The skin, muscles and fatty tissues of the face change over time. Firm skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity as the fatty tissue and muscle begin to droop and sag. While you cannot stop aging, there are ways to rejuvenate the face and look years younger through cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery. The gold standard of anti-aging cosmetic procedures is the facelift. At Eden Plastic Surgery Institute, Dr. Ali Charafeddine and our team offers advanced options in facelift surgery at our state-of-the-art medical center in Miami.
Our highly respected and board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Ali Charafeddine, offers exceptional results for our facelift patients. Dr. Charafeddine trained at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic to learn the most advanced techniques for creating natural, lasting results from plastic surgery. Not all facelift surgeries and plastic surgeons are equal in quality and results. Dr. Charafeddine has the experience and expertise to achieve a natural appearance – you will still look like you, just a younger version of yourself.
What is a Facelift?
There is some misinformation or misunderstandings of what is done during a facelift. First of all, facelifts do not address the upper midface or forehead. It specifically rejuvenates the upper neck, jawline and jowls, or lower part of the face. The main objective of a facelift is to remove excess skin and tissue in the jowls, then tighten to create a firmer, more youthful appearance around the nose, mouth, chin and upper neck.
Beyond the area a facelift addresses, there are also many different types of facelifts. You will hear terms such as SMAS, deep plane, mini and weekend facelifts – each is slightly different in the level of difficulty and issues it resolves. Dr. Ali Charafeddine offers a variety of different facelift options, depending on the extent of sagging or drooping in the skin and jowls. He can recommend the right procedure for your needs to achieve a more youthful, natural appearance to your lower face.
How is Rhytidectomy Performed?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, uses incisions near the temples and extends down below the ears in or near the hairline to access the skin and tissue of the jowls and lower face. This hides the incisions and scars to make the procedure discreet. The length of the incision and placement can vary, depending on the patient and the type of facelift surgery performed. A “mini facelift” will have smaller incisions, where SMAS or deep plane facelift procedures require longer incisions to access the muscles and tissues.
During a facelift, the goal is to reposition the tissue in the jowls, jawline and upper neck to a more youthful position. Fatty tissue may be removed or repositioned to reshape the face. Once the facial structure reshaped, excess skin is removed, and the skin is secured over the muscles and tissue at the incisions near the hairline.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Both men and women who want to look more youthful or maintain their appearance may be good candidates for facelift procedures. Patients should be in good health and preferably be non-smokers. Some patients begin with a non-surgical or mini facelift when they begin to first see signs of skin laxity or sagging in their late 30s or 40s. Others may wait until their 50s or later to have a facelift performed to help them look 5-10 or more years younger. It is important to have realistic expectations. While a facelift can rejuvenate the face and drastically improve the youthfulness of your appearance, it does not stop the aging process. Many people will have multiple facelifts as they get older to retain a more youthful appearance.
If you are interested in learning more about facelift surgery and whether it is right for you, contact us at Eden Plastic Surgery Institute. We can schedule a private and confidential facelift consultation with Dr. Ali Charafeddine at our medical facility in Miami.