Non-surgical treatments can keep mild lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity at bay, but correcting significant sagging and deep lines requires a more intensive procedure. A facelift excels in restoring a more youthful appearance. However, it focuses on the lower and mid-face, so it may only address some of your concerns. Fortunately, adding other procedures to a facelift is easier than you think.
What is a Facelift (Rhytidectomy)?
A facelift, known as rhytidectomy, addresses lines, wrinkles, and loose skin. Many people choose to have a facelift when sagging and creases become more noticeable with age. Non-invasive treatments can provide a minor lift by increasing collagen production, but they cannot correct significant laxity. A facelift targets the middle and lower parts of the face, lifting the mid-face and tightening the lower face and jawline.
How Is a Facelift Performed?
Your LPS surgeon performs your facelift under general anesthesia at our surgical center. They will use small incisions hidden around the ears and within the hairline. These incisions allow them to lift and tighten the skin and underlying muscles. The skin is redraped over your facial structure for results that never look tight or overdone. Your surgeon will customize the procedure based on your needs and any other procedures you choose to have at the same time. A skillfully performed facelift looks like you but dramatically younger.
What Procedures Can Be Combined With a Facelift?
If you have signs of aging significant enough to plan a facelift, you may also have these signs in other areas. Combining other procedures with a facelift has several advantages. You will save money instead of having these procedures separately, and you will only have one recovery period.
Neck Lift
A facelift can improve the appearance of jowls but not loose skin around the neck. A neck lift removes excess skin and fat to give you a slim, sculpted neck and jawline.
Brow Lift
A facelift typically does not address drooping brows or sagging forehead skin. A brow lift can restore the brows to a more youthful position and tighten the forehead area.
Eyelid Lift
The delicate area around the eyes requires an eyelid lift. The upper or lower eyelid can be s treated to reduce drooping, excess skin, and undereye puffiness.
Fat Injection
You can also have injectable treatments such as fat injection using fat harvested from elsewhere in the body used to reduce the appearance of targeted lines and wrinkles or add volume to specific areas of the face.
Non-Surgical
Non-surgical options include chemical peels and laser treatments that resurface the skin to smooth and tighten it. Other injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox® can also reduce the appearance of targeted lines and wrinkles.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Most healthy adults with moderate to severe loose skin make good candidates for a facelift. While many people who choose a facelift are in their 50s or 60s, you do not need to fall into this range. Only a consultation with your LPS surgeon can determine if you will benefit from a facelift and possibly other procedures. We will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that addresses your unique concerns.
Take the Next Step
Interested in learning about facelift surgery? Schedule your consultation with Longwood Plastic Surgery today by calling our Brookline office at (617) 383-6250. We serve the Brookline and Greater Boston area with distinction.