Face Lift

Face Lift Basics

Face lift is one of the best-known facial forms of facial surgery, and it is a very popular procedure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 112,955 face lifts were performed in 2010. This surgery, which is also called rhytidectomy, works to correct facial sagging, removes wrinkles, and tightens skin around the jawline and chin. It can also help to remove "jowls."

Although face lifts are frequently thought of as an old person's procedure, this procedure can actually help a wide variety of people. Although the majority of face lift patients are in their fifties and sixties, it is not uncommon for patients in their early forties to get this surgery. Furthermore, some people get face lifts well into their seventies and eighties.

The ideal face lift patient is in good health and is relatively close to his or her ideal weight. Because losing weight can cause the development of loose and saggy skin, overweight people who get face lifts and then lose significant amounts of weight may find that they need additional surgeries in the future.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the average surgeon's fee for a face lift is $6,792, not including anesthesia, facility fees, and other factors. Face lift prices can vary greatly. In reality, you could spend anywhere between $2,000 and $25,000, depending on your particular circumstances, on the surgeon you pick, and on the type of face lift that you choose.

Face lifts typically take around two or three hours to perform. They can often be performed under local anesthesia, although more intense and invasive face lifts may require general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon will make one or more incisions on the face. The surgeon will generally place these incisions in places where they won't draw attention to themselves. These incisions are frequently places above the hairline, or within some of the face's natural creases.

Starting at these incisions, the surgeon will separate the skin of the face from the tissue beneath. With the underlying structure of the face revealed, the surgeon will remove excess skin and fat, and he or she may also tighten some of the facial muscles. When all of the necessary changes have been made, the surgeon will reposition the facial skin and reattach it with staples or stitches. The area will be wrapped in a protective dressing, and then the surgery will be finished.

There are a number of different types of face lift, and the exact procedure used will determine the recovery time. Depending on the technique used, face lift recovery can range from a few days to several weeks.

Patients will typically have to wait somewhere between a couple days and two weeks to return to work. Strenuous activity and exercise will typically take longer. Additional activities such as blow-drying one's hair and wearing earrings may also be forbidden for the first little while.

Patients should typically restrict their activity to walking or light stretching. Heavy lifting, difficult housework, and sex should typically be avoided for some period of time, although they can typically be resumed within two weeks. Alcohol should similarly be avoided for weeks or months after a face lift. Saunas and steam rooms can also cause problems, and they should be avoided during the recovery process. For more information on face lift recovery, please speak with a surgeon in your area.

Face Lift Types

Although face lifts have the same goal in mind-improving the appearance of the face by tightening skin and removing wrinkles-there are a number of different ways to go about achieving this goal. Here are some of the most popular.

SMAS Face Lift

One of the most common forms of face lift today is the SMAS face lift. SMAS stands for submusculoaponeurotic system. This long and complicated word refers to a layer of tissue beneath the skin. Surgeons make incisions in the skin, and they tighten the SMAS layer, resulting in a tighter, younger appearance. The incisions are usually made at the the hairline and below, behind and in front of the ear. This sort of face lift usually requires around a week before a patient is able to return to work.

The SMAS face lift was developed when surgeon realized that just tightening facial skin did not always produce optimal results. Addressing issues in the SMAS layer allows for a more beautiful, more natural appearance. It is best suited to people in their mid-forties or older who have saggy skin around the face and neck. This procedure usually costs between $10,000 and $15,000.

Deep Plane Face Lift

Although the SMAS face lift affects some tissues beneath the skin, there are some problems which require going even deeper. A deep plane face lift allows the surgeon to treat patients with more pronounced problems. It works best on older patients who have severe amounts of loose or sagging skin.

This surgery is more intense than an SMAS face lift. It causes more trauma to the patient, and it means more work for the doctor. Taken together, this means a longer recovery time and a more expensive surgery. Unlike SMAS face lifts which start at around $10,000, deep plane face lifts typically cost upwards of $12,000. As with the SMAS face lift, incisions along the hairline and around the ear are fairly common.

This type of face lift also carries a greater risk of facial nerve injury than some others. Because the surgeon is working at a deeper level, there is a greater chance that surgical mistakes could lead to nerve damage. However, as has been noted, it is able to create more dramatic changes than SMAS face lifts. Experts estimate that deep plane face lift results will last for ten to fifteen years.

Short Scar Face Lift

The short scar face lift technique is a slightly less invasive form of face lift. In this surgery, the surgical incisions are shorter. They typically start at the temple and may go down to the front of the ear in an S-shape. Unlike other forms of face lift, there are no incisions made behind the ear.

This means that there will be fewer noticeable scars, and it also means that the recovery time will be shorter and less uncomfortable. However, the decreased intensity of this procedure means that there are some things which it can't do. It typically isn't able to treat saggy skin around the neck or lower face as effectively as some other techniques, and it may not be suitable for older patients.

The decreased intensity of the short scar face lift procedure also affects its surgical cost. The price ranges from around $6,000 to $10,000.

Mid Face Lift

As the name suggests, a mid face lift targets the middle of the face, from around the mouth to the eyes. It is most useful for patients who have loose or wrinkled skin around the mouth, nose, and eyes, but whose chins and jawlines don't require much work. It is also sometimes called a cheek lift.

Mid face lifts can be performed in a few different ways. One popular way makes incisions hidden in the lower eyelid fold. Another hides its incision in the nasolabial fold. Yet another technique uses small cuts hidden inside the mouth and at the hairline.

Regardless of where the incisions are made, the surgeon will detach and reposition the fatty later in the cheeks. This will help to lift the cheeks, and it can help with lines around the nose and mouth. This procedure is also on the cheaper side of things-it typically costs somewhere between $6000 and $10,000.

Lower Face Lift

A lower face lift targets the bottom portion of the face. It can help to eliminate jowls, facial creases, and unwanted fat around the jawline. It can be used to raise the corners of the mouth, and it can help to get rid of even deep wrinkles. However, it does not typically do much to address the cheeks. This surgery is frequently combined with a neck lift. It can also be combined with facial liposuction.

Lower face lifts can be performed using the short scar method or the SMAS method. The cost varies greatly, but it generally is between $4,000 and $10,000.

Full Face Lift

A full face lift (or standard face lift) is a face lift which targets the entire face. This procedure combines lower face lift, mid face lift, and brow lift to address lax skin and muscle all over the face. As can be expected, increasing the size of the area worked on will increase your recovery time, and it will result in a more expensive surgery. On the other hand, it does allow for rather impressive changes to be made. Full face lifts can range between $7,000 to $15,000.

Endoscopic Face Lift

Endoscopic face lift is sometimes advertised as "scarless face lift." This surgery makes use of wand-like surgical implements called endoscopes, and it requires much less by way of incision than traditional face lift techniques. Unlike other methods, which can require long and continuous incisions around the hairline and ears, an endoscopic face lift can be performed through incisions measuring less than an inch long. This, of course, means less visible scarring after the surgery.

During the procedure, the doctor inserts an endoscope into the incisions. The endoscope has a small camera in it, and it allows the surgeon to see what he or she is doing without large incisions. Guided by the miniature camera, the surgeon removes excess fat and makes alterations to the underlying facial tissue.

This type of face lift is also much less traumatic for the patient. This means a shorter and easier recovery period with a smaller risk for complications. On the other hand, an endoscopic face lift isn't quite as versatile as some of the more involved forms of face lift. It is not able to remove large amounts of excess skin, so this technique works best on people who still have fairly good skin elasticity. If a person has large amounts of sagging skin, an endoscopic face lift will probably not solve this.

On the other hand, it is very effective at treating facial imperfections that are caused by sagging fat or facial muscles. In addition to this, it can be very effective at treating some areas that other methods have a difficult time addressing. The small incisions necessary for an endoscopic face lift make it much more able to treat delicate areas in the middle of the face.

Endoscopic face lifts also tend to be relatively cheap. Their price typically runs somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000.

Thread Lift

Thread lift is sometimes called feather lift or aptos lift. It is one of the least invasive forms of face lift. Instead of making large incisions, removing skin, and reshaping underlying facial tissue, this procedure uses tiny, clear threads to help combat minor facial sagging.

During a thread face lift, the surgeon inserts threads through tiny incisions. These threads attach themselves to the facial tissue, and when they are pulled back, they help to lift the face and give it a smoother, younger appearance.

This surgery is frequently performed under local anesthesia, so patients can be awake and give feedback throughout the procedure. When the surgeon has achieved the desired amount of lift, the threads are knotted and hidden in the skin. There is virtually no scarring from this procedure.

This procedure works best on people who want to rejuvenate their appearance, but do not have excessive amounts of loose skin. There are limits to what this procedure can do, but it can work very well for some people. Thread lift costs much less than many other forms of face lift. It typically costs somewhere between $1,500 and $4,500.

Mini Face Lift

Mini face lifts is a procedure which is designed to help improve facial tone while minimizing surgical trauma. This surgery is known for its low recovery time. It is sometimes advertised as a "weekend face lift," because one can frequently return to work after just a couple days.

Mini face lifts target small and specific areas on the face. Unlike more generalized forms of face lift, they cannot provide large-scale improvement throughout the face. Rather, they work best on people with particular problem areas. A mini face lift can frequently help some amount of facial laxity around the cheeks and jowls, and it can also help to improve the neck. However, it cannot typically help to address the brow.

Mini face lifts can typically be performed quickly and easily. They don't require as much anesthesia as other forms of face lift, and they don't require a long time on the operating table or in the hospital. This face lift technique is common among relatively young people whose faces are aging prematurely. It allows these young people to get the procedure quickly and return to their careers without much of a hiccup.

This surgery is also fairly cheap. Its cost can range from around $3,500 to $6,500.

Mesh Face Lift

The mesh face lift is a type of face lift which is still in development. However, there is the chance that it could be available soon. This sort of surgery involves inserting a special surgical mesh below the skin. This mesh will help to reposition and lift the tissues of the face. In time, the mesh will be absorbed by the body.

Stem Cell Face Lift

Occasionally, surgeons will advertise procedures which they call "stem cell face lifts." In reality, this procedure differs greatly from traditional face lift techniques. In fact, a stem cell face lift consists of fat injections.

During this procedure, a surgeon will remove fat from another part of the body using liposuction techniques. The fat will go through a special process to concentrate stem-cells located in the fatty tissue. Then the fat will be re-injected into the face. There, it will help to return fullness to your face. This added facial fullness can help to give a youthful, rejuvenated appearance.

Although many people are raving about this procedure, medical opinion is currently divided. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) all discourage this sort of procedure until further testing has been performed. On the other hand, there are a number of doctors who feel that this sort of procedure can be very successful.

Patients who want to pursue this option should know that this sort of procedure can be fairly pricy. The price of the surgery combines the facial procedure and a small amount of liposuction. This surgery can cost as much as $15,000 or more.

Secondary Face Lift

A face lift can do marvelous things to temporarily reverse or slow the aging process. It can remove wrinkles, jowls, and sagging tissue. It can help to give a younger and fresher appearance to the face. However, there is no surgery which can magically stop the march of time.

In time, patients' faces will begin to sag again. This can necessitate future surgery. Thankfully, for those who desire it, secondary face lifts are very doable.