Some patients believe that a facelift will revitalize all the areas of their face equally, but this isn't true. A facelift is used to correct various signs of aging on the middle and lower facial areas. This includes the cheeks, the area under the lower eyelids, around the lips and mouth, chin, neck, and jowls.
Facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomy (literally, “removal of wrinkles”), counteract signs of aging by tightening muscle, removing fat, and trimming excess skin, giving your face a fresher, youthful look. Facelifts are most effective for patients who want to correct: Midface sagging. Deep creases under the eyes.
A facelift can involve removing excess skin, smoothing out folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissue. It doesn't include a brow or eye lift, although these might be done at the same time. A facelift is only focused on the bottom two-thirds of the face and often the neck or décolletage.
It probably has something to do with the fact that the procedure itself includes the word “face,” making many assume the surgery addresses the entire face. This often causes men and women to think that wrinkling around their eyes will also be taken care of. Unfortunately, this is an incorrect assumption.
In general, a face-lift involves elevating the skin and tightening the underlying tissues and muscles. Fat in the face and neck may be sculpted, removed or redistributed. Facial skin is then re-draped over the newly repositioned contours of the face, excess skin is removed, and the wound is stitched or taped closed.
In most cases, a facelift works best for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s when signs of aging begin to become prevalent. Deep lines, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin are the result of the aging process and can be best corrected through surgical techniques rather than non-surgical ones.
Because both procedures alter tissue and skin on your face, both offer long-term results. In most cases, a mini facelift will last around ten years easily before another lift is needed. A full facelift can last approximately double that at twenty years.
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery can reposition your natural fat pad or eliminate excess fat and tissue to smooth the skin around the eyes. Lower eyelid surgery addresses many unwanted signs of aging around the eyes, but not all.
Pain. There is usually very little actual pain following a facelift, but you may experience a deep bruised sensation as a result of the swelling, and your face may seem heavy. The bandage you will wear the first night may seem quite snug under your chin.
How much does a facelift cost? The average cost of a facelift is $8,005, according to 2020 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This average cost is only part of the total price – it does not include anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses.
A facelift is used to correct various signs of aging on the middle and lower facial areas. This includes the cheeks, the area under the lower eyelids, around the lips and mouth, chin, neck, and jowls.
Generally, a ponytail lift involves incisions made high up on the face – above the front of the ear or beyond the hairline. The facial cosmetic surgeon then pulls the ligaments below the skin to adjust and reduce sagging.
Have you ever considered a mini facelift? This is an anti-ageing procedure which lifts your skin upwards using small incisions, removing excess skin, tightening your skin, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Lower eyelid surgery improves the contour of the eyelid underneath to eliminate droopy tissue and undereye bags. This procedure can be performed in conjunction with upper eyelid surgery when needed. Patients can have one surgery and one recovery period at home when both procedures are done at the same time.
Injecting Botox under the eyes is not an approved use. Botox is intended to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in areas where there is significant muscle movement. It may be less effective when injected under the eyes than when used in the forehead, for example.
Botox injections. Although not specifically a volume treatment, Botox injections in the lower eyelid can decrease puffiness in the area immediately beneath the lashes in some people. Although puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles are usually not a medical issue, they may impact a patient's self-confidence.
Botox and dermal fillers work differently which is why they're best used in specific parts of the face. A filler is great for restoring facial volume under the eyes, while Botox is effective for smoothening the dynamic wrinkles like glabellar lines and crow's feet.
Laser skin tightening and resurfacing is one of the best non-surgical methods to reduce sagging skin under the eyes. This is a terrific option that uses something called a "fractional laser" to tighten the skin. This method is virtually painless and requires a topical numbing ointment (and occasionally a numbing shot).
“Filler is a great option for people who lack volume under the eyes,” says New York dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “With age, as fat compartments in the face drop, the under-eye area separates from the cheek, giving a hollow appearance.
They are a natural part of the aging process and are harmless. As people get older, the skin loses its ability to renew itself. The skin in the area under the eyes is particularly susceptible to the aging process because it is thin. As a result, it is common to develop wrinkles under the eyes over time.
The concept of beauty and ageing is subjective and individual, so it can be difficult to say exactly how much younger you will look after a facelift, but most patients report they look and feel a decade or so younger than pre-surgery.
General Facelift Recovery
In general, the results from your facelift will look very good after about 1-month and you'll look your best at 6 months. A facelift can produce long-lasting results for years to come.
While facelift results can be different for every patient, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons found that, on average, patients felt they looked about 12 years younger after their facelift surgeries.