Facelift dramatically pares years from a patient’s appearance by tightening facial skin and muscles, while sometimes also removing skin and fat.
The procedure targets displaced fat and sagging tissue on the cheeks, creases beneath the lower eyelids, excess skin and fat along the jawline, and furrows between the nose and corners of the mouth. Here, experienced St. Louis plastic surgeon C.B. Boswell discusses key facts about facelift, including recovery, permanence and ways to ensure a natural-looking result.
Better With Age
Techniques for erasing wrinkles and fine lines by tightening subdermal facial muscles have been around for more than 50 years. As surgeons have refined the procedure and technology has advanced dramatically, facelift has become even more effective at reversing common signs of aging, and patient satisfaction has increased.
Face Time
Facelift performed by a skilled plastic surgeon will typically last about 10 years. The range of results is dependent upon the type of facelift you choose, the flexibility of your skin, and certain lifestyle factors, such as whether you smoke. Limited procedures such as the so-called “mini facelift” may last two to four years, and revisions may last up to seven years. In addition to trimming years from your appearance, facelift has the effect of slightly improving the strength and resilience of the skin, helping to preserve your rejuvenated look into the future.
A Subtle, Natural Look
Your plastic surgeon’s skill is key to achieving a successful facelift. A surgeon who has done many facelifts has accumulated experience with a wide variety of facial types and situations. A surgeon who keeps abreast of the latest techniques and medical best practices knows how important it is to pay attention to the muscles and ligaments under the skin, not simply stretch the surface. The so-called “windswept” or “open cockpit” look is often the result of a doctor cutting and stretching only the surface layer, creating tension with deeper tissue.
Touch-Ups
When your skin needs a touch-up years after facelift, there are many noninvasive options to consider in place of additional surgery. Laser resurfacing can smooth and tighten the skin, and injectables will fill lines, wrinkles and hollows on your face that make you look older. New varieties of dermal fillers not only add volume to targeted facial areas, but also trigger the production of collagen, the natural protein that adds strength and flexibility to the skin.
Recovery Phases
Swelling is a key aspect of facelift recovery. Swelling builds during the first three to four days after surgery. It is accompanied by bruising and some pain, which can be managed with prescribed medication. Swelling and bruising won’t entirely disappear for one to four months. As swelling gradually subsides, your magnificent new look emerges.
To learn more about facelift or to schedule an appointment, call or email Body Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Skincare Center today.
