MEET THE FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON WITH A HEART – DR. ANDREW JACONO

12-11-11 | Posted by Dorene Kaplan

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Facial plastic surgeon Andrew Jacono, M.D, F.A.C.S. not only has thriving practices in New York City as well as Great Neck, New York, he also is dedicated to giving back to victims of violence, cancer and birth defects. In fact, you can view his dedication to pro bono surgery on the Discovery Fit & Health Network’s reality show Facing Trauma, which follows Dr. Jacono and his team as they work to heal both the internal and external scars of women who are victims of violence.

A specialist in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Jacono holds two board certifications – one by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the other in Head and Neck Surgery. He is currently director of The New York Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery and for the J SPA Medical Day Spa in Great Neck. He holds academic positions at North Shore University Hospital Manhasset, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in Manhattan and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine also in Manhattan.

In addition to working with victims of violence in the U.S., Dr. Jacono also volunteers with Healing the Children, an organization that helps children in Third World countries receive surgeries unavailable to them due to a lack of medical or financial resources.

www.newyorkfacialplasticsurgery.com

What areas of plastic surgery/procedures do you specialize in?

I limit my practice to facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. I offer a variety of cutting-edge aesthetic and aging face surgeries and procedures in my practice, including my new M.A.D.E Facelift – a  state-of-the-art technique that delivers a more natural result and lasts longer than traditional face lifts with minimized recovery time. M.A.D.E was just published in the November 2011 issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

I also specialize in endoscopic (telescopic) face lifting, minimal incision eyelid surgery, chin and cheek sculpting, neck lifting, brow lifting, rhinoplasty, lip augmentation and aesthetic injectable fillers.

What are the current trends in plastic surgery? What factors contribute to these trends?

The two biggest overarching trends in plastic surgery today include a natural looking, long lasting result and minimized recovery time. Some of my patients lead high profile lives and others are just very busy and eager to return to their jobs and families quickly. They want to return looking refreshed and rejuvenated and like themselves — only better. They are seeking proven solutions with minimal downtime, no visible scars, minimal swelling and bruising.

Many of the techniques I have developed over the last few years revolve around these themes.

For example, The Minimal Access Deep Plane Extended Vertical M.A.D.E. Facelift combines characteristics of a deep plane facelift with that of a minimal access cranial suspension lift to achieve a more natural-looking result. Traditional procedures lift just the skin and disrupt superficial blood vessels, which causes bruising and swelling. The M.A.D.E. facelift lifts under the muscle layer where there are no blood vessels, so there is no bleeding and very limited bruising, resulting in a healing process that’s twice as fast as traditional techniques.

I recently released another study in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery on Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy as a post-op treatment for facelifts. HBO therapy decreases bruising by 35 percent in face-lift patients, seven days post operation – so you can get back to your life quickly after a procedure.

Another trend we are seeing in plastic surgery revolves around patient satisfaction. The VECTRA M3 imaging system allows surgeons to create lifelike, three-dimensional renderings of aesthetic procedures for the face, neck and décolletage so we can work directly with the patient to show them a high-resolution image that simulates the outcome of each procedure before the operation.

What service does Healing the Children offer? What is your role in the organization?

I am a volunteer surgeon for Healing the Children – an organization that helps children throughout the world receive medical care unavailable to them due to a lack of medical and financial resources or health insurance. I travel several times a year to Third World countries like Columbia and Thailand, donating surgeries to children born with birth defects, particularly cleft lips and palates.

In grade school I knew a girl who had a cleft lip and palate. She was teased and left out of activities because of her deformity. When she underwent reconstructive surgery, I saw her gain the confidence to turn her life around. I decided then that I also wanted to give people this gift and this is what inspired me to become a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

My most recent mission was to Columbia at the end of October. For this mission, I performed operations on children with cleft lips and cleft palates. It is so rewarding to be able to help these children get the treatment and the care that they need.

You’ve performed reconstructive surgery on victims of domestic violence. How did you get involved in this?

Back in 2000 during my residency, I repaired the broken nose of a New York City woman who said she had been injured in a car accident. Several months later, the woman returned a second time, claiming she had broken her nose in yet another car accident. After some investigative work, I learned that the woman had been living in an abusive relationship and her broken noses were the result of battering. Since this traumatic case, I have made it my mission to repair the injuries and scars of many victims of domestic violence through Face to Face. Created by The American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). Face to Face: The National Domestic Violence Project is a pro-bono organization offering complimentary consultations, surgery, counseling and support to victims of domestic abuse who otherwise would not be able to afford reconstructive surgery. In 2007, I was named National Chair of Face to Face and I now serve as Senior Advisor.

Tell us about your new reality show, Facing Trauma. What is it about?

Facing Trauma chronicles the harrowing stories of individuals who have been left disfigured from violent circumstances, as they struggle to reconstruct their lives both physically and emotionally. Facing Trauma premiered on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, on Discovery Fit & Health Network with new episodes running every Wednesday night at 10PM through the beginning of December. For more information on the show and to watch a teaser, go to www.health.discovery.com/tv/facing-trauma.