A facelift, or a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that improves visual signs of aging and rejuvenates your face with natural-looking aesthetics. It involves tightening and repositioning the underlying facial muscles and tissues and removing excess skin to create a smoother, more youthful appearance. Facelifting procedures were developed in the early 20th century, and techniques have continuously developed since then.
What can Facelift Surgery Help with?
Facelifts can address various concerns associated with aging, such as:
- Sagging skin and jowls along the jawline and neck.
- Deep creases or folds running from the nose to the corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds).
- Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and neck (commonly known as a “turkey neck”).
- Midface sagging, creating a tired or sad appearance.
Facelift procedures are effective when performed by a board-certified doctor; if you are considering undergoing a facelift in Long Beach, visit Skin Works for better results. It’s important to note that a facelift does not stop the aging process but rather provides a “reset” by restoring a more youthful and refreshed appearance. The results can last several years, but the natural aging process will continue, and follow-up procedures may be necessary to maintain the desired effects.
Evolution of Facelift
Early Facelifts (1900s-1960s)
Surgeons Eugen Hollander, Erich Lexer, and Suzanne Noël introduced the earliest facelifts in the early 1900s. These initial procedures involved simply pulling the skin tighter and removing excess tissue. In the 1960s, surgeons began to incorporate tightening of the underlying muscle and tissue layers, known as the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System), improving results.
Minimally Invasive Facelifts
Driven by advanced technology, minimal invasive facelifts are introduced to quench the growing demand for procedures with shorter recovery times and less scarring. These techniques, such as the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) facelift and the mini–facelift, in which incisions are much smaller and address only certain regions of the face, most commonly the mid-face or the lower face. They are not as drastic or bold as a standard facelift, but the difference can be seen, and there is little to no downtime and less risk involved.
The Golden Age Facelift Techniques
Contemporary facelift procedures are designed to achieve natural-looking, long-lasting results while minimizing invasiveness, recovery time, and potential complications.
Customized Procedures: Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, modern facelifts are tailored to each patient’s needs, addressing specific concerns like jowls, midface sagging, or neck laxity.
Advanced Technologies: The incorporation of technologies like endoscopes, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, and regenerative medicine techniques like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy enhances precision, safety, and recovery.
Thread Lifts: It is a non-surgical procedure achieved by using absolvable sutures to tighten the skin. The threads are inserted inside the facial tissues to induce collagen production.
Conclusion
Over time, facelift procedures have continued to evolve with advances in technology and practice. The ultimate goals are natural appearance, safety, and a shorter post-operative recovery period. Facelift procedures are poised to grow more tailored, less invasive, and targeted at a patient’s needs as new technologies and procedures develop further in the future.
