Should You Consider a Facelift?
By Michael Fiorillo | Published on May 18, 2011 | 0 Comments
As you get older, the telltale effects of time and gravity on your skin become more difficult to ignore. If you’re concerned about sagging and deep creases in the lower half of your face, a facelift may be something to consider. According to Michael Fiorillo, MD, a prominent cosmetic surgeon in NY, a facelift offers anti-aging results that simply can’t be achieved through alternative means.
What a Facelift Can Do
Over time, gravity, the sun and our skin’s natural aging process take their toll on our faces. Creases appear around the mouth, the jaw line begins to slacken, and the neck develops folds and fat deposits. A facelift is designed to counteract those effects by tightening muscle, removing fat, and trimming excess skin for a more youthful look.
As compared to other anti-aging procedures, a facelift can produce much more noticeable results. Some patients look 10 to 15 years younger after surgery. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that a facelift can’t stop the aging process, and that no anti-aging procedure can be expected to last forever.
Who Are the Best Candidates?
The best candidates for facelifts, Dr. Fiorillo says, are individuals who have tried less invasive treatments but are not happy with their results. Non-invasive or minimally invasive anti-aging procedures include laser treatments, skin tightening facials, injectables like BOTOX and fillers, and other treatments generally offered at a dermatologist’s office or a medical spa. These treatments can be quite effective at reversing some of the first signs of aging, but eventually may no longer provide the kind of dramatic changes a patient is hoping for.
Facelifts are often performed on patients who are, for example, no longer considered good candidates for injectables (i.e., 65 years of age and up). Patients who are younger, but are concerned about a lack of elasticity, jowls or hanging skin may also want to consider a facelift. While non-invasive treatments can be effective at fighting fine lines and wrinkles, explains Dr. Fiorillo, only surgery can correct sagging skin.
There are also other factors in determining whether or not you’re a good candidate for a facelift. You should be generally healthy, with some elasticity remaining in your skin, and a non-smoker. It’s also important that you have realistic expectations, and that you’re considering a facelift for personal reasons – not because someone else has pressured you.
For the right candidate, a facelift can produce dramatic results and the chance to regain a fresher, more youthful appearance.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.