by GrossmanMed | Jan 16, 2020 | Articles
A facelift is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed by a board-certified and trained doctor. As we age, the skin starts to lose its elasticity. As this happens, the skin can start sagging and wrinkles can develop. This is just a normal process of aging.
Yet, thanks to cosmetic surgery, it is possible to reverse some of the effects of aging and restore a youthful look and appearance. A facelift procedure, which is also called a rhytidectomy, helps remove wrinkles and sagging skin. The procedure tightens facial tissues to help you look younger.
While the term facelift makes people think of the entire face, this isn’t what it means. It refers to the neck and lower part of the face. Many people also include cosmetic procedures for their upper face with their facelift procedure—like an eyebrow lift.
Why Do People Get Facelift Surgery?
Many people like to slow the signs of aging and maintain their youthful look. People of all ages get facelifts as they get older. It is natural to want to try to roll back the clock to when we were younger. Facelift surgery is one way we can do this.
Who Is a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?
Facelift surgery is a surgical procedure, so there are risks you need to be aware of, as well as certain requirements to be an ideal candidate, including but not necessarily limited to:
- Healthy with no current medical conditions that could prevent recovery and wound healing.
- Free from any addictions, including substance abuse and alcohol abuse.
- Having a realistic understanding of the results the facelift will deliver and what the surgery entails.
How Is a Facelift Procedure Performed?
A facelift procedure will vary, depending on your specific needs and objectives, like when you are also having a neck lift or eyebrow lift as part of your procedure. In general, the process can be performed either in a hospital or a surgical clinic.
You will be under anesthesia during the procedure. The cosmetic surgeon makes incisions around the face in areas where they will not be noticeable post-surgery like around the ears and along the hairline.
After the incision is made, the surgeon removes excess skin and redistributes fat to give the face a fuller appearance like it had when you were younger. If there is excess fat, the surgeon will also remove it. The connective tissues and muscles are tightened and redistributed, as needed.
Once all the necessary areas of the face have been treated, the incisions are glued or sutured shut. The surgeon may also install a drainage tube that is removed later. Last, your face is bandaged and wrapped.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Facelift Surgery?
Post-surgery, you will be given pain medication. Some people do experience slight pain and discomfort. Bruising and swelling are common and normal for a facelift procedure. Your cosmetic surgeon will provide you with detailed instructions on how to change bandages, when to remove the drainage tube, and about moisturizing your face, etc.
You will have several follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process. The first one is typically within the first week following the surgery. It takes about two weeks for swelling and bruising to subside.
You should wait at least four weeks before resuming normal activities. Your surgeon will give instructions about when you can resume various things.
How Do I Prepare for a Facelift?
The first thing you should do is schedule an initial consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Grossman. During this appointment, Dr. Grossman will determine if you are an ideal candidate for a facelift.
Dr. Grossman may require you to do certain things first before you can get a facelift procedure. He will also review with you computerized facelift before & after pictures, realistic expectations, and other such details to help you decide if a facelift is right for you.
To schedule your initial consultation, contact Grossman Plastic Surgery at (818) 981-2050 today!
by GrossmanMed | Oct 16, 2019 | Articles
As we age, we start to notice minor changes to our appearance, from fine lines to crepe-like skin, deflation, and a loss of volume, usually in the cheeks. Over time, the changes can be more noticeable due to exposure to the sun, genetics, and other such factors and your body’s natural aging process.
Fortunately, with facial rejuvenation procedures, you can restore your youthful look and appearance. Two of the more popular options are minimally invasive FaceTite™ and facelift surgical procedures. So, which one is better for you? It really depends on your objectives and goals.
What Is FaceTite™?
FaceTite™ is a minimally invasive procedure that lifts, tightens, and stimulates collagen. Small incisions are made in key locations while under local anesthesia. RFAL (Radiofrequency Assisted Liposuction) is used in the targeted locations on the face and small areas of the body. Small heated bipolar thermal fields simultaneously melt fat and tighten skin.
For optimum results, this procedure is often paired with Morpheus8. The pairing provides the benefits of radio-frequency micro-needling that does controlled trauma to the skin to treat skin texture, fine lines, and collagen.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure used to remove sagging skin, fat, and other age-related concerns to restore a youthful look to your face. It will not remove wrinkles or deep creases in the skin. A facelift does provide a more youthful appearance since the skin is, essentially, tightened to restore a younger-looking appearance.
Since this is considered a major surgical procedure, general anesthesia may be is used in place of local anesthesia. The surgery can take several hours to complete, and incisions are made in several locations, depending on the work being performed.
Some people opt to also include having sagging skin and fat deposits in their neck removed at the same time. They may also choose to add a brow lift, an eyelid lift, and rhinoplasty (nose surgery) to their facelift procedure since they are already getting a facelift.
In addition, there are other cosmetic procedures that address wrinkles and creases. A facelift is best paired with fat transfer and fillers to restore volume and contour to the face. A Co2 laser may also be used for skin resurfacing.
What Are Some Key Differences Between FaceTite™ and a Facelift?
One difference between FaceTite™ and a facelift procedure is FaceTite™ is only effective when there is minor rejuvenation required or when you only desire minor improvements. If you have more extensive signs of aging, then a facelift could be a good choice.
Another key difference is the recovery time needed after each procedure. With FaceTite™, recovery times are shorter and average between seven to ten days. With a facelift, recovery times are longer and can average several weeks to a month or longer, depending on the extent of work performed.
The prices of the procedures are also different. FaceTite™ is a fraction of the cost of a facelift since it is a less invasive procedure. This is why some people get FaceTite™ to refresh the look of their facelift when they start to see minor changes and a loss of tone and volume.
The results you achieve with a facelift can be noticeable immediately and are more predictable. The FaceTite™ procedure stimulates the body’s own natural collagen and elastin. As such, you will start to notice gradual differences after your procedure. Around the three-month mark you will look good—and in six months look even better.
Which Facial Rejuvenation Procedures Are Right for Me?
Deciding which facial rejuvenation procedures are right for you starts with scheduling an initial consultation at Grossman Plastic Surgery and Dr. Grossman. During your consultation, you can share your beautification objectives. Dr. Grossman will then explain what procedures would be most appropriate to help you achieve your goals. To schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Grossman, please call 818-981-2050 today!
by Manager Devized | Jun 16, 2019 | Articles
Thanks to modern technology, there are many options for erasing the years. If you want younger-looking skin, affordable cosmetic surgery can be your answer. Although there are many ways to reclaim your youthful glow, this post reviews some of the most popular cosmetic treatments for aging skin, as well as how to prepare for your chosen procedure.
Removing Wrinkles
Those who wish to look more youthful often choose from one of two non-surgical wrinkle reduction options: dermal fillers and Botox.
Dermal fillers are commonly hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring compound found in skin and connective tissue—to add volume to the face, and smooth out fine lines. Botox, however, works by relaxing the subdermal muscles whose movement can contribute to wrinkles. Because each injection targets different aspects of skin rejuvenation, many people opt for a combination of dermal fillers and Botox.
If you are planning for either of these procedures, you can expect to experience some temporary discomfort following the 30- to 45-minute procedure.
Revitalizing the Skin’s Look
Another popular way to restore your skin’s youthful glow is to undergo a revitalization procedure. Today, you can accomplish this without surgery, or the daily application of creams.
Laser revitalization removes wrinkles by transporting laser energy deep below the skin’s surface to reach the underlying tissue. This contact stimulates the growth of new tissue, using the body’s own healing process to replace the old. This procedure is often used to treat wrinkles, skin damage, and acne scarring.
This type of treatment may require more than one short session to achieve your desired results, and there will be slight discomfort as the laser touches the skin.
Facelifts
Facelifts remove loose skin on the neck and face that can add years to your look. This procedure can improve the look of the lower eyelids and cheeks, as well as noticeably tighten skin on your jawline.
This can be accomplished with both traditional surgical means, as well as by radio frequency (RF) AccuTite™ or FaceTite™. The latter methods use laser energy to melt fat beneath the skin, as well as generate collagen production—resulting in a tightened, youthful appearence.
A surgical facelift requires four or five hours to complete, and it will require you to take up to three weeks off work in order to heal. However, RF treatments—while more suited to smaller areas of treatment—require a far shorter amount of recovery time.
Consult with an Experienced Professional
The decision to have affordable cosmetic surgery is an important one, and complete confidence and trust in your surgeon are critical. A cosmetic treatment that gives you exactly the results you want begins with choosing the right plastic surgeon. The surgeon and staff at Grossman Plastic Surgery offer friendly, efficient, and professional aging skin plastic surgery.
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Peter H. Grossman, MD, CA remains one of Southern California’s most in-demand cosmetic surgeons. Book your consultation online or call 818-981-2050.
