www.newyorkfacialplastics.com

Our New Office at 990 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NY

drconstantinides — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:20:59 +0000

Monet, Picasso, Degas, and Dr. C? What do those artists have in common with Dr. C you ask. They can all be found on Fifth Avenue. We now have a second location right across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 990 Fifth Avenue between 80th and 81st Streets.
Our new office is found in a landmark building designed in the Italian Renaissance “palazzo-style” by Rosario Candela and the firm Warren & Wetmore. It was built in 1927 and is right in the middle of Fifth Avenue’s “Museum Mile” and directly opposite the sound end of the Met. We will be seeing patients there on Fridays from 9:00-5:00 and look forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Las Vegas Cosmetic Surgery Meeting

drconstantinides — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:06:10 +0000

This week I spent 3 days at the Multidisciplinary Facial Cosmetic Surgery meeting in Las Vegas. This is my third year as an invited faculty member at this impressive meeting. The first day of the meeting is a scheduled “Rhinoplasty day”, where I gave three talks on rhinoplasty: 1. Functional Rhinoplasty; 2. The Thick-Skinned Tip; and 3. Running, Micro-Perforating and Cross-Root Osteotomies. The Bellagio Hotel is a great venue for the meeting and it was great seeing colleagues from around the country and from around the world. My next meeting will be the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’s (AAFPRS’) Annual Fall Meeting in Boston, where I will present talks and run a panel on nasal cosmetic and functional surgery. This will also be my second year as an elected member on the Board of Directors of both the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).

Last Week NYC, Today Bodrum, Turkey

drconstantinides — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:14:45 +0000

My local and national speaking opportunities continue to increase. Last weekend I again participated in the NYU Rhinology Update, where I have been speaking for some years now. I spoke on the importance of preserving function in rhinoplasty and discussed my own innovations in functional rhinoplasty. I shared the podium with Dean Toriumi, who is still acknowledged by most as the foremost and most innovative rhinoplasty surgeon practicing today.

Today I arrived in Bodrum, Turkey. Here I am attending RhinoCamp, a 3 day nasal extravaganza with many international attendees and instructors. As the honored visiting professor from the U.S. in Rhinoplasty, I am speaking tomorrow on “The Fundamentals of Rhinoplasty”, “The Crooked Nose”, “Functional Rhinoplasty”, “Cartilage Grafts in Rhinoplasty”, and “Alloplasts and the Saddle Nose”.

Bodrum is on the Aegean Sea, with the Greek Islands of Rhodes and Cos just off its coast. Today I swam in a 72 degree Aegean which was sparkling and crystal clear. I plan on exploring the corner of Turkey before I leave on Saturday.

10th International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery

drconstantinides — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:22:30 +0000

Last week Melissa and I arrived in Hollywood, Florida for the 10th International Symposium of Facial Plastic Surgery. This meeting is held every 2 years, alternating between a site abroad and a site in the U.S. Two years ago it was in Cartagena, Columbia. This year, Florida. I really had no idea where Hollywood was before I arrived. As it turns out, it is a funky little strip of beach between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. The hotel was surprisingly comfortable, right on the beach, and the town had an active though small stip of fun nightlife. Of course I was there to work, but enjoyed the pool and beach with many colleagues who have become friends over the years.

On Tuesday, the day before the meeting started, I had the Spring Board of Directors Meeting of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). Plane trouble caused me to arrive late, but I still managed to get there for the last 6 hours of the meeting. We had a great session, confirming plans for the mentorship program I helped put together for young facial plastic surgeons among other things.

On Friday I ran a 2-hour panel on Functional Rhinoplasty. The panel members were an international group including Dan Becker, Stephen Park and Rick Davis from the U.S. and Fausto Lopez-Ulloa from Mexico, Sameer Ali Bafaqeeh from Saudi Arabia and Holger Gasner from Germany. Each panel member spoke about what they have changed in their practice of functional rhinoplasty in the last 10 years of their practice. We then debated how to care for certain severe functional cases.

Later on Friday I participated in a panel on Revision Rhinoplasty, along with Steve Pearlman, Wayne Larabee and Geoff Tobias. Then on Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of giving a talk on cartilage grafting in rhinoplasty with Dr. Charles East from London, England. The best part of the meeting was being able to exchange ideas and see what others are doing with rhinoplasty around the world.

I also made plans to do live surgery workshops in Bogota, Columbia next fall right after doing the same in Lima, Peru. Finally, I had a meeting regarding further organizational details for the AAFPRS semi-annual Rhinoplasty course next year in Chicago. All in all, a very productive meeting in a really enjoyable location.

American Board of Otolaryngology Oral Exams

drconstantinides — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:37:01 +0000

This past weekend, I was in Chicago administering the American Board of Otolaryngology’s (ABOto) oral board examinations in the Facial Plastic Surgery Section. During the weekend about 100 experts administer one-on-one exams in four subsections to surgeons who want to become board-certified in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgeons. In addition to Facial Plastic Surgery, the other sections include Head and Neck Surgery, Otology/Neurotology, and General Otolaryngology (includes Rhinology and Laryngology). It is an honor to be selected as a board examiner; this is the third year that I have been selected. The candidates have to solve four protocols in each subsection in 50 minutes. This rigorous oral exam is preceded by a day long written exam. Surgeons must qualify for the exams by completing a 5-year surgical training program in Otolaryngology. Often candidates study 6 to 12 months for the exam.

To be an examiner one must have demonstrated leadership in one’s subspecialty nationally. The experience is enriching. The examiners must try to insure that board certificatoin means that the highest standards of the field are maintained.

In June I will again be an examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. This more specialized board insures a high standard within Facial Plastic Surgery for those who wish to focus their practices in this subspecialty of Otolaryngology.

Injectible Fillers to Correct Nostrils

drconstantinides — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:15:44 +0000

Q: I have been disappointed with fillers to correct nostrils- I would like less nostril show from the front; thought of using sillikon 1000 but that is permanent. Am scared of vascular probls/necrosis since I have had 2 rhinops. So, thought perlane as it goes away. Will it hide nostril show?
My answer: I have been disappointed with injectible fillers for nostril show in general. The problem is that most fillers are too soft to really force down the nostril edge. Every one of my patients that have tried fillers have, in the end, had surgery for correction of the nostril asymmetry or nostril show. That operation is complex and requires the experience of a skilled rhinoplasty surgeon, so pick carefully. Hopefully that helps.

NY Society of Plastic Surgery Rhinoplasty Panel

drconstantinides — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:20:40 +0000

Last Saturday, April 10, I had the honor of being invited to participate in a Rhinoplasty Panel at the Spring Meeting of the NY Regional Society of Plastic Surgery. This is a particular honor for an Otolaryngology-trained Facial Plastic Surgeon. To the credit of Dr. Alan Matarasso, the scientific program chair of the meeting, he invited a balanced panel of 2 ENT Facial Plastic Surgeons and 2 Plastic Surgeons. The participating panelists were: Me; Dr. Rollin Daniel of Newport Beach, CA; Dr. Russel Kridel of Houston, TX; and Dr. Mark Constantian of Nashua, NH. All are top minds in rhinoplasty. I was indeed honored to be a part of it.
I spoke about Combining Functional and Cosmetic Rhinoplasty. My talk centered on how the application of structural support for nasal obstruction must complement the aesthetic goals of the patient. A enthusiastic discussion about the role of spreader grafts in rhinoplasty occurred during the Q&A session after the talks, originating with my observation that spreader grafts are not always as effective as we expect them to be in the severely obstructed patient.
Later that day my wife Melissa and I hosted Dr. Daniel at a wonderful dinner at Oceana Restaurant. The owner, an old friend, happened to be there, making the dinner all the more memorable. My next talks on Functional and Cosmetic Rhinoplasty will be during our upcoming 10th International Facial Plastic Surgery Symposium in Hollywood, FL at the end of April. Stay tuned!
Minas Constantinides, M.D.

Complex Lower Eyelid Scars: Not for the tame at heart

drconstantinides — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:51:04 +0000

Q: 6 months ago I had a scar revision for a scar on lower eyelid. The tissue connecting the lower and upper eyelids on the outer corner of my eye stretched too much as a result of the poorly performed surgery resulting in a pulled down lower eyelid. I now need someone who can lift up my lower eyelid AND at the same time remove the scar (4-5mm wide, 2cm long) from my lower eyelid. Is this something that can be done?

A: For a long, moderately thick eyelid scar, the trick is to repair the problem while NOT increasing tension on the eyelid. Sometimes a midface lift is needed to lift the whole cheek up underneath the eyelid to insure there is enough support for any repair. At other times large dissections of the eyelid and surrounding tissues are enough. There is no quick fix for this complex problem. You are correct to assume that not every surgeon can tackle such a complex problem.
Minas Constantinides, M.D.

Mini Facelift vs. Full Facelift

drconstantinides — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:46:24 +0000

When did all the craze begin that mini facelifts are so sought after? There are very few Manhattan women who will benefit from a mini facelift. If you only have a little jowling and minimal neck laxity, then maybe this is for you. But remember that the facial plastic surgeon is extremely handicapped by the mini facelift incisions and the limited dissection. Yes you will be back at work looking pretty good in a week. One year later you will probably be back to where you were before facial plastic surgery. But one more week healing time is all a full facelift typically requires, and it gives a much better and longer lasting facelift. Why spend all that money for just one week less of recovery and only one year of good facelift results? This procedure is becoming more and more recognized as what it is…an oversold procedure designed to make you believe that you are getting more than you are. I don’t believe it works for anyone over 45 years old, and it never works well in men. Beware of this Trojan horse.

Minas Constantinides, M.D.

Q: “Do rhinoplasty before & after photos say anything about the rhinoplasty surgeon?”

drconstantinides — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:57:28 +0000

Before & after rhinoplasty photos are good way to EXCLUDE a surgeon, but may not help in picking one. Some things that should warn you off a rhinoplasty surgeon:

1. Do the noses look natural or done? Obviously if a rhinoplasty surgeon is showing his results on his website for everyone to see, he must be proud of them. Use this information to your advantage. You will get a very good idea of what the rhinoplasty surgeon feels looks good by looking at his photos. If you don’t think that his rhinoplasty results look good, then he is probably not the one for you. His esthetic should match yours.

2. What about the rhinoplasty surgeon that doesn’t show any before-and-afters on his website, citing “confidentiality”? Today, if I have a website, I need photos. If I don’t show them, then I probably haven’t gotten permission to show them from my patients, or I haven’t been in practice long enough to have any that are any good! Beware in either case.

3. What views are best? Everyone loves to see the profile views because they are the most dramatic. However, they can also hide a lot of problems. Any rhinoplasty surgeon with a good rhinoplasty result (and not just a good profile view) will show at LEAST an oblique view and, in really successful cases, a frontal view. It is these views that are the most representative of a good result. All-profile websites should not be trusted as “best in class”.

Hope that helps.

Minas Constantinides, M.D., F.A.C.S.