Facelifts
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In this segment Dr. John Martin will be discussing face and neck lifting with his siblings, Drs. Kathryn and Edward Martin.
Surgical facelifts are still one of the most popular procedures performed for cosmetic facial rejuvenation. There are a variety of ways to perform a facelift, and it can become confusing for the consumer to know which one would be best for them. In this video Dr. John Martin will explain the different types of facelifts available, demonstrating the incisions used, and the amount of dissection involved.
A facelift is a cosmetic surgery performed to help improve the overall sagging appearance of an aging face, and specifically to help with the
nasolabial folds and jowling. In addition, the neck is lifted when doing a facelift, which helps to lift and tighten the skin of the neck. Frequently liposuction is also done on the neck to remove any excess fat from this area.
In a full or traditional facelift, the scar will run from the temple, down inside the ear, and then around behind the ear and along the posterior hairline. In a minilift, the incision behind the ear is shorter, and the area of dissection in the face is smaller promoting a more rapid recovery. For both of these surgeries the lift is done in both a skin/superficial, and a deeper plane. The skin is elevated, and the underlying tissue, called the SMAS is tightened. This helps to lift the cheek fat and deep muscles. Excess skin is then excised and the skin is sutured.
There are many newer lifts being advertised which claim minimal healing or downtime after the procedure, such as the S-lift, and the Lifestyle lift. They are similar to a minilift, but usually involve even less dissection. This results in less overall tightening of the face. For this reason, these surgeries are best for younger people with minimal facial laxity. It is always important to remember that with any surgical procedure there will be some downtime, which will vary from patient to patient.
For most face and neck lifts, there is bruising and swelling which can last up to 2-3 weeks, and pain in usually minimal. Even with the smaller lifts, such as the Lifestyle lift, you should expect at least several days of bruising and swelling. When doing a facelift, other procedures such as an eyelift or browlift can be done at the same time.