A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical facelift procedure that lifts and tightens the face to help reduce the aging process. It is also important to know that it is not a singular procedure with a fixed protocol. A facelift focuses on the bottom ⅔ of the face and neck and is meant to improve and reverse signs of aging It’s important to point out that facelifts do not include brow lifts or eye lifts, a common misconception. However, brow and eye lifts can be performed simultaneously as your facelift procedure if discussed with your facelift surgeon beforehand. To put things in perspective a facelift is in fact a rejuvenation of the entire face and an intricate combination of both surgical and non-surgical procedures customized to each patient’s condition and aesthetic goals.
Depending on the nature and severity of your concerns, Dr. Kosowski will likely recommend one of the following facelift techniques based on your age, skin composition and overall best outcome:
- Full facelift: is reserved for older patients with more advanced, aggressive signs of aging
- Mid-facelift: targets the lower two-thirds of the face, including the cheeks, mouth, and jowls
- Lower facelift: addresses concerns on the lower face, including the jowls, chin, and neck
- Mini facelift: a less invasive approach, usually used by younger patients to improve mild to moderate concerns affecting the mouth and jawline
In addition to facelift surgery, Dr. Kosowski may recommend a complementary procedure to target isolated concerns and further enhance your results. Oftentimes, patients choose to pair facelift surgery with one or more of the following:
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)
- Facial fat grafting
- Cosmetic injectables
In addition to restoring a person’s confidence, facelifts can drastically improve certain conditions, including:
Jowling
This term is used to describe sagging skin below one’s jawline or chin. Jowling is caused by age and happens because the skin loses its elasticity over time. People often turn to facelifts to improve this condition if their skin has started to sag at an early age; this can be caused by genes, lifestyle choices, and even environmental factors.
Marionette Lines
Marionette Lines wrinkles that appear around the jaw and mouth, resembling a marionette puppet. Age causes marionette lines since the skin often begins to lose proteins like collagen and elastin over time.
Dropped Cheeks
Like marionette lines, dropped cheeks are caused by a lack of collagen and elastin in the skin. It’s common for cheeks to lose firmness and begin to sag, making a facelift extremely beneficial.
Lose Neck/Vertical Bands
The muscle in the neck can begin to deteriorate as one ages and can cause the neck’s skin to hang. People that are experiencing this condition can significantly benefit from a facelift to make the skin on their neck tighter.
Contrary to popular belief, excess fat in the neck is not always a sign of weight gain or obesity. Because fat and sagging skin can accumulate in the neck and chin areas for a variety of reasons, methods such as dieting and weight loss often produce only minimal cosmetic results at best. Drooping skin and excess neck or chin fat are typically related to age, sun damage, and/or rapid weight loss, but even young individuals with normal body fat can have a double chin or a “turkey neck” due to genetics. Fortunately, you can achieve a more graceful neckline or a more attractive profile with a cosmetic neck contouring surgery known as a neck lift.
Dr. Kosowski having completed an additional in facial plastics specializes in combining the neck lift with neck liposuction at Clearwater Plastic Surgery located right off Clearwater Beach which has been rated the #1 Beach in the US and #6 in the World.
WHAT IS A NECK LIFT?
A neck lift, often known as a platysmaplasty, is a popular cosmetic surgery that is performed to improve the appearance of the neck. This cosmetic surgery rejuvenates the neck by removing excess skin and tightening lax, sagging skin and muscles under the neck and chin. The operation is performed with neck liposuction to create sculpted contours in patients who would like to achieve a sleek and youthful look.
While there are some non-invasive neck treatments available for improving the look of the neck and chin, none of these options can dramatically tighten the skin, remove bands, reshape the jawline, and improve the profile. Cosmetic surgery is the only way to transform this vital area and achieve long-lasting results.
Lose Neck/Vertical Bands
The muscle in the neck can begin to deteriorate as one ages and can cause the neck’s skin to hang. People that are experiencing this condition can significantly benefit from a facelift to make the skin on their neck tighter.
Patients with minor facial aging and subtle excess skin can have a minimal removal paired with nonsurgical rejuvenation treatments—including energy-based facial resurfacing with Renuvion/J-Plasma, NovaThreads and Silhouette InstaLift for thread lifting and collagen stimulation, deep microneedling treatments with radiofrequency skin tightening, and long-term skin care maintenance—to produce significant improvements and a healthier, more youthful appearance.
