK Patel MD, FRCS
617 E Riverside Dr Suite 101
Saint George, UT 84790, USA
(435) 215-0014
E: drbckpatel@gmail.com