Facelifts in New York? Complicated–In a Good Way!
Yes, facelift surgery in New York and other areas where accomplished plastic surgeons practice has become somewhat complicated to understand. But in a good way!
Read on and find out what we mean.
Like many, if you’re noticing signs of facial aging in your mirror you may not be able to pinpoint exactly what has you looking older than you would like. Are you seeing mainly dynamic wrinkles that develop with repeated muscle action? Or do you notice soft folds that occur when tissues under the skin begin to break down? For that matter, is aging skin a big culprit?
Even if you have a sense of where your biggest problem areas are, such as nasolabial lines between the nose and mouth, you’ll almost certainly have more than one rejuvenation choice.
So what do you do?
You start by choosing a plastic surgeon who’s certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Then, make sure he or she has many years of experience, keeps up with the latest developments in the field and has a variety of rejuvenation tools and techniques to offer.
Let’s imagine a patient in early middle age who is unhappy about her nasolabial folds—the lines one television ad from a few years ago termed “parentheses” around the mouth. And let’s add that she has some slight sagginess of the mid-cheek skin. She might need a traditional facelift, right? Maybe, or maybe not. Here are some other possibilities:
A dermal filler—just like that old TV ad suggested—might be a good place to start. These injectables can re-create a firm foundation under nasolabial wrinkles that will plump up the skin and last a few months. The benefit to an approach like this is less cost and downtime than surgery. If the woman will be content with a modest improvement, or wants to start the rejuvenation process conservatively, a filler could be the answer.
On the other hand, this same patient might benefit from fat grafting to the mid cheek area. The face loses volume over time, and replacing it with fat from other areas of the body can help raise the skin and smooth wrinkles. This is also a less invasive strategy than surgery, and since plastic surgeons are becoming more knowledgeable about how to succeed with this technique, it’s a viable option for many patients today.
Finally, perhaps this woman is seeking more dramatic, long-lasting results. We might recommend a unique procedure we perform: a mid facelift. This is a surgical procedure that lifts the triangle of skin underneath the eyes and toward the mouth and makes wrinkles appear smooth again. Although it is surgery, it’s easier on the budget and schedule than a traditional facelift.
To any or all of these strategies, some additional steps can be added. Microdermabrasion or a chemical peel can get rid of dead surface cells and brighten up the skin. Botox injections can smooth away dynamic wrinkles, adding a rejuvenation boost to the forehead or around the eyes. Some patients may elect eyelid surgery or another complementary procedure for even more dramatic results.
So you see, there are so many rejuvenation options available today that it’s not easy for a prospective patient to decide for herself what’s best. Nor should she! The right plastic surgeon will examine each woman and note the problem areas. He or she will also listen carefully to the patient’s goals and take into account her budget, time available, life demands, future plans and more. In the best cases, surgeon and patient will be a team for life.
If you would like to consult us about the right strategy for you, give us a call here in New York at 212-570-6080. From facelift surgery to quick lunch hour dermal filler injections, we will be happy to work with you on all the options.
