Posted March 13, 2017 in Blog
People use the term “facelift” when referring to cosmetic procedures designed to surgically correct creasing, bagging and wrinkling of excess skin around the eyes, mouth, and chin. In reality, there is no standard “facelift” procedure but instead a selection of different procedures that can be performed on the face separately or together in order to achieve a more youthful appearance.
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
An eyelid lift changes the appearance of the eyes for a more youthful and attractive appearance. The skin is tightened where sagging occurs, whether that’s the upper or lower eyelid. In addition, fat transfer can also help remove wrinkles and improve the overall appearance of the eyes.
Brow lift
A brow or forehead lift can also adjust how your eyes look. This helps reverse the effects that aging has on the skin of the forehead, pulling it tighter to reduce sagging of the brow. In some cases, this can eliminate the need to remove skin from the eyelids, though it does need to be done carefully to avoid unwanted side effects.
Fat transfer (fat grafting)
This is the transfer of fat from another area of the patient’s body to replace volume lost from the face during the aging process. (Fat is typically removed from the abdomen or thighs with liposuction.) Lost volume can also be replaced with synthetic fillers but this is a temporary fix. Fat transfer done correctly by a surgeon with proper technique can be a long lasting or permanent solution and is often done in conjunction with other procedures on the face.
Chin augmentation
Chin augmentation involves inserting a silicone implant under the skin to make an underdeveloped jaw more prominent. A chin enlargement is an uncomplicated procedure that is often paired with a rhinoplasty (nose surgery) in order to balance the appearance of the face.
Otoplasty (Ear Setback)
Changing the positioning, shape, or size of the ears is called an otoplasty, though it’s often known as ear setback surgery. This operation can make overly prominent ears more aesthetically pleasing by pulling the ears back. Incisions are hidden behind the ears, well out of sight.
Beware of practitioners making promises of a dramatically enhanced appearance with a “quick,” “mini,” or “one-hour” facelift with no downtime. Something that sounds too good to be true probably is. No matter what promises are made, in the end, the final results a patient sees in the mirror will be determined by their personal goals, the surgical plan determined they set with their carefully selected, board-certified physician, and their own personal health conditions.
To learn more about your facelift options, set up a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon at North Dallas Plastic Surgery.
