3 Age-Related Changes a Facelift Can Address
While some patients think that a facelift rejuvenates the entire face, the procedure actually has a much narrower focus. A forehead lift or eyelid lift can target features on the upper half of the face, while a facelift at Palm Desert’s Cosmetic Surgery Institute addresses changes that develop in the mid-face to lower half.
Here are three specific signs of aging that facelift surgery can help to improve.
Parentheses Lines
Nasolabial folds—often referred to parentheses lines because of the punctuation marks they resemble—are pronounced creases that develop as volume diminishes with age. Loss of collagen, facial fat, and hyaluronic acid cause these static lines to form and deepen, bracketing the mouth and nose and giving the face an overall aged appearance.
Pulling the skin tighter can reduce the severity of these lines by creating a smoother surface.
An Obscured Jawline
A youthful jawline tends to be well-defined and distinct. In other words, there’s a clear contour that separates the face from the neck. Sagging skin and downward migrating fat can cause the jawline to appear undefined. The excess skin creates a lax look, making the entire face appear “bottom-heavy” or wider at the bottom than on the top.
Elevating this sagging tissue and removing excess skin can restore the well-defined contours of a “sharp” jawline.
Excess Skin and Neck Fat
Just below the face, an isolated pocket of stubborn fat cells can create what is known as a double chin. There are various ways to address this cosmetic problem, including a facelift that involves surgical fat reduction. Loose skin that sags can also contribute to the look of a “flabby” neck.
Removing the excess skin and fat, as well as securing the remaining skin in place for a taut and firm look, can make a dramatic visual difference.
Note that while a facelift is ideal for altering facial contours, a different strategy—such as nonsurgical, collagen-inducing lasers—is used to address issues with skin quality, including fine lines and spots.
To learn more about the possibilities available from a facelift with Dr. Mo Zakhireh at Cosmetic Surgery Institute, reach out online to set up a consultation or get answers to questions about the procedure. Interested patients can also call (760) 837-0364.
Debunking Facelift Myths: The Truth Behind Facelift Surgery
Are you considering a facelift in Palm Desert, but feel hesitant to fully commit due to misconceptions and widespread myths? Facelift surgery is a popular cosmetic procedure, with thousands of satisfied patients experiencing renewed self-confidence and transformation—and even more rumors, myths, and beliefs about the procedure. In this post, we'll debunk some common myths about facelifts, so you can make an informed decision about the procedure.
Myth 1: Facelifts are for older people only
While it's true that facelifts are often sought by individuals in their 50s or 60s, age is not the sole factor in determining candidacy. The primary objective of a facelift is to correct visible signs of aging such as sagging skin, jowls, and deep facial folds—all issues that can also affect younger individuals. A qualified plastic surgeon will assess each patient's skin elasticity, facial structure, and health to determine if a facelift is an appropriate solution.
Myth 2: Facelifts result in an unnatural appearance
When performed by a skilled surgeon, a properly executed facelift should yield a natural, rejuvenated appearance. This misconception likely arises from observing poorly done procedures or exaggerated outcomes in the media. In reality, a successful facelift should enhance your existing features and produce a refreshed, youthful visage without telltale signs of surgery.
Myth 3: Facelifts are only for women
Facelifts aren't gender-specific, and many men undergo the procedure to address signs of aging and improve their appearance. The number of men opting for facelifts has increased significantly in recent years. Plastic surgeons understand the unique requirements of male patients and are experienced in providing tailored solutions that result in a natural, masculine appearance.
Myth 4: Facelift results are temporary
While a facelift can't stop the aging process, the results of this procedure can last for many years, depending on factors such as genetics, skin quality, and lifestyle habits. Facelift patients experience a long-lasting improvement in their appearance, with many enjoying rejuvenated features for a decade or more following surgery.
Myth 5: Facelifts and non-surgical treatments deliver the same results
Non-surgical treatments such as dermal fillers, BOTOX®, and laser therapy have their place in cosmetic enhancement, but they can't replicate the comprehensive results achieved through facelift surgery. Although these treatments can provide temporary improvement in facial appearance, a facelift offers a longer-lasting solution, addressing underlying muscles and tissues that nonsurgical treatments simply cannot reach.
Having debunked some common facelift myths, we hope this information proves helpful in your decision-making process. When considering a facelift in Palm Desert, it's essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can discuss your concerns, share their expertise, and help you achieve your desired look. Contact the Cosmetic Surgery Institute today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a more confident, rejuvenated you.
Can a Facelift Improve the Shape of Your Face?
Many patients want to know: Can a facelift change your face shape? For Los Angeles and Palm Spring-area women and men seeking a cosmetic change, our team at Cosmetic Surgery Institute explains that a facelift is a popular cosmetic procedure that focuses on creating more youthful contours. Considering that the procedure can help to improve the appearance of your face and restore a more youthful, refreshed look, the answer is yes!
By lifting and tightening the skin and underlying tissues of the face, a facelift can help to smooth out the face, reduce sagging, and create a more defined and youthful facial contour. Although aesthetic trends continually change, having a leaner face with a more inverted triangle shape that’s associated with youth is currently the look that is most in demand.
If you're considering a facelift to improve the shape of your face, here's what you need to know.
A Facelift Reduces Sagging
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity, and gravity pulls the skin downward, causing sagging and wrinkles. A facelift can help to lift and tighten the skin and underlying tissues, reducing the appearance of sagging and restoring a more youthful facial contour.
A Facelift Improves Facial Contours
A facelift can also help to improve the facial contour, creating a more defined jawline, cheekbones, and neck. The lower half of the face is re-shaped by the removal of excess skin, which can give you a more youthful and defined appearance and help to improve your overall facial balance and symmetry.
A Facelift Restores Volume
As we age, we lose volume in our face, and our skin becomes less plump and full as a result. A facelift can help to restore this volume, creating a more youthful and defined facial contour.
A strong, well-defined bone structure can provide a foundation for a youthful and attractive appearance. However, even those with a strong bone structure can benefit from a facelift as the aging process affects the skin and underlying tissues in ways that can detract from a youthful look. A facelift can help to restore the skin and underlying tissues to a more youthful position, creating a more defined and refreshed appearance.
Can a facelift change your face shape? Our team at Cosmetic Surgery Institute will tell you more about what you can expect from this procedure. Call us at (760) 837-0364 or submit an online contact form to request a consultation if you want to discuss cosmetic surgery for a younger-looking face.
Can a Facelift Reduce Wrinkles?
It’s natural for your skin to lose some of its elasticity as you get older. Not to mention, wrinkles and depressions begin to form when levels of collagen—one of the building blocks of healthy skin—begin to decrease over time. One of the major facelift benefits for Palm Desert patients is that this surgical procedure can tighten skin significantly in a way that wouldn’t be possible with non-invasive cosmetic treatments on their own.
Although the facelift is most well-known for its ability to lift sagging cheeks and jawline skin to rejuvenate the face, patients are often curious about whether this form of cosmetic surgery will also reduce other effects of facial aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
The word “rhytidectomy”—which is the medical term for facelift—comes from the words “rhytid” meaning wrinkle and “ectomy” meaning excision or surgical removal of something. The truth is that while facelifts are excellent for correcting loose skin to improve facial contours, they aren’t designed for smoothing superficial wrinkles; other forms of sun damage; creases around the nose and upper lip; and wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, and mouth. They also will not address uneven skin or areas of irregular pigmentation, such as hyperpigmentation and age spots.
In other worlds, facelifts are great for making deep folds and creases less noticeable, but they won’t change the texture, look, or tone of the skin itself. In fact, experienced plastic surgeons avoid pulling the skin too tight during a facelift because this strategy can give the patient an overly “windswept” or artificial look.
Facial cosmetic surgery is meant for correcting “sags and bags,” jowls, or weakened muscles. If you hope to improve the overall quality of your skin, BOTOX® and fillers are the better options for reducing most facial wrinkles, and laser treatments, microneedling, and chemical peels are rejuvenation techniques that can enhance your skin’s quality and appearance. These treatments can be done before or after a facelift to optimize results.
For more details about improving the look of the face, contact Cosmetic Surgery Institute by calling (760) 837-0364, or send a message via a contact form to request a consultation and find out whether you’re a suitable candidate for various procedures or treatments.
What Makes a Good Facelift Candidate?
The quality of your skin changes a lot during your lifetime, often starting off firm and volumized during your 20s but becoming thinner and more prone to wrinkles as you reach your 40s and 50s. Skin eventually loses its elasticity while becoming thinner, paler, and more translucent. Additionally, pigmentation may begin to appear on areas that are frequently exposed to sunlight. Luckily, cosmetic procedures make it possible to turn back the clock and reverse—or at least temporarily improve—some of these changes. Even though there are so many non-surgical options available to reduce wrinkles and enhance the skin’s appearance, such as fillers and wrinkle relaxers, when it comes to more severe skin sagging and volume loss on the mid-face, there’s no replacement for a facelift. Our Palm Springs-area Cosmetic Surgery Institute team often sees patients who are unsure about which anti-aging treatment would be more suitable for them. During your consultation, we will help you make this decision. Here are some factors that would make someone an ideal candidate for facelift surgery.
Maintaining Realistic Expectations
For a facelift or any other type of plastic surgery, it’s crucial for the patient to maintain realistic expectations as to what can be accomplished with the surgery, as well as a positive outlook. Patients should understand that the surgery can improve their appearance, but may not necessarily perfect it.
Healthy Individuals
A facelift is invasive surgery that can be stressful on the body. Are you in good health without underlying, major medical conditions that could impair healing? If so, you might be considered a good candidate. Patients are encouraged to maintain a stable weight, quit smoking, and maintain a healthy diet.
A Well-Defined Bone Structure
Patients who naturally have a strong, distinctive bone structure will often get results that they are quite happy with.
Supple Skin
Even though facelifts are performed to improve loose skin, the patient’s skin still needs to be fairly elastic and strong so that it can tighten around the new facial contours that are sculpted. Therefore, ideal facelift patients should have skin that retains some elasticity and flexibility.
Need more advice about minimally invasive injectable treatments or other procedures such as facelift surgery? Contact Cosmetic Surgery Institute for more information. Call us at (760) 837-0364 or submit a contact form to request a consultation to find out which procedures are best suited for your concerns and goals.
What Are the Best Types of Facelifts for Addressing Specific Concerns?
We all eventually age, and the effects of time passing can be seen in the condition of our skin, as well as our facial contours. When we’re younger, it’s normal to have a more heart-shaped face with a slimmer, more defined jawline and fuller, higher cheeks. Once the surface of the skin begins to pull away from underlying tissues, becoming saggy due to gravity and a loss of collagen and healthy fat, it might form pronounced folds on the lower face, loose areas on the neck, and “jowls.” Many people feel self-conscious about the way this drooping skin changes their appearance. Fillers and other injectables can help to some degree, but the option that provides the most dramatic and long-lasting results involves removing the excess skin and restoring a more sculpted face via facelift surgery. For Los Angeles, Palm Desert, and other area patients, there are several different options to choose from, including the standard facelift, mid-face lift, and mini facelift.
The most suitable technique for you depends on your unique aesthetic concerns, facial anatomy, skin condition, and more. While your plastic surgeon will make a recommendation for how best to approach your specific surgery, here is some basic information you should know about the differences and similarities between each of these options, as well as the signs of aging each approach can target:
Mild Jowling and Sagging Skin
If you’ve started to notice the earliest signs of sagging around your jawline and neck area, you might be an ideal candidate for a mini facelift. One of the benefits of having this particular procedure done is that you may not need to have more drastic surgery in future years. The mini facelift is not as “involved” as more significant procedures and requires smaller incisions.
Sunken Eyes and Hanging Skin Around the Cheeks
The mid-face lift, also known as a cheek lift, is designed for improving the area that extends from the eyes to the mouth, without altering the jawline or forehead. It can improve the appearance of pronounced nasolabial folds, sunken eyes, and deflated or pinched cheeks.
Moderate to Advanced Signs of Aging
A full facelift is a more extensive procedure used to target especially pronounced signs of aging on the lower two-thirds of the face, including everything below the ears. This surgery can involve removing and repositioning skin and other tissue via incisions that are larger, but still well camouflages in natural lines and creases on the face.
Find out more about the types of facelift surgery Cosmetic Surgery Institute offers. Our team can answer any questions and help you decide which type of surgery would be best for achieving your goals. Call us at (760) 837-0364, or fill out a contact form to request a consultation.