Life's simple pleasures can cause problems and pain for the millions of adults who suffer from permanent tooth loss. Men and women of all ages are self-conscious about their dentures, bridges or missing teeth. Some have difficulty speaking because their dentures slip or crack. For others, the irritation and pain caused by dentures and constant reminders of the limitations they feel. Many are concerned about their appearance and may feel that their tooth loss has "aged them" before their time.

Why Implants?

Dental implants are a great option for patients missing natural teeth, because they act as a secure anchor for artificial replacement teeth and eliminate the instability associated with surface adhesives and removal bridges.

Dental implants fit patient needs. Based on patient needs, a single tooth, a partial bridge or a full set of replacement teeth are fitted to the implants and locked in place over the protruding posts. In appearance and in function, implants are the closest thing to natural teeth and a good alternative to conventional dentures.

Learn More About Implants

If you are among the millions of Americans who suffer from permanent tooth loss, you can eliminate the problems and pain caused by dentures, bridges or missing teeth. You can begin to rediscover the joy of eating healthy, speaking clearly and laughing comfortably.

Take the first step. Get the facts about dental implants. Make an appointment to see Dr. Santin, a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. With his training and expertise, he can determine if dental implants are right for you.

Whether you look tired, need a quick refresher, are troubled by crow’s feet or have deep furrow lines and wrinkles, Botox® Cosmetic might be the solution for you. Botox® is best known for quickly and effectively relaxing age-related wrinkles and is the ideal solution for someone who wants to look better without anyone knowing what you did. By relaxing the muscles responsible for wrinkles, you can smooth away trouble areas that often cause people to look much older than they are.

A quick Botox® treatment can help reverse the signs of aging and provide subtle and natural facial contouring. Botox® is used cosmetically to achieve a more restful and smooth appearance of the areas treated. For cosmetic purposes, Botox® is generally administered around the eyes (often called crow’s feet), between the brows and in the forehead. While Botox® has increased in popularity worldwide due to its safe and predictable results, patients should be cautious about where they go to get treated and who is providing the service to ensure a safe and natural outcome.

Results of your Botox® treatment depend greatly on the injector’s experience, techniques and artistic eye. Many people who have been treated with Botox® and have a frozen or unnatural look were most likely not treated properly. When treated correctly, no one should be able to tell that you had Botox®, you should simply look refreshed. The treatment itself takes around 15 minutes and most patients begin to see the effects of Botox® within a few days of their treatment, though it can take up to two weeks to see complete results. The benefits of Botox® typically last for 3 to 4 months. Side effects from Botox® are very rare and minor in nature. By visiting Akron Area Oral, Maxillofacial & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center you will be assured you are receiving the highest in quality and care.

PROBLEM AREAS

• Forehead
• Crow’s Feet
• Between the brows
  

TREATMENT INFO

• Results in 2 to 10 days
• Less than 10 minutes
• Return to your normal routine immediately
• Lasts 3 to 4 months

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

Women have long been striving to turn their short, skimpy lashes into the likes of Cleopatra’s. Mascaras claiming to thicken, lengthen, and add some glamour to lashes are constantly being brought onto the market, but mostly with lack-luster results. Now, women are turning to a ground breaking treatment called Latisse® that is making barely-there lashes a thing of the past.

Latisse® is the first and only FDA approved product to treat inadequate or sparse lashes. This simple treatment is making some women’s lashes so long they’re finding it necessary to trim them down! Latisse® is believed to work by not only extending the length of the growth phase of the eyelash but by increasing the quantity of lashes grown as well, leaving you with longer, thicker and darker lashes.

This eye-opening product is not only safe and effective, but extremely easy to use as well. Before you go to bed, simply place one drop of Latisse®on the applicators provided and apply to the base of the upper lashes (the product will be distributed to the lower lashes while you sleep). Results for many begin to appear as soon as eight weeks and one can expect to see complete results anywhere between twelve to sixteen weeks. This revolutionary product is already receiving rave reviews and looks to make false lashes and expensive mascaras a mere memory. One unit of Latisse® contains a six to eight week supply.

IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3

• STEP 1 Prepare the Applicator
  Place one drop of solution on the applicator.
• STEP 2 Apply to Skin
  Draw the applicator carefully along the skin at the base of the upper eyelashes just as you would apply liquid eyeliner.
• STEP 3 Blot Excess
  Using a tissue, blot away access solution.

BENEFITS

• Results as soon as 8 weeks
• Longer, fuller eyelashes
• Easy application

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

Looking in the mirror and seeing a face that looks tired, aged and even angry can be extremely discouraging, especially if one doesn’t feel this way, but their face gives off that impression to the outside world.

Often as a person ages the eyebrows begin to descend, causing one to appear much older and worn out than they feel, but a forehead lift (also known as a brow lift) can help alleviate these problems. A forehead lift not only lifts a saggy brow line but also helps create a smoother, more refined look to the forehead. Additionally, this procedure can help to lessen the appearance of crow’s feet in the temple area next to the eye.

Repositioning forehead skin may be necessary to achieve the optimal improvement in eyelid surgery, attracting attention to opened, more inviting eyes. For those with heavy descended brows undergoing a facelift procedure, a forehead lift may be key to maintaining a natural look. Modern technology has improved the way we perform this procedure. New techniques include using lighted scopes placed through small, well-hidden incisions within your hairline. This leads to less swelling, bruising and your recovery time is much quicker.

A facelift or eyelid surgery combined with a forehead lift can make a marked difference in creating a more open and youthful appearance to the face. Dr. Santin believes this simple procedure will allow you to look refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.

INDICATIONS

• Saggy brow line
• Descended eyebrow
• Tired, aged appearance
  

PROCEDURE BENEFITS

• Vibrant renewed look
• Alleviates worn appearance

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

While many cosmetic interventions are designed to rejuvenate the skin and restore a youthful appearance, sometimes a more subtle but profound solution is needed. Facial implants are primarily used to change the contours of the face and create angles where there were none before. Young people may not be satisfied with the angles and shape of their face and often seek a way to alter the way they look. Cheek, jaw and chin implants can all be used to reshape a patient’s face however he or she sees fit. By augmenting certain features, patients can create a facial profile that brings an aesthetically satisfying balance to their face.

The most common facial implants are cheek, jaw and chin implants. In some procedures, the surgeon will use a bone graft or donated tissue from the ribs or pubic bone instead of synthetic implants. However, the facial implants that are typically used are made of solid silicone or Gore-tex, a synthetic solid material similar in texture to silicone. Unlike breast implants, the silicone used in this procedure is solid and so the concerns associated with the liquid silicone used in breast augmentation are not relevant.

In cheek augmentation, or malarplasty, the implant is inserted into a pocket made by the surgeon next to the cheek bone. Depending on what the patient wants, the implant can be placed such away that it creates a more narrow and angular cheek or a softer rounder cheek. Chin augmentation, or mentoplasty, can be used to make a weak chin more prominent. A small chin can make the nose seem disproportionately large, creating an imbalanced appearance. For this reason, chin augmentation is often done in conjunction with rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping. Jaw augmentation, or mandibuloplasty, can be used to adjust the contours of the jawline. The procedure is commonly requested by men seeking a stronger and firmer jaw, typically to create a squarer jawline.

One of the benefits of facial implants that make it popular is its relatively short recovery period. The surgery generally takes between one to two hours and patients are often able to return to their normal daily routine within one week.

PROCEDURE BENEFITS

• Enhance the contours and angles of the face
• Balance the appearance of the face by augmenting specific features
  

TARGET AREAS

• Jaw (Mandibuloplasty)
• Cheek (Malarplasty)
• Chin (Mentoplasty)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

Otoplasty is a surgery designed to adjust or correct the appearance of the external ears. The ear is primarily composed of cartilage, a firm but flexible type of tissue that allows the ear to maintain its shape but still bend. This external structure, called the pinna, is meant to help amplify what we hear by focusing sound to our eardrum. Although it has no appreciable effect on hearing, the otoplasty procedure can adjust a variety of problems that affect its appearance.

The most common technique performed is “pinning.” In many patients, the pinna is outwardly extended in an exaggerated manner, creating a “Dumbo” or “Mickey Mouse” effect. During an otoplasty procedure, the ears can be modified so that they hug the side of the head more closely. Other common reasons for otoplasty include remolding ears to correct atypical shapes such as “lop ear,” when the tip seems to fold downward and forward, or “shell ear,” when the curve in the outer rim is missing. Patients also undergo otoplasty for ear resizing, or correction of asymmetry. While the pinna has a role in assisting us in hearing, it is important to note that otoplasty is not meant to improve hearing ability.

PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (CHILDREN)

Otoplasty is typically performed on children between the ages of 6 and 14 years old. The young cartilage is more flexible and easier to mold in children. However, the surgery is generally not performed until the ears have fully grown, which typically occurs at 5-6 years of age. Children are often teased for abnormal appearing ears, which can create a strong, adverse psychological impact on their self-esteem. Otoplasty can correct for differences in the appearance of their ears, providing an effective option for children who are distressed by how they look.

For pediatric patients, general anesthesia is recommended since the procedure can last up to three hours. The surgery is generally done on an outpatient care basis, so patients are able to go home soon after the procedure. Children can return to normal and regular activities after seven days of rest.

ADULT PATIENTS

While cartilage is more pliable in younger patients, otoplasty is performed regularly and effectively on adults as well. The surgery will be easier to perform the younger the patient is, however there is no additional risk for older patients. In adults, local anesthesia is the typical form of sedation. After the procedure, they should recover more quickly than children and can generally return to their daily routine after five days.

PROBLEM AREAS

• Ear resizing
• Asymmetry
• Outwardly extended ears
• Atypical lobe shape

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

Rhinoplasty (the procedure commonly called a nose job) is among the most common plastic surgery procedures performed. A nose that is out of balance, crooked, or too large will draw emphasis away from the eyes and become a focal point of the face. The cosmetic goal in rhinoplasty is to allow the nose to blend naturally with the rest of the facial features and be unnoticeable. Turned up, scooped out noses, which were popular a generation ago, are no longer desired. Today’s attractive nose is fuller, stronger, and more elegant.

The nose is unique in that it also serves a very important function: it helps you to breathe. Frequently, patients undergoing rhinoplasty also have difficulty breathing. If you have this problem or have nasal allergies, you may be a candidate for a functional rhinoplasty. At the time of your visit, Dr. Santin can discuss this with you in detail. In some situations, your insurance carrier may provide benefits for a portion of the procedure. The cost for the cosmetic portion, however, will not be covered.

Rhinoplasty surgery can take anywhere from one to four hours. Each patient is different and Dr. Santin will discuss your surgery with you during your consultation. Dr. Santin utilizes a gentle sculpting technique which means there is no significant bruising and swelling following surgery. Following the procedure there is very little to no discomfort; however, most people take a week off to recover while a splint stays in place. It is important that you refrain from heavy exercise for at least two weeks following surgery.

Rhinoplasty can take up to a year to see the final result because the nose settles and takes shape during this time. You will see Dr. Santin multiple times during the first year after your surgery.

PROBLEM AREAS

• Crooked, out of balance or excessively large nose
• Respiratory difficulty
• Nasal allergies
  

PROCEDURE INFORMATION

• Outpatient procedure
• 1 to 4 hour surgery

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

Individuals who have sagging cheeks but no jowls or banding at the neck can improve their appearance using a mid-face lift. This procedure is best for patients who are seeking elevation of their cheeks when the areas beneath the chin do not require lifting. Unlike a full facelift, this procedure focuses specifically on the middle region of the face. One can closely approximate how this area will be affected by a mid-face lift by putting the fingertip on the cheekbone about a fingerbreadth sideways and down from the outer corner of the eye and pushing upward.

The sagging cheeks and puffy eyes emerge as a function of aging in skin, muscle and fat. Skin elasticity decreases with age and the affects of gravity begin to pull the fat and muscles in cheeks downward. As the cheeks descend, the eyes begin to look puffier and lines around the nose become deeper, projecting an image of exhaustion and producing a general fatigued and haggard look. The mid-facelift can change this appearance by moving the muscle and fat that has descended further up and back to where they used to be.

Older facelift procedures usually involved pulling skin back through incisions made in the hairline above the ear. Scarring was not visible, but it also produced a “wind tunnel” appearance. Advances in surgical techniques and technology have enabled surgeons to create a natural, smoother and youthful appearance. Mid-facelifts are able to accomplish this as well as reducing puffiness in the eyes and drooping cheeks by lifting the lowered fat and muscle and restoring volume to the upper cheek.

This surgery usually only requires a week off from work or regular activities. However, patient recovery time can vary greatly. Immediately after surgery patients can expect minimal bruising and some swelling that will fade within one to two weeks.

IDEAL TREATMENT FOR SOMEONE WITH

• Puffy eyes
• Sagging cheeks
• No jowls or banding at the neck
  

BENEFITS

• Creates a smooth and youthful appearance
• Faster recovery time than a full facelift

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

As we age our skin loses elasticity, wrinkles develop and facial tissues lose youthful fullness and start to sag, this process starts to occur as early as our thirties. A facelift, one of the most commonly performed procedures today, can provide a remarkable improvement to the appearance of the face. It is the ideal treatment for correcting a sagging jaw line, falling cheeks and a blunted neckline. Years ago, when facelifts first gained popularity, surgeons utilized methods that often left the face looking wind-blown or pulled.

Dr. Santin utilizes a conservative approach to facelifting which involves filling and restoring depleted areas to rejuvenate the face and project a more youthful and refreshed appearance. His experience and expertise have allowed him to focus on the face, achieving natural results. His facelifting methods utilize the safest techniques, and his artistic eye and precisely skilled surgical hands leave you looking 10 to 15 years younger without anyone being able to tell that you underwent a procedure.

NECKLIFT

Aging of the neck is usually a combination of loose skin and muscle as well as excess fat, resulting in the appearance of multiple chins or even what is fondly referred to as a turkey neck. Unfortunately, fat under the chin is often hereditary and may be unaffected by diet and exercise. A necklift can provide remarkable improvement in this area. Patients will often combine this procedure with a facelift to achieve overall rejuvenation.

A facelift can provide a remarkable improvement in your appearance. There are many methods to facelifting and advancements in this procedure have evolved significantly over the last ten years. Schedule a consultation to learn more about natural facelifting techniques.

PROBLEM AREAS

• Puffy eyes
• Loose skin around the face
• Sagging cheeks

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

While many people think of aging as merely getting wrinkles, it is also commonly associated with the loss of volume in the face. Skin loses collagen and elasticity as we age. Facial features once accentuated by fullness can become marked by more severe contours and thin skin. Dr. Santin is able to help these patients by adding youthful volume to the face. Fillers are an ideal way of achieving the desired result. The procedure can be performed with minimal to no downtime and without the expense associated with surgery.

• Fillers are commonly used to fill in deep smile lines and the lips.
• Facial fillers can be expected to last six to twelve months or longer.
• The procedure is short and most patients return to their normal routine immediately following the treatment.

The most popular of facial fillers are hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Dr. Santin uses the Restylane® and Juvéderm® family of fillers. HA occurs naturally in skin and these building blocks deplete as we get older. When injected into the skin the HA attracts water to the site resulting in a look that is soft and natural. HA fillers are reversible, have a low risk of side-effects and the results are long lasting. While fillers are a safe solution for someone wanting to “freshen” their look, the outcome greatly depends on the experience and skill of the injector. It is important to make sure the person providing your treatment has been properly trained and has experience treating the desired area. Dr. Santin is highly trained in the art of fillers. His expert knowledge of facial symmetry and balance allows him to produce natural, youthful results.

PROBLEM AREAS

• Dark circles under eyes
• Marionette lines (jowls)
• Lines around the mouth
• Sagging cheek bones
• Thin lips
  

FACIAL FILLERS

• Restylane®
• Juvéderm®

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

PHARMACY & DEPARTMENT STORE PEELING SYSTEMS

No matter what the company claims, you will not get the same results at home as you would in a professional setting. The grades and percentages of ingredients found in over-the-counter products are a small fraction of those in a professional setting. For a cosmetic company to retail something equivalent to a professional product is illegal.

RESURFACING TREATMENTS

Not all chemical peels are obvious the next day. What we call “resurfacing treatments” are mild acid treatments. These treatments provide a great, fresh-faced exfoliation without peeling the next day!

• Glycolic peels are great for collagen regeneration & fine lines and aid in moisture retention.
• Lactic peels brighten skin, aid in moisture retention and are safe for sensitive skin types.
• Salicylic peels help to regulate oil production and break down excess oil and acne bacteria.

PEELING TREATMENTS

Peeling treatments are medium depth acid treatments. These are ideal for those whose skin will allow for a more aggressive treatment, those that are seeking maximum results and individuals that have time to

BENEFITS

• Collagen regeneration
• Moisture retention
• Skin exfoliation
• Oil regulation

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

WHAT IS ACTIVEFX?

ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots, and other irregularities. It also stimulates formation of new underlying collagen to continue improvement over time. With fractional laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner.

WHAT IS DEEPFX?

DeepFX is a revolutionary fractional laser technology for aged, sun-damaged or scarred skin. The low-downtime procedure uses fractional CO2 laser micro-beams to precisely target the deep dermal layers of the skin. This stimulates a cascade of healing responses that leads to tissue regeneration and new collagen formation throughout the entire treatment area. Because only a fraction of the skin is actually touched by the laser, healing time is limited to a few days.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ACTIVEFX OR DEEPFX?

At Akron Area Oral, Maxillofacial & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Center, we perform the procedure with intravenous sedation. Your home care (provided with your treatment) will be reviewed with you prior to the procedure. Depending on the intensity of the treatment, you should be able to wear makeup in about a week.

Treatment results are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others – such as new collagen formation – build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-6 months after the procedure.

ACTIVEFX

• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Stimulates new collagen growth
• Improves skin tone and texture
  

DEEPFX

• Improves wrinkles, scars and folds
• Improves skin tone and texture
  

IDEAL SOLUTION IF YOU:

• Are busy and have little time
• Want to treat dyschromia, skin laxity, deep lines, scars and folds
• Want noticeable results with minimal downtime

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office.

As we age, our lips tend to droop and become thin. The red portion of the lip and the border lose their fullness and voluptuous shape. Any woman desiring bigger lips can gain some benefit from lip augmentation. Those who have thinning lips and loss of a definable lip border secondary to the aging process will greatly appreciate the ability of filler to replace what was once there.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are many treatment options, both temporary and permanent, to consider. Dr. Santin uses filler products derived from hyaluronic acid (HA) such as Restylane® or Juvéderm® to augment the lips. HA is a naturally occurring building block of skin and as we age the level of HA in our body depletes. Filler lip enhancement takes only a few minutes to perform and provides long lasting, natural results.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Dr. Santin will conduct a complete medical history and evaluation of the lips during your consultation.
• Patients on blood thinners such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or fish oil may want to consider stopping these medications for one to two weeks before their treatment if it is approved by their primary physician. These products may result in more bruising, and although the bruises will resolve in a week, it can be an unnecessary burden.
• Prior to injection, the lips may be numbed by an anesthetic.
• Injections are then performed with Restylane® or Juvéderm®.
• You may be given an ice pack to help minimize swelling.

AFTER CARE

Following treatment, the lips are numb and usually feel bigger than they actually are. Lip balm can keep lips from drying out. Most people go home that evening and comment that their lips are tender, but not significantly enough to interfere with their routine. If a bruise occurs, which is more likely for those on blood thinners, cover up makeup may be necessary. Most people enjoy the benefits of their enhanced lips for six to nine months. Occasionally, some people metabolize the product faster. How long it will last for an individual is difficult to predict, but overall satisfaction from this procedure is very high for just about everyone.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Santin's office