We all age differently, but no matter your genetics, you will start to notice wrinkles, fine lines, and loose, sagging skin at some point in life. The reason for this can be many such as pregnancy, weight loss, stress, sun damage, smoking, but for most, it comes down to reduced production of elastin and collagen, the essential proteins that promote plump and firm skin.
So, what can be done to treat skin laxity? In recent years, anti-aging cosmetic procedures have gained mainstream acceptance to help with skin tightening and rejuvenation and there are various treatments risen to the top. Many women start with less invasive treatments such as Botos and dermal fillers, while at a certain point some women consider facial cosmetic surgery, also known as face-lift or rhytidectomy, for long-lasting and dramatic results.
If you are considering Santa Monica facial cosmetic surgery, then there are a few things you should be aware of.
What is Face-lift?
A face-lift or Rhytidectomy is a cosmetic surgical procedure that lifts and tightens sagging skin on the face and neck. It also reduces folds of skin on the cheeks and jawline and other changes in the shape of your face to create a younger-looking appearance.
However, the aging face not only loses skin elasticity and develops loose skin, it also loses fat and muscle tone. Other procedures performed in conjunction with face-lift help achieve the best results. These include neck lift (platysmaplasty), eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), liposuction, removal of the buccal fat pad, brow lift, and chemical peel.
How is Facelift Surgery Performed?
Face-lift surgery is performed by a certified and trained surgeon in an operating room while the patient is completely asleep under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon will make small incisions starting in the hairline at the temples, continue around the ear, and then upward behind the ear ending in the lower scalp. The skin and fatty tissues are then lifted off to correct the loose skin. The skin is then pulled back and upward and while the excess skin is cut off. The incision is closed with sutures or skin staples. The procedure addresses problems such as loose neck skin, nasolabial folds, midface drooping, double chin, and jowls that occur on the jawline.
As compared to injections and dermal fillers that last around eight months to a year, a face-lift result lasts several years.
Benefits of Face-lift Surgery
Face-lift is the most comprehensive rejuvenation procedure for addressing multiple signs of aging on your lower face, jawline, and neck. Here are the benefits you gain with facelift.
Addresses multiple signs of aging – the facelift procedure aims to restore multiple signs of aging sustained over the years such as sagging skin around the midface, jawline or neck, deep creases extending from nose to the corners of the mouth, jowls or double chin, and displaced facial fat or volume.
Tightens sagging skin – as we get older, loose skin envelops the face and anti-aging creams have little to no effect. A facelift surgery helps tighten and smooth loose skin on the face and neck by detaching the skin from underlying muscles and tissues.
Invisible surgical scars – incisions made during the face-lift surgery are virtually invisible as most incisions are made behind the ear or along the hairline. However, the size and exact location of your incisions will depend on the targeted areas of the treatment and your desired results.
Manageable downtime – many people hesitate to get a face-lift due to misconceptions that it has long downtime. While face-lift is a surgical procedure, but with the advancement, in skin tightening techniques small incisions are made. Gentle techniques mean less downtime and you can get back to work within two weeks after facelift surgery.
Natural-looking long-lasting results – gone are the days of facelift results that look overdone. Advancements in facial cosmetic surgery techniques enable surgeons to reposition underlying tissue to create a more natural appearance. Also, the results of the facelift are long-lasting. The younger-looking skin remains for an average of seven to ten years.
These are a few things you need to be aware of when undergoing Santa Monica’s facial cosmetic surgery or face-lift. If you are considering the treatment, then contact Westside Face today for a consultation. Dr. Behrad Brad Aynehchi is a Fellowship-Trained and Double Board-Certified expert in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology who will help you know more about the surgery.
