Facelift Exposed! Should You be Worried?

Unlike cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers, the decision to have a facelift has not been as universally accepted by the public. It is not like patients are not having a facelift. It just means it is not discussed in public as much as other facial cosmetic procedures. It is odd that facelifts are not discussed more openly as the techniques and results associated with the surgery have become more advanced and natural in appearance.

Some Popular Facelift Techniques Examined

Since this procedure is not discussed as much as other facial rejuvenation treatments, many people still have the outdated perception of a facelift providing a pulled and stretched look to the face that is unnatural in appearance.

In order to help lessen the fears of potential patients, some doctors use 3D imaging technology that allows people to visualize how they will look after the procedure. In addition, some patients bring in photos showing how they looked in their younger years to give the surgeon a reference point to use during the surgery.

One of the most popular facelift options is known as SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) which enables the surgeon to sculpt and redistribute fat that surrounds the face, neck and jowls. In addition, SMAS can sometimes tighten the skin all the way down to the jawline and even sometimes to the platysma on the neck. In general, an SMAS facelift gives a smoother look to the jowls as well as the neck and the nasolabial folds. The amount of skin laxity that the patient has available is one of the main factors that determines the amount of skin removed by the surgeon. If the patient also wants to address the forehead, they can choose to undergo a temporal lift that is minimal in nature or even have Botox to temporarily address wrinkles on the forehead. (Botox does not provide permanent results so follow-up treatments will be needed.) Any scars from SMAS facelift are hidden in the sideburns or behind the earlobe.

A deep plane facelift does not involve any pulling of the skin, Instead, a short incision is made so there is less trauma to the face. The surgeon will then lift the deep facial tissue and neck muscles at the same time in order to vertically reposition the fat and muscles tissues to their former position.

Facelift – Is There a Reason to be Worried?

It is important to choose a doctor with the proper training and experience when it comes to performing a facelift. It takes surgical skills, training, and an artistic eye to provide long-lasting, natural results.

As mentioned earlier in this article, some members of the public still have the older “pulled look” results in their mind when it comes to thinking about how the face will look after the surgery. Surgeons should be prepared to provide photo examples of their previous work and they should also be ready to discuss any worries or concerns on the part of the patient. It is the job of the surgeon to make sure the person considering having a facelift understands each step of the process and feels comfortable about making the final decision to undergo the procedure. An educated and knowledgeable patient is a person who has the necessary information to make an informed decision.

Dermatology or a Facelift – Making a Decision

Just like there has been a good amount of progress made in performing facelifts, there have also been advances made in the field of dermatology. The improvements in performing dermatology procedures have caused some people to think twice about having a surgical facelift. Some of the popular alternatives to having a facelift include Thermage, microneedling and Ultherapy. In addition, there is the option of having fillers placed in the face to restore volume that has been lost over the years due to the aging process.

It is important to remember that none of the treatments listed in the pervious paragraph are permanent. There will come a time when additional treatments will be needed to maintain the results. It is also true that a facelift is not permanent, but the results can last anywhere from 10-20 years which is a longer period of time than fillers, microneedling, Thermage and Ultherapy.

It should also be noted that a facelift will not address certain issues on the face so a treatment like fillers might still be an option to improve the look of wrinkles or the condition of the skin around the mouth.

Final Word on Facelifts

While facelift techniques have improved over the years, there is still the possibility of some results that might have an unnatural look. If this is the case, it is likely the result of the work of the surgeon and not necessarily the facelift. As mentioned earlier, it is vital for patients to perform proper research and choose a doctor who is experienced in performing various facelift techniques. The surgeon can examine the current condition of the skin on the face in order to determine the type of results that can be achieved as well as the extent of the results the patient can look forward to enjoying.

- MA