Facial Rejuvenation: Plastic Surgery and Beyond
It is no surprise that we live in a youth-oriented culture. It
seems that every year the standard of beauty to which we are all
exposed and aspire, gets younger and younger at the same time
that Americans are growing older. Because of the emphasis in
prevention and treatment of disease, the American Baby Boomers,
those 50 and over, are healthier and more fit than people of the
same age in previous generations.
They have the stamina, energy and prowess of people half of
their chronological age. This causes many "Baby Boomers" to
exhibit an intense interest in procedures and techniques to help
them look as young and fit as they feel.
This is the point at which many Americans consider plastic
surgery. Signs of aging on the face are the most common symptoms
causing people to seek out plastic surgery. The four most common
facial complaints are:
Loose skin: The areas on the face where we see loose skin most
often are the jowls, the neck and the skin around the eyes.
Fine Lines: Tiny wrinkles on the face increase in number with
time and are more plentiful in lighter skinned people. The most
common sites are around the mouth and eyes but they can also
develop anywhere on the face. These lines are made worse by the
sun.
Bagginess around the eyes: Loose skin is only one of the causes
of bagginess around the eyes. Additionally, small fat pads
around the eyes can move from the top and sides of the eye
region and end up resting beneath the eyes. Shadows emphasize
the problem and if there is any inherited darkening of the skin
the problem becomes even more noticeable.
Exaggeration of Features: As we age, some of our features
continue to grow. Although the rate of growth is unperceivable
year to year, eventually, over time we can see that there is an
actual lengthening of our earlobes and nose. Our brow may have
lowered and there is an increase of fat below the chin, and in
the fold between the nose and upper lip.
All of these complaints can be addressed through plastic
surgery. The success, risks and benefits differ depending on the
areas of the face and neck the surgery is to correct, as well as
other factors such as the age of the patient and the severity of
the problem.
What is a facelift? The facelift is the classical surgical
response to aging problems of the face and neck. In a facelift
the skin is separated from the underlying tissue and pulled
upwards and backwards. The excess skin is them removed resulting
in a lifting and tightening of the appearance of the skin.
There are varying procedures that go deeper, some as far down as
the layer adjacent to the facial bones. Surgeons determine how
deep to go with the procedure based on the needs of the patient,
on a case by case basis.
What results can you expect from a facelift?: A facelift will
lift the areas of your face that are sagging, such as your
cheeks and jowls. It will also tighten the loose skin on your
neck as well as remove excess fat from under your chin and
alleviate that "turkey neck" look.
What about scarring? The scars from a facelift can be extensive,
although not easily detectable. Scars will more than likely
extend from above the ear, down the front of the ear, around the
ear lobe, up the back of the ear, and into the hairline behind
the ear. There can be another incision beneath the chin.
Most scars from a facelift are hard to see once they heal. Scars
can be camouflaged with make-up within three weeks and should
fade beyond detection in one to three months. What complications
can occur? Some of the complications that can result from a
facelift are: Hematoma, Skin death; facial
weakness or paralysis; attached earlobe (pixie ear) and open ear
canal. What about lines and wrinkles? Although the results of a
facelift and other facial plastic surgery can be dramatic the
signs of aging that a facelift will not alleviate are wrinkles
and fine lines on your face. Additional procedures such as Botox
Cosmetic