Cosmetic Surgery Center

Endoscopic surgery, often referred as simply endoscopy, is a surgical technique that involves the use of an endoscope, a special viewing instrument that allows a surgeon to see images of the body’s internal structures through very small incisions.

For decades, endoscopic surgery has been used in surgical procedures such as gall bladder removal, tubal ligation, and knee surgery. However, endoscopic plastic surgery is fairly new. As important research continues, endoscopic surgery is being used on a limited basis for cosmetic and reconstructive procedures in plastic surgery.

At the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, I use endoscopic surgery for procedures including tummy tucks, forehead lifts, and breast surgery. Regarding abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), endoscopy is sometimes used as an adjunct for patients who have lost abdominal muscle tone. Guided by the endoscope, the muscles that run vertically down the length of the abdomen may be tightened through several short incisions. I don’t typically perform endoscopic surgery in patients who have a significant amount of loose abdominal skin.

Some patients may benefit from an endoscopically-assisted facelift. When I use an endoscope, the incision along, or in the hairline, is elminated, and small incisions, instead, are made where the most correction is needed. To tighten the loose muscles of the neck, incisions may be concealed beneath the chin and behind the ears. The endoscope may also assist in the positioning of cheek and chin implants.

Of all the cosmetic procedures that use endoscopy, the forehead lift is the one which plastic surgeons most commonly perform. Instead of the usual ear-to-ear incision, three or more puncture type incisions are made just at the hairline. The endoscope guides me as I remove the muscles that produce frown lines; eyebrows are then repositioned at a higher level.

The best candidates for endsoscopic plastic surgery are those patients who do not have large amounts of loose hanging skin.

If you would like to learn more about the endoscopic plastic surgery procedures offered by Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, please contact the office today to schedule your initial consultation.