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| Facelift (“rhytidectomy”) is a procedure which is often understated and underestimated as to it’s complexity, risk, cost, and recovery. Many patients with face and neck wrinkles, sags, hangs, and bags think they “just need a little tuck or two.” If only it were that simple! Facelifts can be a wonderful procedure, which can rejuvenate the face and neck like no other procedure can. But it can also be detectable by its scars, tightness or “wind blown” appearance. Some people elect to have multiple facelifts, which can collectively pull all the elasticity out of the skin, causing an unnatural mask-like appearance. Therefore facelifts should be performed conservatively and only on patients who are healthy, non-smokers, and who have been selected by the surgeon to be appropriate for what the procedure can achieve and who have realistic goals and expectations. There have been many modifications of the facelift operation in recent years – some critical to achieving a good result, such as lifting the underlying deep tissues as well as tightening (conservatively) the skin. Some changes, however, have been mere marketing gimmicks and not really worth the media attention they’ve been given and some carry much more risk than is reasonable. |
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Within the scope of facial rejuvenation surgery, there are a number of procedures other than facelift which can contribute to the overall picture – such as forehead and eyebrow lifts, blepharoplasties (eyelid surgery), midfacial implants, injectable dermal fillers, Botox, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion, hair transplantation, and topical rejuvenating skin products. All these have a place in the overall goal of restoring a more youthful appearance but they each must be employed appropriately and the procedures individually selected and fitted to the patient’s specific needs and desires. The surgeon’s experience, honesty, and skills as well as thorough patient education are clearly all critical elements in the process of facial rejuvenation. On the horizon and beginning to sweep the nation is a much more conservative, quicker, less invasive, less complex, and less costly modification of the facelift procedure called the "QuickLift™." It employs smaller incisions (and consequently smaller scars), less downtime after surgery (sometimes as little as a couple days) less bruising, shorter surgical time (one hour 15 minutes to two hours) and less recovery time. It is performed under local anesthesia in the office, often with very little sedation. And since it employs permanent sutures to lift the deep facial tissues (as do traditional facelifts), we expect its results to be long-lasting. Since it is a relatively new procedure, we do not have five and ten year results, but so far the outcomes and expectations from the surgical community doing quick lifts have been impressive. The bottom line is: facelifts may be exactly what you want and need, but go to a doctor who will educate you on the risks, limitations and alternatives and help you decide what is most appropriate and affordable for you. Don’t rush into it unless you feel satisfied you’re in good hands. Look for a conservative approach if it will do almost as much for you as more aggressive or invasive procedures. The very bottom line: at least come to us for an evaluation and an honest opinion. back to top go back to procedures home page |
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