Joseph Kerwin Williams, M.D.
Board Certified in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Chief of Plastic Surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Director of Research at the Center for Craniofacial Disorders
Associate Professor at Emory University in the division of Plastic Surgery
Co-Owner of AYA™ Medical Spa
Located at our Northside Location
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
As a board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Joseph Williams performs a wide variety of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures for the face, breast, and body. After years of experience performing adult and pediatric reconstructive plastic surgery, Dr. Williams has learned and developed multiple advanced surgical techniques and has become an expert in the anatomy of the face. This specialized surgical training allows him to produce exceptional, natural-looking results for his cosmetic surgery patients.
Click on a procedure category listed below to read more:
Cosmetic Surgery of the Breast
Cosmetic Surgery of the Face
Cosmetic Surgery of the Body
Cosmetic Surgery of the Breast
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Breast augmentation, also known as breast enhancement surgery, is a popular cosmetic procedure that is used to enhance the appearance of the breasts by reshaping and enlarging them with the insertion of a breast implant. Dr. Williams can also use breast augmentation to correct asymmetrical breasts or in conjunction with a breast lift procedure to help those whose breasts have started to sag or droop.
Breast implants used in breast enlargement can be saline or silicone, teardrop or round, smooth or textured, and can be placed either above or below the pectoral muscle. Since there are so many options for breast augmentation, Dr. Williams believes it is important to thoroughly inform his patients about all of these options during consultation so that they can achieve optimal breast augmentation results. During this consultation, Dr. Williams will help his patients decide which type of implants to receive, what size breast implant will best fit their body, and how those implants should be placed.
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Over time, a woman’s breasts can begin to lose volume and her skin can gradually lose elasticity, either as a result of age, pregnancy, heredity, or weight loss. This can cause the breasts to noticeably sag or droop, an issue that can be corrected through a breast lift procedure. Whether performed in isolation, or in combination with other body contouring procedures as part of a larger mommy makeover, each breast lift procedure is unique and customized to the patient’s specific needs. Dr. Williams usually can improve the look of sagging breasts by tightening supporting breast tissue and removing excess skin. In some cases, depending on the degree of sagging, insertion of a breast implant may also be necessary to correct sagging.
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Dr. Williams often performs breast reduction procedures on patients who are unhappy with the size or shape of disproportionately large breasts. Candidates for breast reduction procedures include those who experience pain in their neck or back, poor posture, interference of normal activities, trouble finding properly-fitting clothes, or those who are self-consciousness because of their large breasts. During a breast reduction procedure, excess glandular tissue, fat and skin are removed from the breasts. Similar to breast augmentation, breast reduction may be used to correct breast asymmetry. Some patients with large breasts may opt for a breast reduction in conjunction with a breast lift to achieve their desired results.
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Many men struggle with a condition called gynecomastia: a condition which makes male breasts overly large (often referred to as “man boobs”). Gynecomastia is usually caused by hormonal imbalances or weight gain, and can be extremely embarrassing. Gynecomastia can be corrected through male breast reduction, a procedure similar to traditional breast reduction surgery. A typical male breast reduction procedure includes the extraction of excess breast tissue and the removal of excess skin to reshape the breast. Liposuction may also be employed to remove excess fat associated with gynecomastia.
Cosmetic Surgery of the Face
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Chemical peels are non-invasive skin treatments used to smooth and even skin texture and tone. Using safe chemical solutions that promote exfoliation and increase collagen production, they can address many skin surface conditions, such as acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, rough or scaly patches of skin, and scars. A chemical peel can be performed as a stand-alone treatment for patients wishing to revitalize their facial skin with minimal downtime, or during or after other facial plastic surgery procedures to enhance overall results. There are many different types of chemical peels, and the strength of a chemical peel can be adjusted to suit each patient’s individual skin conditions, medical requirements, and aesthetic goals.
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Chin surgery patients tend to have different reasons for their particular procedure, but most often, Dr. Williams’ patients choose chin surgery to correct a protruding chin (chin reduction), to create a stronger-looking chin (chin augmentation), or to get rid of fat deposits under the chin (liposuction). During a chin reduction, Dr. Joseph Williams employs techniques similar to those used during nose surgery, sculpting the bone to provide the patient with a less pronounced appearance. Chin augmentation can include using a chin implant or readjusting the existing chin bone to give the chin a stronger appearance. Chin augmentation is an ideal cosmetic facial procedure for patients who are unhappy with the size of their nose as it also serves to better balance facial features. Patients with a double chin may choose liposuction to get rid of excess fat deposits.
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Botox® and Dysport® are cosmetic injectables made of a purified form of the toxin botulinum. The effects of Botox® and Dysport® cause relaxation of the facial muscles, which works to smooth the appearance of undesirable furrows, fine lines, and wrinkles and to prevent new and deeper wrinkles from forming. On average, the procedure takes about fifteen minutes to perform the effects last approximately four months.
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As a natural alternative to injectable facial fillers, dermal fat grafting, a procedure that uses the patient’s own fat to add volume to the face, can provide patients with natural looking results that last longer than synthetic products. Small sections of extracted fat and supportive tissue, removed during another procedure (such as a blepharoplasty or neck lift) can be relocated to areas of the face that have lost volume for a younger, more enhanced appearance. Unlike fat transfer techniques which harvest only the liquid fat from donor regions, dermal fat grafting provides a more resilient sub-structure so that the transplanted tissue can more easily remain in place and survive.
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Drooping, puffy eyelids make people look older, but are often unavoidable as the skin of the face begins to lose its youthful elasticity. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a procedure that removes fat, excess skin, and tissue from the upper and/or lower eyelids, correcting the effects of aging and giving the patient a more youthful appearance. There are several specialized techniques that can be utilized on the upper and lower eyelid to ensure the best results for each individual patient. One such technique, known as transconjunctival blepharoplasty, involves a small incision through the membrane lining the inside of the lower eyelid (called the conjunctiva) – allowing for fat removal without an external scar. This procedure is frequently performed in conjunction with a facelift or mini facelift to further revitalize the patient’s appearance, and laser skin resurfacing can also be used to help reduce wrinkles around the eyes and enhance overall results.
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The trick to a successful facelift is helping the patient look naturally younger, without making their skin look too stretched or tight. Dr. Williams’ experience in reconstructive facial plastic surgery allows him to take into account the anatomy of each person’s face and determine the best method for getting rid of wrinkles and excess skin. In order to minimize scarring from the procedure, Dr. Williams employs facelift techniques where scars are concealed within the hairline and distortion of the sideburn area is avoided in order to produce subtle, natural-looking results.
While a full facelift is recommended for people who wish to dramatically reduce the signs of aging in the neck, lower face, and cheeks, a partial or mini-facelift focuses exclusively on the mid-face region, from the top of the cheek bones to the jaw line. The reduced scope of a mini-facelift allows Dr. Williams to achieve noticeable facelift results using only a few tiny incisions near the ears or temples. Patients generally recover from a mini-facelift much more quickly, with less post-operative discomfort, and have scars that are smaller and more easily concealed.
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Whether through use of a facial implant or careful sculpture of the existing bone structure, facial contouring procedures can alter and enhance the overall look of the face, specifically by altering the size or projection of facial features like the chin, nose, cheekbones, or even ears. Every person’s face is unique, and so there are many procedures, techniques, and surgical variations that can be recommended to achieve the look a specific patient desires.
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Facial fillers are collagen-based injectables that work to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and restore volume, most commonly into areas of the face. The most popular brands of facial fillers, Juvéderm® and Restylane®, are made from hyaluronic acid (HA), a non-animal collagen product. Because hyaluronic acid is found naturally in human collagen, there is little risk of allergic reaction to the product. The injection procedure, which only takes about 10-15 minutes, is now more painless than ever with the recent FDA approval of facial fillers with lidocaine (a local anesthetic). The results of facial fillers typically can last anywhere from six months to a year, depending on the specific product used.
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Dr. Williams utilizes the latest techniques to perform forehead lift surgery, or the lifting of the skin and muscles to raise the brows and smooth the wrinkles and furrows on the forehead. In some cases, the procedure involves short scar incisions that are hidden within the hairline. More commonly however, Dr. Williams will recommend an endoscopic approach, also known as the “key-hole” technique. Using only a thin tube fitted with a camera and special instruments, this endoscopic technique requires much smaller incisions and can lift the brows and forehead with only minimal scarring.
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Rhinophyma is a rare condition in which the sebaceous glands covering the nose become enlarged creating a bulb-shaped, reddish nose. Rhinophyma surgery is the best way to correct this disorder, and usually includes removal of the excess tissue to create a more proportional nasal structure.
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Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is an aesthetic facial plastic surgery procedure that is used to improve the nose’s appearance and function. Patients may choose to undergo rhinoplasty surgery to change the size of their nose, the width of their nasal bridge, size or location of nostrils, profile, or to correct tip asymmetry, or to even correct nasal breathing issues, birth defects, or trauma caused by injury. Ultimately, the goal of a rhinoplasty is to preserve the function of the nose, while simultaneously enhancing its appearance, so surgical precision is critical. Given the intricacies of facial anatomy and the delicate structure of the nose, rhinoplasty is considered one of the most complicated cosmetic procedures, and should only be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience and who specializes in facial aesthetics, like Dr. Williams.
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For patients who experience signs of aging in the neck and throat area, such as sagging skin and excess fat, a neck lift may be able to give them a slimmer, more youthful appearance. Depending on the patient’s desired results, Dr. Elliott will use a combination of liposuction, removal of excess skin, tightening of remaining skin, and firming of underlying neck muscle to create a contoured and rejuvenated neck. A neck lift is often combined with procedures like a facelift or chin surgery to achieve a more desirable shape and balance of the facial features.
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Many patients are seeking to balance their facial features in a more aesthetically pleasing way, and this often involves adjusting the structure of the chin. To create a “stronger,” more pronounced chin, Dr. Elliott uses biocompatible chin implants that are inserted through incisions concealed either within the mouth or underneath the skin. Other patients desire a smaller, less elongated chin, and this procedure involves using incisions to gain access to the bone before sculpting the bone and tissue to create the desired appearance.
Cosmetic Surgery of the Body
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Brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat and excess skin of the upper arm to give the area a more contoured and shapely appearance. Although many patients with excess fat on their upper arms may only need liposuction to obtain desired results, those who have experienced significant fluctuations in weight and have noticeably sagging skin may require surgical excision to re-sculpt their arm and produce desirable results. An arm lift is frequently performed in combination with other post-bariatric surgeries, such as a breast lift, tummy tuck, thigh lift, or liposuction. Dr. Williams utilizes specific techniques on his brachioplasty patients so that the surgery scar is well-hidden under the patient’s arm.
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While Dr. Williams will often perform reconstructive otoplasty (ear surgery) on patients to correct congenital defects, he can also use similar specialized techniques to improve the aesthetic appearance of the ears as well. Most cosmetic ear surgery patients complain because of the prominent appearance of their ears, meaning the ears protrude or stick out more than they would like. This is usually caused by a missing fold in the cartilage of the ear and so, in order to correct this protruding effect, Dr. Williams can create a fold in the cartilage to make the ear bend closer toward the head.
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Using the latest Sciton® laser system, Dr. Williams carefully targets an intense beam of light to key areas of the face, removing damaged skin cells and promoting collagen production. After a laser skin resurfacing treatment, collagen growth will naturally create new, healthy skin cells to improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, scars, acne blemishes, and hyperpigmentation. Patients can choose the strength of their laser peel as well as the number of treatments, allowing Dr. Williams to customize their Sciton® Erbium laser treatments to their unique skin type and aesthetic needs.
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Even if the rest of the face has been lifted and excess skin removed, a patient will not achieve their desired look if sagging jowls and/or a double chin are still present. A surgical neck lift procedure typically includes contouring the neck with liposuction, lifting and tightening of the neck muscles, and removing excess, sagging skin. A neck lift is frequently performed in conjunction with a full facelift procedure to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation.