Dr. Henry A. Mentz, M.D., PA, FACS, FICS

Dr. Mentz was the first surgeon in the United States to achieve triple Board Certification in Plastic Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery-Otolaryngology (in 1999, there were only four in the U.S.).

He has authored the chapter "The Multilayer Facelift," in the textbook Operative Plastic Surgery, describing the most advanced techniques for natural facial restoration and rejuvenation and a new chapter on Advanced Contouring in the Cheek in 2009. He has been a leader publishing on innovative techniques used to improve results and allow longer lasting results. 

Facial rejuvenation describes both the surgical and non-surgical procedures used to restore a youthful facial appearance. Damage to the skin by the sun, as well as aging, contribute to the need for facial rejuvenation.

Non-surgical techniques for facial rejuvenation include:

• BOTOX® injections soften muscle contraction to smooth out facial wrinkles on the forehead, the eyes, and laughlines around the mouth.
• Resurfacing techniques include laser, skin peels like TCA and Obagi Blue, and microdermabrasion to smooth fine lines and improve skin quality by removing old surface layers of skin.
• Fillers like Collagen and Hyaluronic acid work well to fill wrinkles and smooth creases. Collagen may last from 2 to 4 months, Restylane from 4 to 6 months and Radience from 6 to 12 months. Isolagen lasts at least past 6 months and fat grafting can last forever. Isolagen is still in the testing phase and has not yet been FDA approved.

Surgical techniques for facial rejuvenation include:

• Blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery) can help improve drooping eyelids and bags under the eyes
• Neck liposuction can reduce fullness under the chin and neck lifts work to tighten the skin and muscle around the neck.
• Endoscopic brow lifts improve brow positions to not appear angry or sad.
• Facelifts become necessary when jowls are a problem. The skin and soft tissues of the cheek are suspended and tightened
• Houston, Texas is central to the US and we can help with accomodations and travel.

Face lift (Rhytidectomy) in Houston -  Texas

A facelift (or rhytidectomy) is considered to be the most effective procedure for total facial restoration, as it works to rejuvenate the forehead, eyes, cheeks, and sagging skin around the neck and chin.
Dr. Mentz will evaluate your skin and facial structure to determine if you are a candidate for a face lift. He may also discuss with you other procedures that can help maximize your appearance goals, such as an endoscopic brow lift, eyelid surgery, fat grafts, laser resurfacing and rhinoplasty.

Dr. Mentz will use a series of incisions during your face lift that will assist him in separating the skin from the fat and muscle below it. He will tighten the underlying muscle and soft tissues and remove any excess skin. Sutures are used to close the face lift incisions. Your sutures should be ready for removal after approximately five days, but each patient case may vary slightly.

Dr. Mentz has treated patients with BOTOX® since 1988. BOTOX® (Allergan Irvine, CA) is purified Botulinum Toxin Type A produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It is used to treat wrinkles of the forehead, mouth and the “crow’s feet” that appear in the corners of the eyes.

When injected into the muscles around the areas being treated, BOTOX® produces a temporary paralysis of that muscle. Numbing cream is used around the areas to decrease pain associated with the treatment. The effects of your BOTOX® treatment will typically last for about five months.

There are risks associated with the use of BOTOX® , but complications are usually temporary. Dr. Mentz will discuss the risks and possible complications with you during your office visit.

Microdermabrasion in Houston - Texas

Microdermabrasion is a technique used to freshen skin that has suffered the effects of sun damage and aging. During treatment, Dr. Mentz uses a device similar to a sandblaster to spray microcrystals across the surface of your face to remove the dead, outer layer of skin. The crystals are then suctioned away.

The massaging action created by the microdermabrasion treatment results in a vibrant, healthy complexion. A microdermabrasion session can be completed in less than an hour and results are immediate. Normally, you will experience no “down time” and can apply make-up right away. Depending on your skin, more than one treatment may be needed to reduce or remove fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation.

Collagen Replacement in Houston - Texas

Collagen occurs naturally in the second layer of your skin and acts as a support structure by providing a framework for the growth of cells and blood vessels. As a person ages, collagen in the skin breaks down - in part from the stress on the skin of smiling and laughing. IN most cases, lost collagen can be replaced with a series of injections of Purified Bovine Collagen.

Dr. Mentz will determine if you are a candidate for collagen replacement and discuss with you any risks associated with the injections. A series of collagen injections takes less than one hour and is considered an outpatient procedure. How many injections you receive depends on your age and the condition of your skin. Minimal redness at injection sites and swelling are common, however symptoms usually diminish a few hours after the procedure. You can expect the results of your collagen injections to last about three months.

Isolagen in Houston - Texas

Isolagen is a new filler not yet approved by the FDA and use in the US is prohibited. Dr. Mentz has worked with Isolagen to do the Phase II and Phase III studies for FDA approval. Data from these studies shows that Isolagen will likely be a vital part of plastic surgery facial rejuvenation in the future. The procedure begins with a small biopsy taken behind the ear, the fibroblasts and extracted and grown. Several weeks later the patients own fibroblasts are reinjected into a wrinkle. As the cells grow and produce collagen the wrinkles smooth or disappear. Results last longer than Collagen or Hyaluranic Acid products, but the exact amount of time for wrinkle improvement is yet to be determined. Dr. Mentz will be one of the few experts in Isolagen treatments when it becomes available.

Fat Grafting in Houston - Texas

Fat grafting is a procedure that uses a patient's own fat tissue to fill in creases, lines, depressions or other underdeveloped areas in the body. Most fat is taken from a patient’s abdomen or inner thigh and then grafted and injected into the designated areas. Fat grafts are used to create fuller lips, reduce laugh lines and lift the cheeks. They can also be used to fill in dimples in the skin and even to improve calves and flattened buttocks.

Depending upon the patient and the area to be grafted, the effects of a fat graft can last from several months to several years Most of these procedures are performed under general anesthesia and require minimum recovery time. Dr. Mentz will discuss with you your medical history and determine if a fat graft is right for you.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) in Houston - Texas

Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is recommended for healthy adults to correct droopy eyelids and/or remove bags from under the eyes. Dr. Mentz will review your medical history with you to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure.

During the eyelid surgery, Dr. Mentz will make incisions in the creases of your upper eyelids and just below the eyelashes of your lower eyelids so that scars will be almost completely invisible. Scarring is usually minimal after three weeks and undetectable in six months. Depending on each individual patient, the incisions may need to be extended into the lines that appear in the outer corners of your eyes.

Dr. Mentz uses the incisions he makes to separate the skin from underlying fatty tissue and muscle so that he may remove excess fat from the eyelid area. In many cases, he also will trim skin and muscle that sags. He closes the incisions with sutures, which are removed one week after surgery.

If you have a pocket of fat beneath your lower eyelids, but Dr. Mentz determines you don't need to have skin removed from the area, you may be a candidate for a transconjunctival blepharoplasty. This procedure normally works well on younger patients whose skin is more elastic. During transconjunctival blepharoplasty, an incision is made inside your lower eyelid so that fat may be removed. The incision is closed with dissolving sutures and leaves no visible scarring.

Blepharoplasty normally lasts between one to two hours as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. Most patients return to work in five to seven days and are able to resume strenuous activities after about three weeks. If droopy eyelids impair your vision, please check with your health plan provider, as this procedure may be covered by insurance.

Neck lift Surgery (Platysmaplasty) in Houston -  Texas

Excess fat in the neck area can be removed through liposuction, but Dr. Mentz may combine liposuction with the tightening of the neck muscles to provide you with results that are longer-lasting. This combination procedure is referred to as platysmaplasty.

A platysmaplasty is performed with small incisions being made under the chin and either behind or under the ear so that fat may be removed. The incisions are brought together at the front of the neck and closed with sutures. The skin also can be brought together under or behind the ear to provide additional firming to the neck. Sutures are removed after about one week, and any bruising or swelling usually diminishes after a month. Dr. Mentz will discuss your options with you and also any risks associated with the surgery. Recovery times depend on the number of procedures performed.

Endoscopic Browlift in Houston -  Texas

Dr. Mentz is an expert in the latest endoscopic facial techniques, and also has lectured internationally and written a book chapter on the subject. An endoscopic browlift gently elevates the brow and refreshes the appearance of the upper eyelid and the eyes.

An endoscope is an instrument used to look inside the body. It most often is comprised of a optical lens tube that is attached to a camera to help Dr. Mentz reposition the forehead muscles to lift the brows. The incisions made during a browlift are only one eighth of an inch and are made inside the hairline so that scarring is not visible.

This procedure may be performed as an outpatient under local or general anesthesia and normally is completed in one hour. Sutures are removed in five to 10 days, and most patients are able to return to work after seven to 10 days.

To learn more about Facelifts and Rejuvenation surgery contact Dr. Mentz at 713-799-9999.