About 72,000 Facelifts were performed in the US last year. In the area of Facial Plastic Surgery, the Rhytidectomy is second only to the Eyelid Lift in popularity. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s 2022 Statistics, Blepharoplasty was performed 115,000 times last year, many of them in combination with a Facelift.
Today, I review the synergy this combination provides and show what can be accomplished when Facelifts and Eyelid Lifts are combined.
Facelift and Eyelid Lift Before and After Photos
Facelift and Eyelid Lift before and after pictures: This patient had a Rhytidectomy and Blepharoplasty to smooth and tighten her face and neck and remove the extra skin hanging into her eyes.
Combination Facelift (Rhytidectomy) and Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)
The face, neck and eyelids tend to age at the same rate. As a result, the Facelift (Rhytidectomy) and the Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) are often performed at the same time. The patient shown above was concerned with the:
- Heavy appearance of her upper eyelids
- Loss of her jawline definition
- Formation of jowls
- Progressive laxity of the skin on her neck
- Platysmal bands running down the from of her neck
Let’s address these individually.
Heavy Upper Eyelids
As we age, the skin of the upper eyelids thins, wrinkles and loses elasticity. The result is heavy eyelids that drop down into the field of vision and make us look tired.
In the case above, the extra eyelid skin was removed. The scar is hidden in the eyelid crease, and the result is open eyes that project an awake and interested appearance.
Loss of the Jawline
The definition of the jawline diminishes with age. A combination of skin laxity and loss of elasticity blurs the crisp, youthful jawline. A face/neck lift is used to tighten the jawline and define the face/neck junction.
Jowl Formation
As the face and neck skin loosen, they descend down toward the mouth. A ligamentous attachment prevents the skin from sliding past the corners of the mouth. The result is what’s known as the Marionette Lines. These are the folds that extend from the corners of the mouth down to the jawline. Since the skin cannot slide past the Marionette Lines, it accumulates as jowls. A face/neck lift elevates this redundant skin and reduces the jowls.
Neck Skin Laxity and Platysmal Bands
The platysma is a flat muscle that extends down from the jaw onto the neck. Most people have a gap between the two sides of the platysma which becomes visible with age. In this patient’s before picture, two bands of skin are seen below her chin. These are platysmas bands caused by the platysma muscle. During a neck lift, the bands are attenuated to smooth the neck. In addition, the neck skin is tightened. Tightening the skin without attenuating the platysma bands may lead to early recurrence of neck bands.
Overall Improvement with Blepharoplasty and Rhytidectomy
Many specific areas are addressed during the two procedures, but the result is more than just the sum of the parts. If we look at the overall improvement in the before and after pictures, this patient looks not only younger but friendlier. Her eyes are now bright and open. The corners of her lip are elevated, decreasing her “resting frown face.” The jowls and the neckline are smooth and clean. By restoring the crisp definition between the face and neck, she looks younger.
Facelift and Eyelid Lift Consultations
When researching Plastic Surgeons for a Facelift or Blepharoplasty, consult an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Whether you need one, both or an alternative procedure, a plastic surgeon specializing in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery can provide you with all your options. In the San Francisco Bay Area, call (925) 943-6353 to schedule a private and informative consultation appointment.
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