As you get older, your skin and underlying tissues go through major changes. You lose collagen, a protein that helps skin look firm and bouncy. This means that fat and tissue beneath your skin begins to slide downward. You may also lose fat in your face, allowing your skin to sag and wrinkle.
While Botox can help with some wrinkles and dermal fillers can help with lost volume, they aren’t enough to combat all signs of aging. In your 40s, 50s and 60s, you may find you need surgical solutions to aging.
That’s where a facelift (also called rhytidectomy) comes in. A facelift is a surgical procedure to help you appear younger. It involves two different techniques to take years off your appearance, including:
Removing Sagging Skin
Because of lost volume, you may have excess skin that begins to sag and hang. Many people have this skin collect around their jaw and neck. A facelift gets rid of this extra skin, helping your jawline appear more defined and allowing your face to appear smoother. Depending on your needs, this may be the only technique you need for your facelift in order to get great results.
Tightening Muscles
Underneath the skin on your face are dozens of small muscles that help control your expressions and facial movements. Your plastic surgeon can use special types of sutures to tighten these muscles and all the fat or tissue beneath them. Your surgeon will complete this step after removing excess skin.
When your muscles are tighter, you have fewer wrinkles in your skin. You’ll also see that fat volume in your face is lifted higher, like when you were younger.
What to Expect From Facelift Results
These two techniques can take years off of your appearance. According to clinical studies, people who undergo facelifts feel they look between 9 and 12 years younger on average. Patients also report an improved quality of life and improved confidence and self-esteem after their facelift procedures.
You don’t have to worry about scars with a facelift. Your doctor will make incisions behind your ears or in your hairline to complete procedures so that scars are completely hidden after your surgery.
Facelift results also last a long time, often between 7 and 10 years. By wearing sunscreen, using moisturizers and maintaining a steady weight, you can help these results last as long as possible.
You can also enhance your results by combining a facelift with other procedures that can be completed at the same time. Many people also get a forehead lift or eyelid lift at the same time as their facelift for an even better result. Combining procedures helps you save money and allows you to have just one recovery time as opposed to recovery from two different procedures.
At Galardi | Bowen Plastic Surgery in Virginia Beach, we offer comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical procedures to help you appear more youthful. We can help you personalize your plastic surgery procedures to achieve great results that last for years. Contact us today at (757) 496-5556 for your facelift consultation.
