When your skin loses its strength and plump, youthful appearance, you have many options to fight the signs of aging.
At Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we understand that you want your outward appearance to reflect how young you feel inside. We offer personalized anti-aging and skin rejuvenation treatments to patients from Marietta and Atlanta, GA.
With the popularity of dermal fillers, skin-tightening treatments, and collagen-stimulating procedures, it’s easy to assume facelifts are no longer popular cosmetic surgeries.
However, the opposite is true. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, facelift surgery was the third most common cosmetic surgical procedure in 2020. With so many other non-surgical treatments available, why does the facelift remain popular?
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift is an elective surgical procedure that restores a more youthful appearance to the face. Facelift surgery can eliminate sagging skin, smooth creases and folds, refine the jawline, and restore contour to hollows in the cheeks and under the eyes.
These procedures are customized based on a patient’s needs and overall aesthetic goals. While a facelift generally targets sagging, lax skin that’s drooping due to weight fluctuations, gravity, or aging, it can also smooth deep creases around the mouth and remove fat deposits, jowls, and extra skin on the neck.
What Different Types of Facelifts Are Available?
Several types of facelifts are available to restore the skin of the face and neck. Each offers its own benefits.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift procedure focuses on sagging skin in the lower half of the face. During this surgery, we place incisions in front of the ears and gently pull the skin and underlying tissue up and out. We also remove excess skin and tissue to create a tighter, younger appearance with a more defined jaw and fewer wrinkles.
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift procedure involves moving the skin, tissue, and muscles of the face to create new contours and restore a smoother, more youthful appearance.
In a traditional facelift, we make incisions in the hairline and scalp in areas that will be hidden from view. We lift and redrape the skin, underlying tissues, and structures to recontour the face and remove excess skin and fat deposits if necessary.
Neck Lift
If loss of muscle definition and loose skin affects your neck, you could schedule a neck lift on its own or in conjunction with a facelift. During a neck lift, we place incisions under the chin or near the ears. Then we lift and redrape the skin, tighten the underlying muscle and remove excess fat and skin tissue.
Why Are Facelifts Still So Popular?
Cosmetic injectables, lasers, radiofrequency ablation treatments, microneedling, chemical peels, and other non-surgical anti-aging treatments are effective ways to combat the signs of aging and restore youthfulness to the skin’s appearance. However, a facelift offers benefits that non-surgical treatments cannot.
Facelifts Treat Many Signs of Aging at Once
As you age, many changes occur in your facial skin at once. Your skin may sag and develop lines, wrinkles, and creases. In addition, you may experience excess fat in some areas while others lose the subcutaneous fat that keeps skin plump and youthful.
A facelift targets a wide range of skin concerns that come with age, including sagging skin, deep wrinkles, creases, a double chin, excess fat, and hollow facial features.
Facelift Procedures Offer Dramatic Results
Non-surgical procedures can resolve mild to moderate signs of aging. However, there are limitations to how significantly you can restore your skin without surgery.
A study in the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that patients who underwent a facelift rated themselves as looking 12 years younger after the procedure. Additionally, 97% of patients found the surgery met their expectations, with 40% reporting the procedure’s results exceeded their expectations.
Facelifts Pair Well with Other Procedures
We can pair your facelift with other procedures to provide more consistent results, eliminate the need for subsequent surgeries, and reduce overall downtime.
Other surgical procedures that we can perform with a facelift include:
- Brow lift
- Eyelid surgery
- Rhinoplasty
- Neck lift
- Liposuction
- Chin or cheek implants
During your consultation with our team, we can discuss any complementary procedures that could improve your overall surgical outcome.
Facelift Surgery Offers Long-Lasting Results
While most non-surgical procedures require repeated treatments to maintain results, facelifts last for many years. While your skin will continue to age, you can expect to look significantly younger for a decade or longer.
The longevity of your facelift results depends on your skin care routine, lifestyle, and genetic factors. You should follow all of our aftercare instructions and continue taking care of your skin.
Additionally, the type of facelift you choose also impacts your results. For example, a mini facelift offers more subtle effects.
Lastly, your age at the time of your facelift plays a significant role in the longevity of your results. Patients under 60 tend to benefit the most. However, patients in their 70s still experience impressive outcomes.
How Do I Know if I’m Ready for a Facelift?
While determining whether you’re ready for a facelift is solely your decision, there are some signs that it may be time to consider the procedure. For example, many patients choose a facelift when they’re unhappy with their appearance and want long-term results.
When you meet with us, we’ll discuss your concerns and recommend the best treatment options to meet your aesthetic goals and restore a more youthful appearance.
Patients from Atlanta and Marietta, GA, and beyond benefit from our skill and expertise at Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Schedule your consultation today.
