Not Pulled or Plastic

Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t seek consultation in regard to facial aging with these very words, “ I want to look fresh, younger but not pulled or plastic.” Well, times have changed in the world of facial aesthetics. Gone are the days of the cookie cutter facelifts which often times left patients looking pulled, pinched or wind blown. Newer short-scar mini-lifts, along with procedures to add facial volume and decrease the lines and wrinkles, have revolutionized the art of facial rejuvenation.

Mini Face Lift: A more natural approach to sagging facial tissue

As we age, most individuals lose elasticity in their skin and develop varying degrees of descent along the jaw line and beneath the chin. The office-based mini face lift is a surgical face lift to address the mid to lower face/neck with minimal surgical exposure as a minimally invasive office procedure. The post operative effect provides a more natural appearance with limited down time when compared to other formal face lift procedures.

Most traditional facelifts are performed with general anesthesia and involve multiple weeks of downtime with a long incision beginning at the upper temples and extending behind the hairline on either side of the face to the nape. Due to the length of the formal face lift procedure and the type of anesthesia, there is an increased risk of complications. The S-Lift minimal incision face lift has been performed since the late 1990s.

The office based mini face lift not only tightens skin, it is designed to permanently suspend the underlying muscles and fibrous structures of the lower face and upper neck. This suspension of the lower face offers men and women the benefit of a more youthful appearance without the “wind blown” look of a formal face lift.

Replacing Facial Volume

Key to a natural looking facial rejuvenation is replacement of lost volume. Facial volume can be replaced by fillers or fat transfer. Fat transplant is performed by extracting fat from one area of the body (typically thighs or abdomen) via liposuction and then injecting the filtered fat through a syringe to various areas of the face to increase volume and decrease wrinkles. The fat also has the added benefit of stem cells.

Laser Skin Resurfacing for age spots and cell regeneration

As we age, our skin thins and appears more translucent. Sun damage becomes more evident through age spots and a decrease in collagen is pronounced through folds and wrinkles. Laser skin resurfacing is an effective way to correct these issues. The fractionated CO2 laser, heats and vaporizes skin tissue one spot at a time. The heat removes superficial layers of the treated skin while the untouched, surrounding skin aides in the healing process. This healing process stimulates cell regeneration is induced with production of new skin cells.

Botox for frown lines and crow’s feet

Neuromodulators like Botox can also be injected to relax facial muscles. It is most beneficial for the treatment of lines caused by overactive muscles of the forehead, cheeks and mouth. This makes it an ideal treatment for frown lines, forehead furrows, and also “crow’s feet.” It can also be injected to reverse the downward turn of the angle of the mouth.

As with any cosmetic procedure; choose your surgical artist well. The combination of mini-lifts, volume replacement, neuromodulators and skin resurfacing yield more lasting natural facial rejuvenation without the pulled or plastic look of days gone by.