Dallas Surgical Arts

As we get older, our bodies go through some very dramatic changes – many of which occur in our face. From age spots to wrinkles to enlarged pores, the skin on our faces can be an indicator of everything from genetics to how diligently we’ve worn sunblock over the years.

One of the biggest problems our skin encounters as we age is the loss of collagen. Collagen is the most common naturally occurring protein in the human body. It can be found everywhere from the bones to the ligaments, hair, nails and, yes, the skin. Unfortunately, that loss of collagen often leads to problems like loss of skin elasticity, which leads to some of those common signs of aging such as sagging skin.

Thankfully, you no longer have to simply accept the appearance of sagging skin on your face and neck. A laser face-lift procedure called the Profound Lift was designed to address these exact problems and restore a more youthful, taut look to the face, chin and neck.

What Is the Profound Lift?

The Profound Lift is a patented face-lift procedure that uses lasers to naturally stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the lower half of the face. It does this by heating the collagen and elastin already present in the skin to the exact temperature and for the precise amount of time needed to encourage the new growth without the need for surgery or injectables.  

How Long Does It Take?

The Profound Lift procedure itself takes about 45 minutes to complete, under local anesthetic. Best of all, results are achieved after just one treatment, so there’s no need to make multiple appointments.

What Is Recovery Like?

Unlike with traditional face-lifts, Profound Lift has a very short and comparatively mild recovery time. Some patients will experience some bruising following the procedure but will be able to resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.

How Soon Will I See Results?

Following your Profound Lift treatment, you can expect to begin seeing results within six to eight weeks of your treatment. Results will occur slowly over time, with optimal results showing around the four- to six-month mark.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Results from the Profound Lift will vary depending on the individual. The better care you take of your health (i.e., wearing sunblock, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight) the longer your results will last.

Want to learn more? Give Dr. Sanovich’s office a call at 972-776-4888.

If you have a misaligned jaw or what is known as a dental malocclusion and are ready to put an end to the pain, stiffness and bite issues, such as asymmetry, that go along with it, it may be time to consider orthognathic surgery. Orthognathic surgery is a procedure designed to correct the misalignment of the jaw as well as any skeletal deformities present in the surrounding areas of the skull. In fact, “orthognathic” comes from the word orthagnathous, which literally means “straight jawed.”

Orthognathic surgery is usually performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The surgery itself is done under general anesthesia and only lasts a few hours, but the recovery time lasts several weeks. Complete healing can take up to a year, but after that your treatment should be complete.

Why Choose Orthognathic Surgery?

You may be wondering why you should choose orthognathic surgery over lengthier but less invasive procedures to correct oral health issues like malocclusion, temporomandibular joint disorder and more. While there certainly are other treatment options available, orthognathic surgery offers the benefit of correcting numerous problems at once, with a much faster turnaround. Imagine waiting weeks to feel relief from your misaligned bite as opposed to other methods that could take several years to see results.

What Are the Types of Orthognathic Surgery?

There are many different types of orthognathic surgery, all designed to correct different issues. Because no two jaws are identical, no two orthognathic surgeries are the same, either. Dr. Sanovich may use one or a combination of several surgical techniques to achieve the results you want. Here are a few of the different types of orthognathic procedures you may be recommended by Dr. Sanovich and your orthodontist:

Mandible Osteotomy: Mandible osteotomy is a procedure that is used to push the mandible (the bottom jawbone) backward to correct a receded mandible.
Rapid Palatal Expansion Osteotomy: This surgery is used to correct a constricted maxilla and expand the palate.
Sagittal Split Osteotomy: This surgery can correct both over- and underbites.
Maxilla Osteotomy: This surgery is designed to correct deformities to the upper jaw, or an open bite.
Genioplasty Osteotomy: This surgery is designed to move the chin forward or backward to an optimal position.

If you are considering orthognathic surgery and would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanovich, please call 972-581-9996.

X-ray images are an integral part of any treatment plan when it comes to oral surgery. In order for Dr. Sanovich to properly diagnose and understand the full scope of a problem, he must be able to get the clearest pictures possible. This allows him to do the most precise work, and it allows you, the patient, to have the best possible surgical outcome.

Unfortunately, X-rays and CT scans are rarely anyone’s favorite part of their treatment plan. Between the awkward bitewings and that cumbersome iron apron, it can be a bit of a chore. But thankfully there are many new technologies that allow us to take better images than ever before – and with unprecedented patient comfort, to boot.

That’s why while many surgeons still rely on traditional spiral CT scanners for their X-ray imaging, Dr. Sanovich uses a state-of-the-art system called the Planmeca ProMax. The Planmeca ProMax not only takes more accurate and detailed images than traditional spiral CT scanners, but it also uses cone-beam CT technology to capture its images – which means you get less exposure to radiation, too. In fact, the Planmeca ProMax is a 3D machine, but it emits less radiation than traditional 2D CT machines! Imagine that – a better-quality image with lower radiation! We can even adjust the size of the image before the machine takes it, minimizing radiation exposure.

Another benefit of the Planmeca Promax is that this versatile machine can take anything from the smallest, most isolated photos to photos of the entire skull – all on the same machine. That means less time jumping from machine to machine for you. We know your time is valuable, and nobody looks forward to X-rays.

Because your comfort is our No. 1 priority, the Planmeca Promax is designed with patient comfort in mind. Its open, airy design helps eliminate any feelings of claustrophobia that some patients may have experienced with other, more closed-off systems, and the body-positioning guides are gentle and comfortable, allowing us to position you correctly the first time to get you in and out as quickly as possible.

As for your images, the Planmeca Promax can take images that can help you envision what your results will look like after recovery, something you cannot do with regular CT scan images.

At Dallas Surgical Arts we want you to feel like part of our family. That’s why we only use the most patient-friendly equipment possible, including the Planmeca Promax.

Ready to learn more? Make an appointment with Dr. Sanovich by calling 972-776-4888.

For patients who want to change the shape of their nose but aren’t ready to commit to a full rhinoplasty, there may be a new option – it’s called the “five-minute nose job,” and it could be the solution you’ve been looking for.

“The five-minute nose job procedure is a nose-reshaping and -refining procedure that uses injectable fillers containing hyaluronic acid to seemingly re-sculpt the shape of the nose,” says Dr. Randy Sanovich, an oral surgeon who performs five-minute nose job procedures in his Dallas, Texas, clinic. “The five-minute nose job procedure is great for patients who are looking to make subtle changes to their nose without the full commitment of a rhinoplasty.”

And the benefits don’t stop there.

“Because it uses hyaluronic acid injections, the five-minute nose job has less down time than a full rhinoplasty,” says Sanovich. “Typically, patients can return to their daily activities that day or the day after their procedure – all without stitches or the potential scarring you get with a traditional surgical rhinoplasty.”

Sanovich says the procedure does carry some minor risks, but having someone with knowledge of the anatomy of the nose and how to minimize risk is why Dr. Sanovich is a great choice for providing facial fillers.

Another interesting fact about the procedure? Depending on how you look at it, a major benefit of the five-minute nose job is that it’s not permanent.

“If you don’t love your results, they will eventually diminish,” says Sanovich. “You can even make adjustments after the procedure to fine tune your results a bit, whether that be by reducing the amount of filler, or adding more where needed. It’s a much easier fix than redoing a rhinoplasty.”

So, what are the downsides of the procedure? Well, some may say the temporary nature of the hyaluronic acid compounded with the cost of repeating the procedure if you are happy with the results is a bad thing – but Sanovich says those patients can always opt for a full surgical rhinoplasty.

“On the plus side, it gives you a blueprint for a permanent rhinoplasty, should you ever choose to get one.”

Also, the procedure may not be a great fit for patients who want a smaller nose.

“Hyaluronic acid cannot reduce the size of your nose, but it can change the contours of the nose and make the shape of the nose blend better with the rest of the face,” says Sanovich. “Sometimes those seemingly minor changes can make a very big difference.”

With summer fast approaching, many of us are looking forward to stepping back out into the sunshine and showing a little skin. From sundresses to shorts, when it comes to the heat, less is best. The same principle applies to your summer makeup routine: Though summer means more sunscreen, it usually means lighter makeup. But unfortunately for some people, going barefaced isn’t an option. That’s because many people feel insecure about their skin thanks to things like age spots, sun damage, acne scarring and wrinkles.

If you’re looking for a solution to address the skin flaws on your face, hands, neck and chest, you may find what you’re looking for with the fractional CO2 laser.

Dr. Randy Sanovich uses the Candela CO2RE CO2 laser in his Dallas, Texas, practice. He says there has never been an easier way to address many of the signs of aging and skin damage that we struggle to hide with heavy cosmetics.

“The CO2 fractional laser is very versatile. It can treat everything from crows’ feet to acne scarring with one machine, and in just one treatment,” says Sanovich. “It can even address sun damage and wrinkling on the neck, chest and hands.”

So, what’s the procedure like? Sanovich says it can be done under topical anesthesia, light sedation or general anesthesia, depending on factors such as the area being treated, the intensity of the treatment, and which other procedures may be occurring at the same time. Recovery from the full ablative treatment can take seven to 10 days, while lower-intensity treatments can take much less time.

“We can customize your treatment to suit both your skin care needs and your recovery needs,” says Sanovich. “For patients needing a more intensive treatment who are short on time, we can even split up the treatments – two lower-intensity treatments – and get the same results as one full treatment with a longer recovery.”

Another plus of the fractional CO2 laser? You can add the treatment on to your other treatments for even better results.

“Fractional CO2 laser treatments make great add-ons to face-lifts because they can target areas a face-lift cannot, such as the fine lines around the mouth and crows’ feet,” Sanovich says. “And you can even schedule your CO2 procedure at the same time as a face-lift and not only maximize your results, but also heal from both procedures at the same time.”

With your fresh, new, youthful skin, you will want to be extra diligent in protecting your investment by applying sunscreen.

If you are unhappy with the placement, shape or size of your chin, you don’t have to simply accept it any longer. You can surgically change the positioning of your chin to better suit your own personal aesthetic, adding not just definition to the chin, but balance to the entire face.

The procedure is called a genioplasty, and it is meant to alter the shape and size of your chin permanently. A skilled facial surgeon cuts the chin bone and moves it to a more ideal position on the face. The technical term for this is an osteotomy, which can be used to both extend or reduce the chin.

Dr. Randy Sanovich performs genioplasty surgeries at his Dallas, Texas, oral surgery practice. He says there are two main types of genioplasty: sliding genioplasties and chin implants.

“Sliding genioplasties can move the chin forward to correct a recessed chin, or backward to correct a chin that juts out too far,” says Sanovich. “Chin implants use either a prosthetic, which is known as an alloplastic implant, or a biological implant such as from a bone transplant. But alloplastic implants are far more common.”

So, are genioplasties painful? They certainly sound painful, but according to Sanovich, the pain is well managed at his practice.

“Genioplasties are performed under deep IV sedation, similar to the type used during a colonoscopy,” he says.

Recovery time for genioplasty is relatively easy as well.

“Most of my patients only experience minor bruising and swelling, and their pain is well managed with the aftercare regimen I prescribe,” he says.

As for that aftercare regimen, Sanovich is one of the few oral surgeons in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to use the drug Exparel, a non-opioid injection used at the surgical site to extend pain relief once the initial sedation wears off.

“Exparel is so effective at controlling post-operative pain that it reduces the need for opioid prescriptions during recovery – something that is very important to me.”

For those not ready to commit to a full genioplasty, there are also non-surgical chin-augmentation procedures available. These procedures include fillers and fat injections to help build up the presence of the chin, or injectable cosmetics like Kybella to reduce the size of a double chin. Yet another procedure, the Profound Lift, helps lift sagging skin under the chin caused by the loss of collagen and elastin.

“If you’d like to improve the appearance of your chin, the genioplasty is the gold standard, but there are plenty of options available,” Sanovich says.

Sagging neck or double chin got you down? Stubborn deposits of fat on the face and neck can be difficult to lose, even if you maintain a healthy body weight. Factors like genetics, body weight and age can all affect where fat accumulates on the body. If you struggle with fat deposits or sagging skin on the chin and neck, don’t despair. There are surgical and non-surgical options that can help give you the streamlined look you desire. We asked Dr. Randy Sanovich, a facial plastic surgeon from Dallas, Texas, about what patients can do to address neck and lower facial fat deposits.

“The first thing that comes to mind when discussing fat deposits under the chin is a product called Kybella,” says Sanovich. “Kybella is probably the easiest and least invasive means to treat those stubborn fat deposits that seem impossible to lose.”

That’s because Kybella is an injection that is delivered directly into the area where the fat is located. Kybella actually dissolves the fat deposit using a digestive enzyme that breaks it down.

“Most people need between two and six injections, spaced approximately eight weeks apart, for best results,” says Sanovich, “but the results are permanent, so being patient really pays off.”

Sanovich says patients who receive Kybella treatments can expect some minor swelling and bruising following each injection, but pain is usually well controlled with over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen.

For neck fat, or for those who don’t want to go the injectable route, Sanovich says the gold standard is still neck liposuction.

“Neck liposuction is one of the most popular procedures performed in my practice, and it’s easy to see why,” says Sanovich. “It’s safe, effective and creates a youthful, streamlined look to the face and neck.”

The procedure itself is relatively straightforward. First, you are numbed with a light general and local anesthetic. Then, three tiny incisions are made under each ear and the chin. A fat-sucking cannula is then inserted into each incision, where the fat is suctioned out. Finally, the incisions are closed and you are dressed with an elastic pressure bandage.

Sanovich says recovery from neck liposuction is very mild, too.

“The whole process is usually painless, but you might experience some swelling and bruising. Usually you can recover over a weekend,” says Sanovich.

Another procedure that can be tacked on to your neck liposuction is called muscle tightening, in which the muscles of the neck are tightened up to create an even more streamlined look to the neck and jaw. The procedure isn’t for everyone, but for those who need it, it can make a dramatic difference.

If you need a minor oral surgery procedure such as a wisdom tooth extraction, you may be tempted to go to your regular dentist. But you could be selling yourself short by not switching to a specialist who offers more options. That’s because you may not realize there are myriad benefits to choosing a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon to perform even seemingly minor procedures like tooth extractions. 

Here’s what you should know about oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and why choosing an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for your medical procedure may be right for you.

What Is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon cares for the bones and soft tissues of the face and jaw. This includes everything from the jaw and cheek bones to the teeth, lips, cheeks, gums and many other parts of the face, head and the neck.

While oral and maxillofacial surgeons attend the same four years of dental school as your regular dentist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon also receives additional years of medical school and four years of additional medical residency that your regular dentist and other dental specialists do not need to do, giving them more specific, advanced  knowledge when it comes to performing procedures on the head, face and neck.

What Are the Benefits of Using an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can do more than just pull teeth. These specialists can reconstruct the bones of the face and even perform some plastic surgery procedures. After all, who knows the face better than someone whose training focused solely on the face itself?

Another little-known benefit to using an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is this: Besides anesthesiologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only doctors certified to administer their own anesthesia. This allows for a better overall experience for the patient because it increases their sedation options, usually without requiring the use of a surgical center or requiring additional specialists to be present at their procedure.

To learn more about the benefits of switching your procedure to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, contact the office of Dr. Randy Sanovich at 972-776-4888.

For the estimated 10 million Americans suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, finding a safe and effective treatment for this often debilitating condition can be a huge concern. Though there is no cure for temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD, there are several treatment options that have been found to be both effective and relatively non-invasive. One such treatment is a procedure called arthrocentesis. Though it sounds complicated and a bit daunting, arthrocentesis is actually a fairly common procedure that typically boasts impressive results.

If you are tired of the joint pain and stiffness that comes with TMJ disorder, here’s what you should know when considering arthrocentesis.

What Is TMJ Disorder?

Before we get into what arthrocentesis is, we need to understand what temporomandibular joint disorder is. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition where the jaw joint becomes misaligned (either by injury or genetics), causing stiffness and discomfort in the jaw. In some cases, the misalignment can cause pain that radiates throughout the head, neck and back. In others, it can cause everything from tinnitus to migraine headaches, bruxism (teeth grinding), and the inability to open and close the mouth. Though not all TMJD sufferers will experience the same symptoms, what they do have in common is a lot of pain.

What Is Arthrocentesis?

Arthrocentesis is a procedure to “wash out” the jaw joint with sterile fluid and remove adhesions and scar tissue in the joint that may be preventing it from healing and allowing it to properly realign. Once the joint is washed, Dr. Sanovich can then realign it manually and inject it with medication, steroids or other growth factors to help it heal.

The procedure is done under IV sedation. Once the patient is sedated, Dr. Sanovich will insert two hypodermic needles into the joint to flush out the scar tissue and its byproducts. This reduces inflammation of the joint and allows for faster and more successful healing.

How Does This Help My TMJ Disorder?

By undergoing an arthrocentesis procedure, the jawbone is not only given more room to fit back into the temporomandibular joint, but it is also repositioned during the procedure so it can heal in place. This realignment of the disc should eliminate much of the pain associated with the misalignment and have you feeling like yourself again after a brief recovery.

Want more information? Call Dr. Sanovich’s office today at 972-776-4888.

One of the most empowering and meaningful things we can do for ourselves as we age is to undergo a plastic surgery procedure such as a face-lift. A face-lift can help you feel as young and vivacious on the outside as you do on the inside. But what happens when things like sun damage and the ravages of time begin to take their toll on that newer, younger appearance? You may think you have no choice but to live with this new version of the new you, but the good news is you don’t! There’s a solution, and it’s called a revision face-lift.

What Is a Revision Face-Lift?

A revision face-lift is basically a second face-lift, or a do-over. Though it can be done to correct new signs of aging or sun damage that has occurred since your first face-lift, revision face-lifts can also be performed to correct other issues that may have occurred following the first facial procedure. This may include anything you weren’t satisfied with the first time or anything that might be considered “botched” or in need of correction.

Why Didn’t My First Face-Lift ‘Hold Up’?

There are many reasons your original face-lift may not have held up as well as you’d hoped. As we age, our skin loses collagen, and with it, the elastic quality that makes it snap back into place when pulled or pinched. This is not something you have any control over, and it can often cause the results of a beautiful face-lift to loosen a bit with time.

Similar to the loss of collagen is a loss of something called fat pads, which cushion the eyes and cheeks. When these fat pads diminish, eyes and cheeks can look hollowed or sunken. A secondary face-lift can add padding back to these areas so they look full and youthful again.

Another reason your face-lift may not look as good as it used to is sun damage. This occurs when the sun’s UV rays damage the skin, causing wrinkles, sun spots and more. Sun damage may take years to show up but causes an estimated 80 percent of all signs of aging.

What If I Don’t Want Another Full Face-Lift?

A revision face-lift often does not require the same amount of work as a full face-lift – especially if it’s only correcting one or two areas. Often, revision face-lifts may require minor adjustments or cosmetic fillers, and in many cases changes can be so subtle nobody will know you had any additional procedures performed.

To learn more about revision face-lifts, please contact Dr. Sanovich at 972-776-4888.