| Dr. Denton Weiss 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. Facelifts, or "rhytidectomies", make the face more youthful and refreshed, diminishing deep and fine wrinkles. Several types of facelifts exist; but, not all facelifts are created equal. The simplest facelift involves removing facial skin only. A "skin-only" facelift rejuvenates the face, but skin laxity limits the duration of the results. The next level of complexity involves tightening underlying facial fascia, or soft tissue. The results of this facelift, called the "SMAS facelift," last longer because of the tightening of underlying support structures in the face. Finally, I consider the "deep plane" facelift the most complex of the three main lifts. In this procedure, I suspend facial tissue by partially elevating it off of the facial bones. Because the candidate for the "deep plane" lift represents a much smaller demographic of patients, it is the least performed in my office.
I usually perform necklifts in conjunction with these surgeries because abandoning the neck can result in a disastrous inconsistency in a patient’s expression and appearance. In fact, the biggest complaint from new patients seeking a lift is that their previous surgeon neglected excess skin in the neck, leaving their face pulled, and their neck sagging. Each of the facelift techniques I practice have numerous variations depending on the needs of the patient, but this represents the basic overview.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?
A. Simply stated, a facelift addresses the damaging effects of age, stress, and sun exposure. Often times you can tell a lot about someone by their face, and the face, being the focal point of the human body, deserves to represent the inner-self. In trying to achieve this, facelifts can offer a dramatic start!
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. The greatest risk in facelift surgery is damage to the sensory or motor nerves of the face, although this rarely happens. The most frequent complication for any facelift surgery is a small collection of blood under the skin that can usually be resolved with needle aspiration under local anesthesia.
Q. Is there a common technique for facelift procedures?
A. Although techniques of general facelifts exist as I described above, I think integrating a tailored technique to fit each individual patient provides much more fulfilling results. For instance, in my practice before I perform a facelift, I typically add volume back to the face in the form of "fat grafting." In this procedure, I draw fat from the patient’s own body, and inject it back into their face, contouring it to fit their specific facial structure. This prevents me from over-pulling during the lift, and as a result, a softer, more feminine look occurs. I base the technique and type of facelift I perform on the patient’s level of aging and sun damage.
I always treat each individual patient as a unique sculpture, with distinct precision for each procedure, obtaining results that a "cookie-cutter" approach could not provide. I believe this approach allows us to give our patient their own refreshed look.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. Facelifts can be performed under local anesthesia if they are "skin-only" or minimal "SMAS" types. Typically, patients opt for IV sedation or general anesthesia in facelift surgery.
Q. Who is a good candidate for face lift surgery?
A. Facelift candidates range from patients in their late 30s and older, although I typically do not put an age limit on a patient. All of our patients must have a medical clearance performed prior to surgery, as this assures the patient is safe for surgical anesthesia. Furthermore, our entire staff communicates in detail with our patients about proper health and nutrition prior to surgery. In our practice, this involves supplying each patient with natural whole-complex vitamins, and guiding them through a diet that promotes healing and decreased swelling. Simply put, safety and health are a priority.
Q. Will face lift surgery eliminate all of my facial wrinkles?
A. Although facelifts can significantly reduce the effects of aging as a whole, I suggest coupling this procedure with proper skin care when dealing with wrinkles. Often times I will combine a facelift with skin treatments such as laser treatments, which essentially rebuild the surface of the skin, reducing and eliminating wrinkles. Less permanent solutions include using fillers, such as Botox and Restylane, offering a more local solution to lines and wrinkles. The most important thing, however, is damage protection, and this means using sun protectant (SPF moisturizers). I give all of my face patients a light oil-based serum to restore the natural vitamins and minerals that we lose with time and exposure to the elements. Remember, your skin is only as healthy as you treat it!
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