The two most important aspects of any surgical procedure are predictability and safety. The facelift (rhytidectomy) is no exception. If you are considering a facelift, you want to know:
- What will a facelift can do for my face?
- How can I have a facelift in the safest possible manner?
The video segment from KRON4’s Body Beautiful answers these questions, and explains:
- The goals of facelift surgery
- How to make it safe
The facelift addresses three main areas:
The Cheeks – Nasolabial Folds and Marionette Lines
Sometimes called the “parentheses,” because they bracket the mouth, the nasolabial folds are the wrinkles that run from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth. The creases that continue from the corners of the mouth down to the chin are called marionette lines.
These areas are frequently treated with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers like Restylane®, Perlane® and Juvederm®. Now that all the HA fillers come with a local anesthetic (Lidocaine) added, it is a more comfortable procedure. Facelifts reduce nasolabial folds and marionette lines in an entirely different way. By elevating the cheeks, and reducing the amount of skin that folds over them, the depth and shadowing of these aging folds are reduced. For deeper lines, a combination of filler and lift may be necessary. Your own cells can be used to fill the area too. When performing a facelift, I will often use a dermal graft to further reduce the facial folds in the nasolabial and marionette areas.
The Neck
The facelift includes the cheeks, jawline and neck. If you only have loose skin on the neck, then a necklift may suffice, but most of the time, both areas age in parallel. If you have loose neck skin, or bands on the front of the neck from the platysma muscle, a facelift can attenuate them.
The Jawline and The Jowls
The jawline is the boundary between the face and the neck. As we age, this boundary becomes blurred. The jowls begin to break up the youthful smooth contours, and the definition between the face and neck becomes less distinct. Since the face and neck are both treated, the jawline between them is also addressed with a facelift. San Francisco Bay Area patients have come to expect the best in facelift surgery. Rejuvenation without distortion is the key. A clean jawline goes a long way toward a youthful face.
Facelift Safety
The safety of a facelift is enhanced by a thorough preoperative workup. This includes everything done leading up to the surgery. If you have high blood pressure, being certain that is it well controlled before surgery is imperative. If you smoke, stopping four weeks before surgery reduces the risk of healing problems by a factor of six.
Doing the facelift procedure safely is also important. The proper facility and equipment help ensure that you are properly monitored the day of surgery.
Last, and certainly not least, the training of you Plastic Surgeon is important. A well trained surgeon is a safe surgeon. By selecting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, you can be certain they have the most specialized and thorough training available. Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are uniquely qualified in the realm a Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. As a condition of membership, I have to be a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and specialize in the Cosmetic aspects of Plastic Surgery.
On With the Show
The 800 number in the video below was only used for viewer questions during the live broadcast. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a consultation appointment for a facelift, please call my Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office at (925) 943-6353.
This video is provided for general informational purposes only. Specific recommendations can only be made after a careful history and physical examination are performed. Some of the topics covered include:
- The changing acceptance of the Facelift
- The increasing popularity of Facelifts (about 100000 facelifts are performed a year)
- The goals of the Rhytidectomy
- The hazards of overcorrection
- The differences between male and female Facelifts
- Facelift do’s and don’t’s
- How to assess preexisting medical conditions – preoperative optimization
- Should you see your primary medical doctor before having surgery?
- Smoking and Facelifts
- The importance of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
- The importance of an Accredited Surgery Center
- Can other facial rejuvenation procedures be safely combined with a facelift?
The other segments of this broadcast can be found here:
- Rhytidectomy (Facelift) San Francisco – Part 1 of 4
- Rhytidectomy (Facelift) San Francisco – Part 2 of 4
- Rhytidectomy (Facelift) San Francisco – Part 3 of 4 (You are here)
- Rhytidectomy (Facelift) San Francisco – Part 4 of 4