Beauty, Balance, and Facial Harmony

By Christopher Chang, MD

Christopher C. Chang, MD Plastic Surgery

. https://www.drchristopherchang.com/

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Beauty, Balance, and Facial Harmony

In any cosmetic procedure, patients often want to avoid “looking done.” Frequently, their only point of reference is the tabloid magazine cover at the checkout line, showing celebrities with over-pulled faces, over-injected lips, and over-inflated bodies.

However, plastic surgery is not only about the extreme, shocking results that make for TV shows and Hollywood gossip. Typically the best results are kept secret or are barely detectable. Largely, excellent results are due to subtle correction and more importantly balancing facial and body proportions.

Although “aging” is a taboo word, it is merely an extension of growth. From birth to adulthood, the body and its tissues are constantly undergoing remodeling. This is evidenced by changes in joint flexibility, bone density, muscle strength, skin elasticity and hair thickness. Dramatic changes seem to take place in particular stages of life puberty, pregnancy, post partum, and menopause. These landmark events are notably associated with hormonal shifts.

In the younger years, nose, face and chin growth do not complete until the end of adolescence. While a particular patient may focus on the large hump on her nose, the overall balance of the facial profile, the lip support, and the chin and jaw projection need to be evaluated as well to achieve facial harmony. Understanding these concepts prevents one part of the face from looking disproportionate.

Similarly, in middle age, post-pregnancy changes begin to affect the breasts and body all together. Progesterone causes laxity of the abdominal wall and breastfeeding changes the breast tissue, nipple-areola, and skin. These areas can be treated with excellent results from simultaneous breast rejuvenation and abdominal contouring, commonly referred to as a “mommy makeover.”

Finally, in your golden years, patients begin to express concern about looking older, tired and sad. While the baby boomer population is more active than any prior generation, they want to look as young as they feel. Some may look at their eyes and just wish to create a brighter look to their expression. However, usually the eyes do not descend independently from the brows, cheeks and jowls. Correcting one issue without addressing the rest of the face disregards the balance that was present in your younger days.

Beauty is an act of balance, and understanding all of the components leads to thorough, natural, and striking results.