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Dr. Leslie Kim - Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

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Dr. Leslie Kim - Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

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As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Leslie Kim specializes exclusively in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. Aesthetic facial surgeries include rhinoplasty, facelift, necklift, browlift, eyelid surgery, and otoplasty. Reconstructive facial surgeries include surgery for nasal obstruction, reanimation after facial paralysis, facial trauma repair, scar revision, and skin cancer reconstruction. We also provide patients with nonsurgical treatments such as skin treatments, botulinum toxin injections, and dermal fillers. Our face is how we present ourselves to the world, and we feel fortunate to be able to help patients put their best face forward.

09/05/2024

Ultrasonic rhinoplasty

The traditional method of reducing a dorsal hump involves using surgical chisels, hammers, and rasps, to make the excess bone in the nose smaller.

Alternatively, in ultrasonic rhinoplasty, a device is used that emits high-frequency sound waves to modify the nasal bones.

Since switching over to this advanced technique several years ago, I have noticed tremendous benefits for my patients:

✨High precision: nasal bones can be more precisely contoured and manipulated (don’t need to “break the bones”) down to the milimeter

✨ Less trauma, which results in much less pain and bruising after surgery- in fact, the great majority of my patients have minimal to no signs of bruising by 1 week post-op!

✨Quicker recovery

The only downsides are costs (more expensive due to technology and disposables) and while there might be significantly less bruising immediately post-op, there is a bit more swelling on the sides of the nose temporarily as more skin does need to be lifted for ultrasonic techniques.

Let me know if you have any questions below!

——
📸: Thankful for this stunning patient from NY for allowing me to share her cosmetic rhinoplasty photos. Her goals were to have a smaller, more feminine nose. This my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614

03/19/2024

How Long Does a Facelift / Necklift Last?

This is a very common question I get asked during consultations and the answer is: it depends!

One of the biggest factors that determines longevity is the condition of the facial and neck skin — results will last longer if the skin has more collagen and elasticity at the time of the surgery.

The analogy I provide is: if you stretch out a tight rubber band, it will likely stay nice and tight for awhile. On the other hand, if you stretch out a loose rubber band to the same degree, it won’t be as tight (and will loosen more quickly) due to its lesser elasticity.

So what determines the quality of the facial and neck skin? Age, genetics, and degree of sun damage are three big factors.

This is why patients in their mid-to-late 40s tend to have the best outcomes that last the longest (10-15 years potentially). At this age, there tends to be a nice balance between enough visible signs of aging (such as jowls and sagging jawline/neckline) yet good enough skin quality and elasticity to lead to long-lasting outcomes- you’ll enjoy your results for a longer period of time!

With that being said, those in their 60s and 70s who are in good health can still experience beautiful outcomes from facial rejuvenation surgery. While the results may not last as long and older patients may be more likely to desire “tuck-up” procedures, significant improvements can still be made.

——
📷: This patient in her mid-50s is seen 1+ year after undergoing a deep plane and . She had been seeing me for injectables for years and made the decision to finally proceed after a virtual consult, so we had to squeeze in some before photos in pre-op! Hence, they’re non-standardized but too good not to share these natural and clean results ❤️

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

09/13/2023

A question that I often get asked is:
👀 Will insurance cover my brow lift or upper eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)?

It depends! All insurances are different but here are some of the most common criteria:

1️⃣ Droopy eyebrows/eyelids must cause a visual impairment i.e., trouble with reading or driving

2️⃣ Photographs must demonstrate that excess eyelid skin rests on the eyelashes or hangs over the edge of the upper eyelid

3️⃣ Visual field testing must be completed with the upper lids at rest and elevated by taping, objectively demonstrating the loss of upper/peripheral vision as well as the potential correction by surgery

Hope that helps!
Unfortunately, undereye bags are never covered. 🙃

——
📷: This patient is seen before and 4 months after undergoing functional brow lift and upper blepharoplasty, which was covered by insurance. You can see how she definitely met the criteria before surgery — and how much surgery opened up her eyes!

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614

06/21/2023

People are often surprised to find out that the optimal age for a facelift is younger than they think!

While there isn’t a single magic number (depends a LOT on individualized genetics, lifestyle, and anatomy), those in their mid-to-late 40s tend to heal quickly and see the best results.

At this age, there tends to be a nice balance between enough visible signs of aging (such as jowls and sagging jawline/neckline) yet good enough skin quality and elasticity to lead to long-lasting outcomes- you’ll enjoy your results for a longer period of time!

With that being said, those in their 60s and 70s who are in good health can still experience beautiful outcomes from facial rejuvenation surgery. While the results may not last as long and older patients may be more likely to desire “tuck-up” procedures, significant improvements can still be made.

An answer to another question I get often: there isn’t necessarily a limit to how many lifts one can have in their lifetime; just depends!

——
📷: This patient in her early 70s is seen 6 months after undergoing a secondary facelift/necklift. Her first one was performed 11 years ago by another surgeon!

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614

05/04/2023

Happy “hump” day!

The most common reason why patients seek rhinoplasty (changes to the appearance of the nose) is to reduce a dorsal hump.

Although it takes ~12-18 months to heal after a rhinoplasty, you can typically start to enjoy an immediate improvement in the overall shape of the nose.

A lot of the healing occurs in the first 6-8 weeks (though a bit of a rollercoaster with ups and downs in swelling during that time! Things that help: limiting salt, alcohol, exercise, and taking anti-histamines).

The nose then heals from the top down, which means that the tip is the last to heal and refine. Fun fact: it can take close to a year to be able to really wiggle your nose again! 〰️

—
📷: This beautiful patient of mine is seen 3.5mos septorhinoplasty. She already looks amazing and is so pleased but her nose will continue to refine (especially in the tip and supratip) over the course of the following year.

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH
#614

03/01/2023

Reconstruction of full-thickness nasal defects is as difficult as it gets IMO.

What “full-thickness” means is that the defect (hole) encompasses all three layers of the nose:
👃🏼 Inside lining
👃🏼 Structural framework (cartilage/bone)
👃🏼 Outside skin/soft tissue

At a minimum, every missing layer has to be reconstructed (and sometimes, we have to reconstruct layers that are not even missing to prevent future complications). These are tough and humbling cases because we have limited “building supplies” with which to rebuild noses!

📸: In this case, the patient was left with a 3.5cm x 2.5cm full-thickness defect of the right nasal ala, sidewall, and medial cheek due to skin cancer. 🛑 Warning: graphic images

Reconstruction occurred in two surgeries.
———
In the first surgery:
1️⃣ The cheek subunit was reconstructed using a cheek flap.
2️⃣ The inside lining of the nose was reconstructed with a septal mucoperichondrial hinge flap- the inside lining of the nasal septum was elevated and hinged forward to become the new inside lining of the nostril.
3️⃣ The structure of the nostril was recreated using cartilage taken from the left ear.
4️⃣ Lastly, the outside of the nostril was reconstructed using an interpolated melolabial flap- the cheek skin/soft tissue by the corner of the mouth was rotated up to become the new nostril covering.

In the second surgery, 3 weeks later:
The melolabial flap was divided and inset to complete the nasal reconstruction. If you look closely, you can see that she has a scar within much of her right cheek crease.
———

📸: This patient is seen here one year after reconstruction. Despite my best efforts, it’s not perfect (I debated whether to even share it!) because there’s a bit of alar retraction/notching. But the patient is thrilled with her functional and aesthetic outcome and she can live her life with very few people noticing what she went through!

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Office: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

02/24/2023

Lip lift, lip flip, lip filler, oh my!

I get a lot of questions about each of these options for lip enhancement so I wanted to break them down for you.

👄
A lip lift is a surgical procedure designed to reduce an elongated or droopy upper lip.

Through a “bullhorn” incision underneath the nose, the lip lift shortens the distance between the nose and the vermilion border (upper border), everts the lip, and restores a youthful dental show.

The ideal upper lip length is very dependent on each patient. Risks include a permanent, noticeable scar which takes a year to fully heal. Surgery takes 60-90 minutes and can be performed awake in the office with local anesthesia vs in the OR with sedation.

👄
A lip flip involves injecting botulinum toxin into the upper lip vermilion border. By relaxing the upper lip muscle and allowing it to “flip” outwards, the upper lip appears fuller.

A lip flip is particularly beneficial for those whose upper lip seems to disappear w/smiling. Over-relaxing the lip can cause temporary issues with using straws, puckering, etc, but no permanent side effects are expected with botox.

The lip flip takes 1-2 minutes to do in the office and takes about 2 weeks to fully kick in. Of note, a lip flip often lasts shorter than the typical 3 months duration, due to the low doses used.

👄
Lips can be filled or volumized using dermal fillers or autologous fat. Of all of the options available, hyaluronic acid fillers are most commonly used due to their predictability and ability to be reversed/dissolved.

Lip filler takes 10-15 minutes to do in the office. The results are immediate with associated swelling and possible bruising which can take two weeks to settle. Lip filler lasts on average, 9-12 months.

👄 It is important to note that these options are not mutually exclusive. To determine the best option for you, consult with a facial plastic surgeon! Please let me know if you have any questions below 👇🏼

11/29/2022

A good rhinoplasty should result in a nose that functions well and appears to belong on someone’s face.

I love the oblique/three-quarter view for highlighting how when the nose becomes harmonized with the rest of the face, facial features like the eyes become more visible and beautiful.

A study out of Hopkins asked 473 people to rate 13 unique patient faces before or after rhinoplasty. They found that casual observers rate patients after rhinoplasty to be significantly more attractive, more successful, and even healthier!

These results suggest that patients undergoing rhinoplasty may derive more than just an aesthetic and functional benefit to surgery.

Reference: Nellis JC et al. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2018;20(2):97-102.

—
📷: Before and 1 year after functional + cosmetic septorhinoplasty - “Thank you for transforming my nose. It truly changed my life.” ❤️

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614

02/25/2022

Nonsurgical vs Surgical Rhinoplasty

👃🏼 Is a nonsurgical rhinoplasty (with injectable dermal filler) a good way to “try on” a surgical rhinoplasty?

Not necessarily!

💉 Nonsurgical rhinoplasty or a “liquid nose job” can be useful for fairly minor changes: smoothening a profile bump, a small tip lift, and for camouflaging minor irregularities such as those that result from surgery.

But it is important to note that by injecting dermal filler into the nose to achieve these goals, the nose is made ⬆️ LARGER by adding volume to it. A larger nose can certainly be made to look more balanced but a larger nose can also just…look larger.

——
📷: This patient of mine has graciously allowed me to share her rhinoplasty journey, which will hopefully help some of you who might be going back and forth about surgery vs. filler.

She underwent three rounds of nonsurgical rhinoplasty while living out on the west coast. She then decided to proceed with a surgical rhinoplasty with me. We dissolved her filler with hyaluronidase injections and she is seen here, about 3 months after her surgical rhinoplasty.

While she is still early in the postoperative period, we can already appreciate a significant reduction in the size of the nose from her filler nose to now. This is truly only achievable through surgery.

Please let me know if you have any questions about surgical vs. nonsurgical rhinoplasty below!

—

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614

12/18/2020

Honored to have been interviewed by regarding my thoughts on the potential risk of Bell’s Palsy with the COVID-19 vaccine.

Swipe to read everything you need to know and ask any questions below!👇🏼

#614 @ Columbus, Ohio

10/20/2020

Undereye Bags and Dark Circles

By popular request, here is an infographic of the top six anatomic causes of undereye bags and dark circles and their main treatments!

If you have concerns, I highly recommend seeking a consultation with a board-certified facial plastic / oculoplastic / plastic surgeon to determine a customized treatment plan.

Some pro-tips regarding treatment:

🐼 There isn’t a ton of evidence regarding eye creams and serums but ingredients that *may* be helpful for improving wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and puffiness include: vitamin C, retinoids, peptides, and caffeine.

🐼 Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are increasing in popularity but few studies thus far show improvement in undereye hyperpigmentation and skin elasticity and firmness.

🐼 When there is a structural cause for undereye bags such as fat pseudo-herniation, the gold standard treatment is surgery (lower blepharoplasty).

🐼 I get a lot of requests for undereye filler, but this is one area that I require a consult prior to treatment. Please avoid Juvederm filler in the undereye region.

Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions below. 👇🏼

#614

09/30/2020

👃🏼 Recovery After Rhinoplasty

Some people are hesitant to proceed with rhinoplasty because they are worried about the recovery process. Here are some key things to know:

1️⃣ The great majority of patients say that the recovery process was easier than expected!

2️⃣ The hardest part is the first three days after surgery. Pain, bruising, swelling, and nasal bleeding are greatest during this time, then all of the inflammation improves. Most people take some opioid pain medications but many (including this patient!) actually just take Tylenol alone.

3️⃣ I recommend taking 7 days off of work/school and 3-4 weeks off of full exercise/lifting, contact sports, inversion yoga, and swimming (head under water).

4️⃣ Don’t watch YouTube videos on splint removal- seriously! Almost everyone says that their first post-op appointment (when stitches, splints, and cast are removed) was FAR easier and less scary than expected.

5️⃣ Although it takes more than a full year to fully heal from rhinoplasty, most people are able to start enjoying their new nose even within a few weeks!

Please let me know if you have any other questions about the recovery process below!

—
📷: This gorgeous patient of mine is seen rhinoplasty. She is still early in her healing process but already loving her results! Despite a fairly transformational change, she does not even remember her old nose as this one is much more balanced to the rest of her face! 🥰
—

This is my actual patient. Release consent was obtained. Please do not use or distribute images herein without written permission.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Chief of facial plastic surgery
📞 Patient care coordinator: (614) 366-3016
📍 Columbus, OH

#614 @ Columbus, Ohio

Address

915 Olentangy River Road , Suite 4000
Columbus, OH
43212

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 5pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 5pm
Thursday	7am - 5pm
Friday	7am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 12pm

Telephone

+16143663016

Website

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/drkim

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