Facelift

As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. The full cheeks of youth descend, creating a depression or hollowness of the lower eyelid area, fullness in the lower face, and jowling. The neck skin and muscles loosen, creating central fullness and blunting of the youthful, sharp distinction between the jaw and the neck.

A facelift procedure addresses the mid and lower face, the jowls, and the neck. A facelift doesn’t stop the aging process; it just sets the clock back a number of years. The keys are placing tension on the deeper layers of the face (providing lift) and placing no tension on the skin (for a non-surgical look). The best candidate for a facelift is a man or women whose face and neck has begun to sag. Most patients are in their forties and up although some younger patients do have this procedure. Because of a greater acceptance of plastic surgery, shorter recovery times, and less “surgical” looking procedures, the average age of a person seeking a facelift is decreasing.

Many patients are candidates for newer techniques such as the minimal incision or “short scar” facelift. The short scar facelift typically cuts the scarring in half by eliminating the most unattractive or “surgical” part of the traditional facelift scar. The short scar facelift is safer than a traditional facelift and can be done as an outpatient. The recovery is faster and easier. The results leave you looking younger and more refreshed without the operated-on, “stretched” appearance of some older techniques.

The short scar facelift can be combined with an open neck lift for additional improvement of the neck. This is especially helpful in patients with a very full neck or more dramatic neck skin excess.

A short scar facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or chin augmentation. Often patients will combine surgery with laser resurfacing for texture and tone improvement. Ancillary procedures may be used to enhance results. Of course, a good skin care program is essential for the health and appearance of the skin.