Facial aging is a complicated process. Changes occur in the structure of the skin which contributes to wrinkle formation. Factors such as genetics, sun exposure, stress, nutrition, and other medical conditions can accelerate facial aging. Everyone experiences some degree of descent of facial tissues due to gravity and loss of facial fat. These changes can be particularly distressing and some people consider facial rejuvenation procedures to help reverse the signs of aging. One of the most dramatic facial aging reversals can come with facelift procedures.
A facelift is a procedure which will help to reverse the signs of aging in the lower face and sometimes the neck. While there is no ‘full facelift,’ what is generally termed a facelift refers to a procedure aimed at reversing the signs of aging in the jowls with or without addressing aging signs in the neck. Some physicians will include neck rejuvenation procedures with a facelift while others will address the neck with other procedures at additional expense.
Facelifts run the range from minimally invasive procedures performed in about an hour to more extensive procedures requiring general anesthesia lasting several hours. Determining which procedure is appropriate to meet your goals requires consultation with a facial plastic surgeon who performs the full gamut of procedures. Unfortunately, the old adage, “You get what you pay for” is true in some cases. Procedures which are ‘minimal’ often given ‘minimal’ results. For patients with minimal aging signs, though, may benefit from minimally invasive procedures.
When considering any procedure, it is imperative to weigh the risks and benefits of the procedure. Risks of a facelift will depend on the type of procedure performed and any associated medical conditions of the patient. At the visit with the surgeon to perform your procedure, all risks of the procedure should be addressed. Be sure to ask your surgeon if you are a good candidate for any procedure before proceeding.
One of the most concerning parts of undergoing any surgery is how long the recovery may be. Recovery time is dependent on the procedure performed, the person’s premorbid condition, and variable factors which can not be predicted. One of the most variable factors in facelift surgery is the amount of bruising and swelling a patient experiences. This can be minimal and last only a week or possibly last several weeks.
Dr. Verret is a facial plastic surgeon in the north Dallas surburb of Plano, TX. For more information about facelift surgery Dallas, rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, or other facial rejuvenation procedures, call Dr. Verret today at 972-608-0100