Dr. Sam Speron is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Facelift.
Q. What is a facelift?
A. A facelift is a cosmetic procedure to remove facial wrinkles, sagging skin, fat deposits, or other visible signs of aging. It is also known as rhytidectomy.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?
A. If you are someone who is sick of droopy eyes and wrinkles and wants to look younger again, a facelift might be a great option. About 95% of the facelifts I perform are the short scar facelifts, which means much less scarring and much shorter recovery times.
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. Like any procedure when one decides to undergo surgery they are putting themselves at risk for complications. However, plastic surgeons have a great deal of experience and training and that greatly reduces the risks or if they happen, are better qualified to deal with them.
Q. Can I expect permanent results from a facelift?
A. There is no guarantee for permanent results from a faclift. However, you can expect to look younger and refreshed for a number of years. You will look better in life at a certain future endpoint than you would have looked without the facelift. As with anything, it can always be redone and some patients come back for a touchup every few years. Some never come back to redo it. In general, a facelift lasts between 7-12 years.
Q. Is there a common technique for facelift procedures?
A. I almost always do a midface lift at the same time which makes it look much more natural and usually the procedure is a short scar facelift.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. Sometimes, yes, a facelift procedure is performed under general anesthesia but it can also be performed with local anesthesia only or with minimal sedation. It depends and each patient has a choice.
Q. How do I find a qualified surgeon in my area?
A. I recommend you visit more than one surgeon before deciding on who you can trust to perform your procedure. You definitely want to make sure they are a board certified plastic surgeon. Typically you will want a doctor who is board certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Be careful. There are many other doctors out there that are board certified in something similar or even claiming to be triple board certified. A call to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS at 1-888-4-PLASTIC (ie. 1-888-475-2784) can tell you which doctors are legitimate plastic surgeons with outstanding qualifications. You can also visit the ASPS web site at www.plasticsurgery.org. The ASPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. When considering a cosmetic surgeon, you should also make sure your surgeon is a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). A call to ASAPS (1-888-272-7711) or visiting the ASAPS website (www.plasticsurgery.org) can help you verify your plastic surgeon’s exclusive membership.
Q. How to contact Dr. Speron if we have further questions?
A. You can contact my office at 847.696.9900 and speak with our friendly staff or contact us through e-mail at prplastic@yahoo.com with further questions. We have several websites but www.prplastic.com has the most information and before and after patient pictures.
