WELCOME TO OUR OFFICE...
I became interested in facial plastic surgery over 25 years ago when my own mother underwent nasal surgery after sustaining a nasal blockage from a fall. The surgeon, Jack Anderson, M.D., in New Orleans, Louisiana, later became my mentor. He was a professor at Louisiana State University where I later trained - and unbeknownst to me, was the grandfather of Facial Plastic Surgery. The late Jack Anderson, M.D. was a brilliant surgeon and a great teacher.
Later at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, I was fortunate enough to be an intern for two years under David Sabiston, M.D., who himself is a world renowned General/Thoracic Surgeon. As I began my specialty training in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at Duke under William Hudson, M.D. , I began focusing on the subspecialty of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I remain most grateful to Dr. Hudson for his continued support and friendship to me and his many residents' endeavors. During my residency at Duke, much of my research and surgical experience was geared towards Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Having finished Duke University Medical Center Head and Neck Surgery Residency in 1990, I again was honored in being selected for a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by Ferdinand F. Becker, M.D. , in Vero Beach, Florida. This is one of approximately 30 fellowships in the United States. This fellowship program, accredited and overseen by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) devotes one full year to plastic surgery of the face and neck. This included Cosmetic Surgery (facelift, eyelid surgery, cervical liposuction, nasal surgery, etc. ) and Reconstructive surgery (skin cancer reconstruction and trauma repair, etc. ) I remain highly indebted to Dr. Becker for his wealth of knowledge and experience which he continues to share through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Florida Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Since finishing
the residency and fellowship programs, I have become Board Certified
in both Facial
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Head and Neck Surgery and
Otolaryngology . My practice
in Naples began immediately after my fellowship in 1991. I have
enjoyed a solo practice maintaining an ambulatory surgical facility
which has proved most desirable and cost effective to patients in the
case of elective surgery.
Intertwined with
my practice are my memberships in many academies and societies at national,
state, and local levels which are designed for continuing education
and sharing of knowledge amongst its members. I was elected president
of the Florida Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
in 1996 after serving 2 years as secretary/treasurer. Locally
I served as chairman of the Young Physicians section of the
Florida Medical Association.
These involvement's continue to consume a significant amount of time
in both learning and preparing for lectures and seminars.
This long and ongoing process of learning and teaching is what keeps Facial Plastic Surgery on the cutting edge of progress and keeps our practice exciting, challenging and enjoyable. I hope and believe that his laborious process will directly benefit you - our patient.
Sincerely,
Jon F. Strohmeyer, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Look for these signs in their personality, office staff and the office itself. Important are indications of a perfectionist personality, pleasant mood, style and efficiency within the office.
Find a surgeon who is positive about cosmetic surgery, is enthusiastic and enjoys discussing and performing cosmetic facial surgery. Your surgeon should be interested in taking the time to answer any and all questions regarding your surgery before, and after the surgery.
Important considerations are:
What are the physician's qualifications?
Where the procedures are to be performed?
Who will provide the anesthesia?
Who will supervise post-operative care?
Are written quotations of fees provided?
What results can I expect?
May I speak with one of your patients who has already had the procedure
I am considering?
The second facet of facial plastic surgery is Reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive facial plastic surgery encompasses reparation of congenital or acquired traumatic defects such as scars or bony abnormalities, and effects caused by removal of tumors or skin cancers. The purpose of Reconstructive surgery is to improve function and appearance. Also included in this aspect of facial plastic surgery is correction or improvement of previously unsuccessful or unacceptable surgery.
Facial Plastic Surgical Procedures have had an enormous growth in popularity in recent years being utilized both by men and women. Health and fitness awareness appear to be partially responsible due to the fact that highly active people are living longer, healthier lives and they want their appearance to reflect this healthy, more youthful state. Also responsible for the increased popularity of facial plastic surgery is competition in the work place. More middle-aged professionals are sharing the arena with the younger competition and their appearance becomes an important factor in obtaining professional goals. An additional factor in the boom of our specialty is the tremendous advancement in both technology and techniques making facial plastic surgery safer, more comfortable and more convenient than in years past.
Today, procedures are performed on an outpatient basis eliminating the need for an overnight hospital stay. With the use of sedatives for "twilight" anesthesia, patients have a pleasant recall of the whole process with no memory of the procedure itself.
Facial plastic surgeons are, as a rule, governed by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - actually an international organization whose central office is in Washington, D.C. Your Facial Plastic Surgeon should be Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Facial plastic surgery is performed on patients of all ages from infancy well into the senior years. Your general health in terms of your heart, lungs, liver, kidney function and whether you are a smoker will help us determine if you are a good candidate for facial plastic surgery. Your degree of sun damage (physiologic age) is more important than your actual age (chronological age).
Dr. Strohmeyer will discuss the risk and benefits of surgery during your consultation and offer his opinion as to whether or not your expectations are realistic. It must be remembered that we want our patients to look and feel better about their appearance after surgery. This can only happen if you understand that the goal is improvement - NOT perfection.
"Perfection is the enemy of good"
It is the responsibility of the patient to understand the limitations of human aging, scarring and facial plastic surgery. You must be willing to carefully carry out pre-operative instructions and post-operative procedures. With the acceptance of this patient-doctor relationship, all parties involved will ultimately be happy with the outcome.
Facial plastic surgery is not for everyone. You must understand that all defects are not always correctable and while plastic surgery may actually give your psyche a "lift", it will not make an unhappy person happy. Surgeries are performed to correct specific problems - they will not improve relationships with family and friends.
Dr. Strohmeyer will discuss with you the
potential for improvement for various areas of your face and neck.
Remember that the outcome depends not only on surgical skills but patient
variables as well, including bone structure, skin texture, age and health
- all of which shall be discussed at the time of your consultation.
Though we cannot ethically guarantee results, we generally state that
a typical aesthetic procedure will improve a patient's appearance by
one level.
EXCELLENT
GOOD
AVERAGE
BELOW AVERAGE
MONSTROSITY
In other words, it would be very difficult to obtain excellent results on a below average deformity.
Assuming that all variables surrounding surgery go well, there is a reasonable chance that the end result might be one or two steps higher than the condition which existed prior to surgery. It is imperative that both patient and surgeon realize the limitations of potential improvement in each case.
All surgical procedures have potential risks, included in these are reactions to anesthesia, infection, poor healing, injuries to muscles, nerves and other underlying structures, numbness, swelling, discoloration, asymmetries, scarring, and those that are statistically unlikely such as blindness, paralysis, or even death. Patients are encouraged to inquire further about the risks of the surgery they are contemplating.
It must also be understood that the aging process is not stopped after Facial Plastic Surgery - but rather, "the clock is turned back". Your skin will age after surgery only as well as your skin was - and is maintained. Remember, in ten years you will continue to look better than had you NOT had the surgery in the first place.
You can expect temporary swelling, firmness and discoloration following surgery. These decrease with time as the excess fluid and clotting materials are accepted back into the blood stream. You should ask what to expect with your procedure.
Whenever an incision is made in the skin a scar will ensue. Nearly all of the incisions we use are kept narrow and camouflaged in natural facial folds and creases or are hidden by the hairlines. Early on, however, they will be raised, pink and somewhat swollen. These need time to mature and become less conspicuous. Usually they become virtually imperceptible to the casual observer. Occasionally they need to be camouflaged with cosmetics and hair styling.
Finally, the patient's overall attitude and health play an important role in the result of any surgery. We recommend that you see your personal physician for a routine check-up prior to surgery. We will be happy to assist you if you have a problem getting an appointment. Patients undergoing eyelid surgery should see their eye doctor for an examination prior to surgery.
Patients with time schedules (school or
work) should let that be known early so that arrangements might be made
on our surgical schedule.
