Facts About Facelift

Facelift is a lot like the celebrities we often associate with the procedure: Everyone knows its name, and almost everyone seems to have an opinion about it. After all, facelift has been around for decades, and in that time it has taken up vast amounts of column space in everything from solemn medical journals to star-struck tabloids.

Below, experienced Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson reviews the key benefits of this enduringly popular procedure, separating fact from fiction.

The Gold Standard

Facelift is considered the gold standard of facial rejuvenation because it comprehensively corrects several signs of aging on the face. The procedure focuses on the middle and lower facial regions. It can address loose skin, displaced fat or 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.

Long-Lasting Results

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 one to two years. In addition to paring years off 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.

Ensuring a Natural Result

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 “joker” look is often the result of a doctor cutting and stretching only the surface layer, creating tension with deeper tissue.

Enhancing Your Look

When your facial skin needs a touch-up, 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.

Healing Takes Time

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 prepares for its dazzling premiere.

To learn more about facelift, schedule your personal consultation with experienced Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson by calling (916) 929-1833 or emailing our office today.