Facelift / Necklift Q & A with Dr. Laverson:
Am I ready for a face-lift?
You’re ready when your aging troubles you enough to bear the expense, recovery, and risk of a face-lift in order to realize the benefits. Between the ages of 40 and 50, the procedure is mostly preventive, and you’ll look youthful well into your 60′s. If you’re over 55 or so, depending on your ethnicity and aging features, the procedure is more corrective, the results more dramatic, and still long lasting.
How long will my facelift last?
A facelift turns back the clock. You will start aging again from that point forward. The good news is you will always look better than if you did not have the procedure in the first place.
What type of recovery can I expect?
Pain after face and neck lift is usually not severe. The primary burden during recovery is a swollen irregular appearance until soft tissues assume their final dimension. This will take a MINIMUM of three weeks before you feel comfortable being seen in public, and then, likely with shaded glasses, and perhaps hat and scarf. Usually, by four to six weeks, you gradually see your younger self emerging. Return to social and professional activities follows.
What can be done for a “double chin?
The best treatment depends on your skin elasticity, the amount fat causing the double chin, and your preferences. If you have good skin tone (elasticity), neck fat can be removed with gentle liposuction, an office procedure. Liposuction may be combined with Thermi-RF skin tightening. This improves contour and definition of the neck, but not as much as formal (open) neck lift surgery. If skin elasticity is poor (sagging skin), necklift with or without facelift offers the best result. Necklift requires general anesthesia, so is more expensive, but results may be dramatically better. Liposuction addresses excess superficial fat only, while necklift removes superficial and deep fat, tightens neck muscles, and redistributes and removes excess skin. For men with significant excess skin, necklift can sometimes be accomplished by a direct approach.
How will my “frown lines” and “crow’s feet” be treated?
Dr. Laverson often removes frown muscles and uses a combination of carbon dioxide laser, temporal browlift, and/or BOTOX® Cosmetic for these areas. Because this is an important part of your aging, resolution of crow’s feet to some degree should accompany facelift.
Will I look natural after my surgery?
Dr. Laverson applies techniques to preserve a natural appearance. Our goal is for you to appear younger, not different.
Can laser resurfacing or chemical peels be done at the same time as a facelift?
Yes, and laser smoothing of rough textured aging skin with fine creases is part of most comprehensive face and neck anti-aging procedures. Resurfacing is added for areas where the skin has not been freed from the underlying tissues (i.e. the area of the mouth, crow’s feet). Carbon dioxide laser treatment of skin around the mouth corrects or improves fine wrinkles emerging from the lips.
Where are scars from a facelift?
Along the hairline behind the ears and in natural creases and boundaries of the ear, beneath the chin, in the hair, and other areas where they can be best concealed. Occasionally scars may be visible or troubling. This is most common among men with short hair and women who wear their hair up, wear it back, and/or people with thin or sparse hair. This is often known in advance, and Dr. Laverson plans the procedure accordingly, to avoid visible scar. Still, if it’s a problem, he will revise the scar in the office. This is a minor procedure, usually performed without surgeon’s fee.
Am I too young for a facelift?
Everyone ages differently. When you decide for facelift depends on your specific features and how you feel about your aging. Many prefer less aggressive surgery at a younger age to maintain a youthful appearance and prevent further aging.
Do you perform endoscopic or traditional brow lifts?
Although I can do both endoscopic and open brow lift, my preference is for open browlifts because the hairline stays low, in a youthful position. Scars are hidden in or behind the hairline, and the amount, direction, and area for lifting is better controlled and predicted than with endoscopic technique, in my hands. Also, the results, I believe, are longer lasting.
When would you not do an endoscopic brow lift?
Patients with a high hairline and long forehead are better served by a hairline brow lift so that the hairline can be lowered while also elevating the brows.
Do you do facelifts, brow lifts, and eyelid lifts all at the same time?
Yes. Doing all three at once creates better harmony between all areas of the face. Since all areas of the face age together, it may be preferable to treat all areas simultaneously.
