Facelift is designed to remove excess skin, but instead of merely stretching or pulling at loose skin, focuses on repositioning the skin and tissue, to restore lost volume, and lift the skin in the right direction.

Overview

Turning Back the Clock

As you get older, your skin begins to lose some of its natural elasticity. This can result in visible signs of aging, from loose and sagging skin to wrinkles and fine lines. One way to reverse these signs and regain a youthful and refreshed appearance is by getting a facelift (Deep Plane Facelift).

The skeletal framework of the face shrinks, and facial fat diminishes. This combined with the deterioration of skin elasticity and muscle tone can lead to the formation of skin folds, creases and jowls. The loss of definition around the jawline also causes the lower face to become heavy.

A facelift smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles and tightens the lower face region. It can reduce jowls, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds.

What is a Facelift?

A facelift (also known as a rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgery procedure commonly performed on patients over age 40 to refine their overall appearance and create a youthful, rested, attractive look that reduces signs of facial aging to give you a natural and rejuvenated appearance.

A facelift is a cosmetic surgery people have in order to look younger and combat the visible signs of aging. It can be performed on both men and women of all ages. However, the best results are seen by patients in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. The goal of this surgery is to fix aging signs on the face, like sagging skin, wrinkles, and drooping. It can also help with wrinkles that show up in the:

• Nose / nasolabial lines
• Mid cheeks
• Jowls

The Surgery

A cosmetic face lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 3 to 5 hours. No matter what type of surgery you undergo, there will be some degree of face lift scarring. In most cases, the scars will be hidden behind the ears or along the hairline. Scars from facelift fade over time, and they can often be hidden with makeup or clothing.

Immediately after your surgery, you can expect your face lift scars to be red and raised. They are still healing so it’s a good idea to keep them clean and avoid touching them. Within a few weeks, they should fade to a soft pink colour. Please be patient with this as it can take up to a year for the scars to completely fade.

Different Types of Facelift Procedures

It’s essential to do your research before any cosmetic procedure to know what to expect and how to choose from available options.

Face lifts come in many variations, with the most common being a lower face and neck lift using the SMAS or deep plane face lift technique. A face lift procedure also varies in extensiveness depending on your desired improvements.

• Deep Plane Facelift: The deep plane facelift is a modified version of a traditional facelift. During this method, the deeper planes of the face are targeted to lift and reposition the muscle.

  The Deep Plane Facelift: avoids the problem of the tight, overfilled look of many modern facelifts. The main tenet of the procedure is that it lifts only under the muscle layer, leaving the skin attached to the muscle layers, so it can never look too tight. It also lifts the cheeks by releasing the tethering points of the face in the deep plane so that the addition of fat or filler is unnecessary.

• Mid-Face Facelift: A mid-face facelift is closer to a standard facelift that focuses on the middle of the face. The cheek and eye regions are common areas to begin sagging because of the weight of fat in those areas. A mid-face facelift is performed to elevate the fat pad on the cheek for a more youthful appearance.
• Mini Facelift: Mini facelift surgery involves smaller incisions than those for a full facelift; improvements are usually less significant, as well. This procedure is usually reserved for younger patients with early signs of aging and for revision facelift procedures.
• Revision facelift: Revision facelift Refreshes or corrects dissatisfactory results from a previous surgery done elsewhere.
• Necklift: Patients with excess, hanging skin or fat along their chin and neck can benefit from neck lift surgery. Depending on the patient’s specific needs and desires, necklift surgery can be combined with a mini facelift or full facelift procedure for more extensive rejuvenation. During a necklift procedure, liposuction through a small cannula removes excess fat from the chin and neck. Then, the sagging skin is excised and underlying muscles are tightened to produce a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

A surgical face lift is not suitable for everyone. As a general rule, the right candidate is healthy and a non-smoker (or willing to give up smoking). They must also have a positive outlook and realistic expectations of what the surgery can achieve.

Physically, a facelift may be suitable for you if you have:

• Sagging jowls
• Deep creases that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth
• Excess skin or fatty deposits under the chin and jaw
• Fat loss in the central face
• A worn-out or tired appearance

Which Facelift Procedures is right for me?

Deciding what type of facelift is right for you can be a difficult choice. You have to consider the condition of your skin, your aesthetic goals, and how invasive of a procedure you’re willing to go through. Thankfully, you don’t have to make that decision alone. Dr. Edouard Coeugniet provides a comprehensive consultation for every facelift procedure and will help you decide which type of facelift is right for you. Contact us now to schedule a consultation or book your next appointment.