The face lift is one of the best-known cosmetic procedures, and for good reason! If you have loose, aging skin around your face, a face lift allows you to “press the rewind button” and restore a more toned, youthful appearance.
Recent advancements have made face lifts simpler, less painful, and more effective than ever before. The procedure can also be adapted to each patient’s individual needs and concerns. So, if you’ve been looking for a way to address signs of aging, it’s worth learning more about face lifts.
Who is a good candidate?
As you age, it’s natural for your skin to lose elasticity. This occurs mainly due to reduced levels of collagen and elastin, two proteins that give skin its tight and youthful tone. A reduction in elasticity can cause your facial skin to look loose, thin, and textured. Instead of sitting gently over your bone structure, it can begin to sag or droop.
Sagging skin can present in multiple ways, including:
- Drooping jowls
- A double chin
- Excessive skin around the neck
If any of the above concerns sound all too familiar to you, then you’re likely a good candidate for a face lift. While a face lift won’t change the bone structure or overall shape of your face, it will turn back time. Patients often find they look 10 or even 15 years younger after surgery.
What are the key face lift benefits?
Sometimes patients ask us why they should opt for a face lift instead of relying on topicals like wrinkle creams or minimally invasive procedures, like filler injections. Those other treatments certainly have their place. However, face lifts do have three important benefits that you won’t get from alternatives.
The results are dramatic.
Wrinkle creams can somewhat reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and fillers can add some volume to make sagging less obvious. However, the results of these treatments are usually quite subdued compared to those of a face lift. If fillers turn the clock back a year or two, a face lift can turn the clock back a decade. Plus, your surgeon will tailor your face lift to your specific needs, so you’ll experience tightening and toning in just the right spots.
You’ll still look like you.
The idea that a face lift will leave you looking artificial or “fake” is a misconception. An experienced, qualified cosmetic surgeon, like Dr. DeMercurio, will take great care to perform a natural-looking face lift. After all, your bone structure won’t be changed during the procedure. All we’ll be doing, essentially, is removing loose skin and restoring your remaining skin to its earlier, original position. This can lead to profound, emotional benefits. Patients often feel more like themselves and experience a surge in self-confidence after a face lift.
The results are long-lasting.
Your skin will continue to age after a face lift, which means you may notice some slight sagging and droopiness a few years down the road. But for the most part, the results of a face lift are permanent. You don’t have to remember to apply a long list of cosmetics every day to maintain your look. And you don’t need to schedule med spa sessions every three months, either. This makes a face lift procedure a convenient and efficient way to address the facial signs of aging.
What is face lift recovery like?
A face lift procedure is a surgical procedure, so there is a recovery period involved. But, with that being said, many patients are surprised to find that recovery is simpler and less painful than expected.
On average, recovering from a face lift takes about four to six weeks. The exact length of the recovery will depend on a few factors, including your personal health, how well you adhere to aftercare instructions, and the extent of your procedure. If a shorter recovery period is a priority, we may suggest a mini-lift, which is a simpler, less extensive version of a face lift.
During the first two or three weeks after surgery, you can expect significant bruising and inflammation. This can be managed with pain medications. Your face will be carefully bandaged to protect the incisions, and your surgical team will show you how to change your bandages and care for the incisions as they heal.
Swelling typically reduces dramatically by three to four weeks, and you can resume most activities at this point. Scars begin to fade within two or three months, and your full results will be visible about six to 12 months post-op.
Are you interested in learning more about the face lift Ormond Beach residents can’t stop praising? Schedule a consultation with the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. We offer warm, supportive consultations and can address any personal questions or concerns you might have in an honest, straightforward way. Our goal is for you to take control of your own appearance, and our skilled team is happy to help.
