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You’ve done your best to stay as youthful as possible. You watch what you eat, you stay active, you get your beauty sleep, and you take care of your skin. Despite all of your hard work, the years are catching up with you. You can’t stop time from moving forward and those signs of aging are going to creep up on everyone at some point. Every time you look in the mirror, you are discouraged by the lines and wrinkles that seem to be growing every day. And a few weeks from now is your big wedding day — so you’ve decided a facelift is the best way to recapture a more youthful appearance. There’s only one problem. You’ve seen too many facelifts that have been overdone, creating a windswept look. You want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
Avoiding the Windswept Look
When you see someone who has a facelift that is too much, the eyes look too wide and permanently surprised. The brow is lifted to the point of looking like a windstorm set in. The mouth may be pulled back too tight as well, creating a fake smile that never goes away. This is the last thing that you want to see happening to you. You want your results to look natural. You simply want to smooth away those lines and tighten up any skin that has begun to sag so that your jaw is no longer drooping. You don’t feel old. You want the outside of you to match the inside of you. You can have a facelift that gives you the outcome you are looking for in the end. The key is in the technique and the talents of your plastic surgeon.
You Need to Choose a Plastic Surgeon with a Reputation for Excellence
The best way to ensure that you have a positive experience and avoid an unnatural outcome when you have a facelift is to choose a first rate surgeon. Your plastic surgeon should have training and experience you can trust with a focus on facial plastic surgery. If your surgeon has a background in reconstructive surgery, there will be an even deeper understanding of the structures of the face and how they can be altered for the best outcome. An excellent track record with previous patients and excellent reviews can point you in the right direction. When you have your consultation, look at photo galleries of previous patients to give you a good picture of what you can expect from your procedure. If you are happy with what you see, you can have the peace of mind that comes with choosing the right surgeon.
Anesthesia is a Consideration
As you review your options and discuss a facelift procedure with your plastic surgeon, anesthesia is an important issue that you should raise. If your surgeon uses general anesthesia, it will cause your face and muscles to completely relax. This may make it easier to go overboard with the facelift procedure, drawing the skin too tight. When your plastic surgeon uses a local anesthetic, there will still be resistance of the muscles beneath the surface of the skin. It will be easier to see the definition of the facial structure and to create the ideal results with a facelift without going to extremes. Be sure to voice your concerns about the best type of anesthesia for your procedure.
Technique Makes a Difference
When you have a facelift, the main goal is to firm up the muscular structure of your face. At the same time, your surgeon will also target any fat and excess skin that needs to be removed in order to smooth away lines and address areas that sag. If your surgeon goes to extremes and removes too much tissue or draws the skin too tight as it is sutured at the end of the procedure, your results can look unnatural. Subtle changes are best. Your plastic surgeon may recommend taking a less invasive approach to make your skin look firmer and soften the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines. Be open to suggestions such as:
- Dermal fillers
- Facial implants
- A fat transfer
A fat transfer puts excess fat on your body to better use when it is removed through a liposuction procedure and injected into your face to smooth away wrinkles or add volume as needed. Facial implants can create more definition in your face when your skin as begun to droop. Dermal fillers can also assist you in lifting up wrinkles from your skin and tightening your skin. When artfully placed in strategic areas on your face, these alternatives can make a world of difference.
Facelift Alternatives that Look Natural
You can expect an optimal outcome when your plastic surgeon focuses on the underlying structure of your face first, completing the procedure by draping the skin without actually drawing it tight. Other options include focusing on the lower area of the face. For example, your surgeon could choose to target your jawline and take care of any sagging skin that has been making you look older. If your forehead needs attention, lifting your brows may be all that you need rather than addressing the temple. It will depend on your personal needs and the evaluation of your knowledgeable plastic surgeon. You will take a team approach to ensure you have a facelift that will turn back time without going to extremes.
If you want to learn more about your options, you can visit or consult Dr. Andrew S. Frankel, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon specializing in facelift in Los Angeles. Dr. Frankel’s practice exclusively specializes in treatments for the face, neck, and head areas of the body.