Endoscopic Plastic Surgery
A less-invasive alternative

Endoscopy is a form of plastic surgery that uses an endoscope - a viewing instrument inserted through a small incision that transmits images of the body's interior to a viewing screen.

The main advantage of endoscopic procedures is that they require only a small incision, meaning your scars are much smaller and more easily hidden. After-effects, such as swelling, bruising and bleeding, also may be diminished, and your recovery time will likely be quicker, allowing you to return to work sooner.

Endoscopic plastic surgery procedures work best if you don't have a large amount of loose or hanging skin. If you do, your doctor may be able to combine endoscopic and standard surgical techniques.

About endoscopic cosmetic surgery
Plastic Surgery Associates performs three types of endoscopic cosmetic surgery:

• Breast augmentation. The surgeon can insert the endoscope through a small incision in your navel or underarm to aid in positioning breast implants within your chest wall. The endoscope can also be used to examine existing implants or to correct the scar tissue that sometimes forms around an implant.
• Facelift. Rather than making the standard incision along or in the hairline, your doctor can place a series of small incisions in areas that need the most work and where scars would be less obvious. If the mid-face needs tightening and smoothing, for instance, the cut could be made in the lower eyelid or upper gumline, where it would be hidden.
• Forehead lift. Your surgeon can use three or more small punctures instead of the traditional ear-to-ear incision.