Facelifts are immensely popular today, especially as many different techniques are now available. You can find the cosmetic procedure that’s right for you and your vision for the future. But if facelifts aren’t familiar to you, you may have many questions. Here are some common concerns that come up when considering a facelift procedure, so you can decide if this surgery is right for you.
Why Get a Facelift? You…Only Better
Our cultural focus on youth
It’s an unavoidable fact: today’s culture largely embraces youth. It’s everywhere, whether you’re applying for a new job, traveling, or simply socializing locally.
What does that mean for someone over the age of, say, 40? Many people approaching middle age or their senior years feel less than attractive because of aging and the stigma our society associates with that.
A facelift lets people take years off their face without changing the essence of their appearance. The procedure helps you look more youthful, so you feel less left out and can radiate an outer beauty that you feel better matches your inner glow.
Confidence and revitalization
Other reasons people get facelifts include:
- To gain confidence when starting to date after a divorce or spouse’s death
- To freshen the face after changes due to emotional trauma or serious illness
- To reduce sagging and lines after weight loss or reduced collagen production
Does a Facelift Stop Aging?
Aging more gracefully after a facelift
While a facelift can turn back the clock by a few years or even a decade, it doesn’t stop the aging process moving forward. Your face will continue to age, and you may develop more signs of aging over time.
That said, a facelift can offer multiple benefits if you’re worried about aging gracefully. First, even as you age, you start with a “clean slate,” so to speak, assuming you use quality skincare and stay out of the sun. If your facelift makes you look 40 instead of your real chronological age of 50, when you turn 60, you’ll probably look more like 50. That’s a pretty big difference!
Also, as mentioned above, facelift techniques and innovations have changed and continue to evolve. If you choose certain procedures, you may experience fewer side effects, faster healing, and less noticeable scarring.
Knowledge about facelifts and improving options have resulted in women and men getting this procedure first done at a younger age. Rather than waiting until they are 60 or 70, they may elect to try a mini lift — which is less invasive and typically done under local anesthesia — at 40 or 50. This sets them up to age in a less obvious way over the next decade or two and still leaves the opportunity for another procedure if desired in the future.
How to Choose the Best Facelift Procedure and Surgeon
If you’re thinking about having a facelift, you may have already been faced with a plethora of different procedures. Which one is right for you? Are there other procedures you should also consider?
Some people prefer to ease into cosmetic procedures gradually, especially if they are on the younger side with a little more time to experiment and fewer concerns they wish to erase. You might want to try injectables or a non-surgical procedure like Facetite or Profound Lift.
However, if you’re craving more dramatic, longer-lasting results or if you’re over about 50 years old, you may wish to explore surgical alternatives. Dr. Sarmela Sunder at Sunder Plastic Surgery offers three different types of facelift procedures.
Mid-facelift
This procedure focuses on the cheek area, where people tend to show hollowing and folds that make them look both tired and older. Dr. Sunder is one of just a few surgeons who perform the mid-facelift technique, which addresses a part of the face that is overlooked with other traditional facelifts.
Mini lift
Rather than undergoing a full facelift when they first start to notice signs of aging, many people choose the mini lift, which zeroes in on the lower portion of the face, specifically the jawline, and jowls. It uses small incisions around the ears and can be performed under local anesthesia, hence the nickname “Lunchtime Lift.” Downtime is generally quick too.
Butterfly Lift™
Developed by Dr. Sunder herself, the Butterfly Lift™ is scar-free and a more natural form of rejuvenation. It uses the body’s own cells, without any need for anesthesia. Recuperation time is minimal, making this a popular procedure in Dr. Sunder’s Beverly Hills practice.
If you’re not certain what type of facelift to have, a good surgeon will review your options with you and never try to force you into something you’re not ready for. When selecting a plastic surgeon, you should also look for:
- Experience
- Association with an accredited hospital
- Board certification
- Pleasing before-and-after examples
You’ll find Dr. Sunder ticks all those boxes for you and more. To schedule an appointment for a consultation about your facelift options, call 310-777-6679 or reach out online with your questions.
