Becoming a Facial Plastic Surgeon means committing to a path of lifelong learning. The field of
facial plastic surgery is constantly evolving as new technologies emerge and new techniques are
developed. To stay abreast of these changes and deliver the best possible patient care, facial plastic
surgeons have established a collaborative community where expertise is shared openly. Through
conventions, events, and lectures, care providers congregate to better their skills and exchange ideas.
Community gatherings also give medical students and residents the opportunity to get practical
experience and learn from established experts. Dr Jordan attends and speaks at multiple national
meetings every year because he enjoys the collegiality, but is also interested in learning
new techniques and information in order to provide the most up-to-date care to his patients
As part of their dedication to the art of aesthetic medicine and surgery, Dr. Jordan and the
staff at Faces PLLC recently attended the Foundation for Facial Aesthetic Surgery’s 26th State of the Art
in Facial Aesthetics Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Foundation for Facial Aesthetic Surgery is a
non-profit organization that was created to inspire a sense of cooperation between cosmetic medical
experts from multiple areas of specialty. To that end, the Foundation for Facial Aesthetic Surgery hosts
annual symposiums where leading educators in the fields of Facial Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Plastic
Surgery, and Oculoplastic Surgery as well as vendors, surgical residents and medical students can come
together to discuss all aspects of aesthetic medicine and learn from each other.
The 26th State of the Art in Facial Aesthetics Meeting covered a wide range of topics related to
both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Other subjects, like office administration and marketing were
also discussed. Over the course of multiple days, doctors, researchers, and students discussed
Rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty (eyelid and brow lift surgery), face and neck lift surgery, fat grafting, and
injectable treatments like dermal fillers and BOTOX®. Dr. Jordan was a faculty member during this event,
with multiple presentations on both surgical and non-surgical facial aesthetic techniques and
procedures.
A summary of the major areas of specialty that Dr. Jordan discussed at the 26th State of the Art in
Facial Aesthetics Meeting are outlined below:
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty, informally referred to as a “nose job”, is used to improve the appearance of the
nose, as well as correct breathing problems, and may also be used to restore the form and function of
the nose after injury. Rhinoplasty methods have improved significantly over the last decade, becoming
much less invasive while still being capable of reshaping the nose. Modern Rhinoplasty techniques are
designed to produce long lasting results with less swelling, discomfort and bruising as compared to older
techniques.
During the Rhinoplasty session of the 26th State of the Art in Facial Aesthetics Meeting,
presentations were given on the following aspects of aesthetic and reconstructive nasal surgery: How to
narrow wide noses while maintaining the integrity of bony and soft tissues; how to manage
complications associated with having a crooked nose; revision (secondary) Rhinoplasty techniques; how
to limit complications associated with primary Rhinoplasty surgery, and ancillary procedures that can
improve the results of Rhinoplasty. Dr. Jordan served as a panelist during the discussion
of Ancillary Procedures to Rhinoplasty, where he presented several patients who had benefited from a
chin implant at the time of a Rhinoplasty.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers, like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, have become extremely popular in recent years due
to their unique blend of affordability, versatility, and convenience. Dermal fillers are primarily used to
restore facial volume that’s been lost over time, fill in static wrinkles, and augment specific facial
features.
Presentations on dermal fillers included how to minimize and treat dermal filler complications
(related to both legal and illegal products). Non-surgical Rhinoplasty techniques were also reviewed. Dr.
Jordan discussed how to avoid vascular complications, which typically arise when fillers are accidentally
injected into blood vessels.
Facial Surgery and Facial Fat Transfer
Dr. Jordan moderated a series of presentations on aesthetic facial surgery, drawing on his
extensive experience as a facial plastic surgeon. As part of this session of presentations, a number of
respected surgeons spoke about facelift surgery and fat grafting. These experienced surgeons focused
on how to prevent complications associated with both procedures while maximizing the quality of
results.
Facelift surgery is used to correct signs of advanced skin and muscle laxity throughout the upper
and lower face, whereas facial fat grafting is used to restore fat deposits that have been lost due to
aging. Fat is generally grafted onto the cheeks and areas around the orbital region to smooth out
distracting facial hollows.
Modern facelift and fat grafting methods are generally safe and produce natural-looking,
long-lasting results. However, both procedures involve complex techniques that require a lot of
specialized expertise. Multiple board-certified plastic surgeons, including Dr. Jordan, shared their
experiences and insights into how to prevent the complications sometimes associated with face lifting
and fat grafting, such as infection.
Neuromodulators
Neuromodulators include compounds like BOTOX®, Dysport®, and Xeomin®. Though people
sometimes believe that neuromodulators and dermal fillers are similar, in reality, these two treatments
work very differently. Neuromodulators do not add any volume to the face and cannot change the shape
of the patient’s facial features. Instead, these compounds (which are derived from botulinum toxin)
work by temporarily blocking nerve signals. When neuromodulators are injected into muscle tissue, they
prevent nerve signals from reaching those muscles. As a result, the muscles remain relaxed and do not
pinch or crease the skin. This leads to a dramatic reduction in the number of visible dynamic wrinkles
(like crow’s feet and frown lines) that a patient has. Though the effects of neuromodulators are
temporary (lasting between three to five months on average), these compounds can be injected several
times per year without any risks to patient health.
Neuromodulators have an established history of use in medicine and are very safe (when used
externally as directed), but it’s important to inject these substances correctly. Poor injection practices
can lead to complications, therefore, educating students, doctors, and the general public about
neuromodulator safety is therefore of paramount importance.
Being an experienced injector with an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy, Dr. Jordan was
able to moderate and contribute to a number of presentations on injection techniques. He led a
presentation on mimetic muscle anatomy (mimetic muscles control the ability to make facial
expressions), one of his main areas of specialty as a facial surgeon. Knowing how to inject compounds
like BOTOX® into these muscles without altering the patient’s ability to make facial expressions is essential
to creating natural-looking neuromodulator results.
Additional Resources for Patients and Care Providers
Whether you’re a medical professional or a prospective patient, you may be interested in the
following resources provided by the Foundation for Facial Aesthetic Surgery: Learning Lessons. Learning
Lessons include short videos and articles on topics related to plastic surgery.
Alternately, if you’re thinking of ways to improve your appearance, you can contact Faces PLLC
directly to arrange a personal consultation. Our Physicians, Nurse Injectors and Medical Aestheticians
will be happy to help you review your options for facial rejuvenation in our welcoming, state of the art
clinic.