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An Interview with Dr. Marc Mani on Face Lift
Dr. Marc Mani 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 Face Lift.
Q. What is a facelift?
A. A facelift is a procedure where the skin and deeper tissues of the face are lifted back to where they used to be. A facelift can take away ten to fifteen years of aging from one's appearance.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?
A. The benefits of a facelift are that it leaves you looking much younger and more rested - but still exactly like yourself. The newer, more natural-appearing facelift techniques, which I have developed, lift the deeper layers of the face so that the skin does not have a "pulled" appearance.
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. No surgery is without risks, and a facelift is no exception. These include infection, which is extremely rare, and bleeding or "hematoma," which is also rare. Another risk is injury to nerves, which control movement of facial muscles. Fortunately, permanent injuries to facial nerves are extremely rare when the surgery is done by a plastic surgeon Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who has experience in facelifts.
Q. Is there a common technique for facelift procedures?
A. For patients as young as low 40's and up, the common facelift techniques involve lifting and removing a certain amount of skin. Some newer techniques also lift the deeper, muscular layer of the face. I use this technique because it results in rejuvenation that is dramatic, yet much more natural. This is because the tension is not placed on the skin, but on the deeper layers.
There is also a procedure called a cheek lift that is best for women in their mid-30's to low 40's, who have a certain type of early facial aging limited to the cheeks. This is a quicker procedure with small incisions that allows me to reposition the slightly "fallen" cheek pads to where they used to be. It typically takes 5 to 10 years off of one's appearance.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. A facelift is usually performed under general anesthesia. However, I use a technology that allows facelifts to be done under local anesthesia, since there is less trauma to the tissues during the surgery and hence much less pain. This technology speeds up recovery as well, so that patients are able to go back into public with no bruising or noticeable swelling after a week. The option of local anesthesia costs considerably less, which along with an easier recovery has made it a very popular option in my practice.
Q. Who is a good candidate for face lift surgery?
A. A good candidate for facelift surgery is someone who feels young on the inside but wants to match that with how they look on the outside. Typically facelift candidates range from lower 40's to 50's and up. Of course, the way I do the facelift depends on the age of the patient (and their unique features . . . every face is different!).
