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Facelift 101

Facial aging is inevitable, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take control of age-related changes such as sagging skin and wrinkles. Facial plastic surgery provides many options for men and women seeking natural-looking rejuvenation. One procedure that people often turn to is facelift surgery. This versatile procedure can subtly reverse the signs of age while allowing your natural beauty to shine. If you’re considering the benefits of facelift surgery, the following guide explores everything you need to know.

About the Procedure

Facelift surgery can be customized to your cosmetic needs and preferences. The most popular facelift options include the following:

  • Full Facelift: A full facelift addresses the most extensive signs of facial aging, such as severe sagging and skin folds of the lower two-thirds of the face. This procedure begins with an incision made in the temporal hair and continues around the contour of the ear. The skin is raised and the deeper layers of the face are repositioned and tightened. Then the skin is re-draped to produce a naturally rejuvenated look. Rather than simply pulling the skin tighter, a facelift addresses the deeper facial tissues where aging occurs.
  • Short Scar Facelift: A short scar facelift takes a less aggressive approach to facial rejuvenation. This technique uses a shorter incision, so all scarring behind the ear is eliminated. The deeper structures of the face can still be repositioned with a short scar facelift, but this procedure is better suited for those who have milder signs of facial aging. It may also be a good option for women who would like to wear their hair up without concern for visible scarring.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

There is no perfect age for a facelift, since the factors that contribute to aging vary from patient to patient. Some patients are ready for a facelift in their 30s, while others won’t experience sufficient aging until their 50s. The right time for a facelift is when you are no longer comfortable with age-related changes.

If you have mild-to-moderate facial aging and you’re seeking more rejuvenation than non-invasive procedures provide, you should consider the benefits of a short scar facelift. Those with more advanced facial aging – such as severe skin laxity along the jawline and neck, and deep skin folds – are better suited to full facelift surgery. The right procedure for you ultimately depends on your cosmetic goals and the extent of your facial aging. Dr. Pugash will help you explore which facelift procedure is right for you.

Which Procedures can be Combined with Facelift Surgery?

The beauty of facelift surgery lies in its versatility. The procedure is customized to your natural anatomy, and can also be combined with additional procedures for optimal rejuvenation. Patients often choose the following procedures to be performed along with their facelift:

  • Fat Grafting: Fine lines and wrinkles aren’t the only changes caused by age. Aging may also cause loss of the fullness that is seen in youth. This loss of volume may produce a gaunt or hollowed-out look in the cheeks, under the eyes, and on the temples. Fat grafting (also called “fat transfer”) restores this lost volume using the patient’s own fat. Fat may be taken from the tummy or elsewhere on the body. Facelift surgery performed with fat grafting produces a naturally rejuvenated appearance.
  • Brow Lift: The forehead tends to develop horizontal lines over time, and the eyebrows may drop. While a facelift doesn’t address the forehead, a brow lift can smooth out forehead wrinkles and lift the brows to a more youthful position.
  • Facial Implants: A recessed chin can disrupt the overall proportions of the face, and balance is key when it comes to aesthetically pleasing facial contours. Even with a subtle adjustment, facial implants can bring balance to the face. This procedure is an excellent complement to facelift surgery and it creates ideal definition for unbalanced features.
  • Eyelid Surgery: The delicate skin surrounding the eyes is one of the first places to show facial aging. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can remove drooping skin and eliminate excess fat from both the upper and lower lids as needed. Eyelid surgery incisions are made within the natural eyelid creases so that the scars are difficult to see. This procedure provides comprehensive rejuvenation when performed with facelift surgery.

Whether you’re seeking a full facelift or a less-invasive surgery, Dr. Eric Pugash will customize the procedure to your unique anatomy. Contact him today to schedule a personal consultation to explore your options.