Face Lift & Neck Lift

Face Lift

Face lifts are designed to reduce the slackness in the tissues of the face; a face lift tightens or excises muscle, fat and skin, producing a more youthful, rested appearance. Generally speaking, face lift procedures only address the two-thirds of the face, although a surgery can combine both face lift and eyelid surgery or browlift.

For individuals interested in reducing sagging in the facial area, face lifts may be the best way to address the problem. For many patients, the key issues corrected by face lift surgery include sagging jowls, loose neck skin, and fat accumulation under the chin (double chin). Face lifts work in essentially the same manner, although there are some variations in face lift techniques, depending upon the specific individual facial constructions, and the intended outcome of the face lift surgery.

Individuals investigating the ways in which a face lift could help them should meet with a plastic surgeon who specializes in face lifts. During the consultation, the surgeon and patient will determine reasonable expectations for face lift results, depending upon the facial bone structure, and specific problems to be addressed by the face lift procedure. Many surgeons will use photographs of the individual from an earlier period to guide face lift surgery and create a more youthful-looking face. A good plastic surgeon can help decide if face lift surgery is a good choice for the prospective patient, and will explain all of the face lift benefits and risks

For individuals with sagging cheeks but no jowls or banding of the neck, a mid-face lift may be the best solution. Often relying on endoscope cameras and other technological advances, mid-face lifts target the skin and muscle tissue in the cheeks, tightening and smoothing the appearance. Most persons opting for a mid-face lift are addressing deep marionette lines or nasolabial folds. These can be addressed with Gore-Tex implants or injectable materials, but a mid-face lift is often more effective and the results last considerably longer.

Younger patients may opt for a minimized lift known as a mini face lift to obtain a youthful, fresh look without the effort of traditional face lift surgery. The advantage to a mini face lift is that it is tailored to meet specific needs, focusing primarily on any trouble spots. A mini face lift can address specific areas of the neck, jowls, mid-face, or nasolabial folds. Endoscopic mini face lifts use tiny incisions behind the hairline and inside the mouth to lift muscle and skin tissue.

Neck lift surgery

Neck lift surgery, or platysmaplasty, removes excess skin and fatty tissue from the neck and tightens neck muscles to redefine the jaw line, restore a normal chin and create a younger, fitter looking facial appearance.

Good candidates for neck lift surgery include patients with sagging neck skin or neck folds. Age often causes the neck to droop and jowls to form. People opt for neck lift surgeries to combat these changes.

Commonly performed in conjunction with a facelift and eyelid surgery, neck lifts can be done through an incision under the chin or through minimal incisions hidden behind the ears. When done at the same time as the facelift, the neck skin is lifted and re-draped over the tightened neck muscles. When a neck lift is performed separately from a facelift or other procedure, the neck muscle is tightened through behind-the-ear incisions, and the excess skin is removed.

Performed under general or local anesthesia, neck lift surgery usually takes one to two hours. It is an outpatient surgery that takes place in an office operating room. Neck lifts usually require a week of recovery time before returning to work.