Center for Plastic Surgery surgeons say a successful facelift should result in a rested, refreshed appearance without excessively tight features
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The goal of a facelift is to restore a youthful appearance, but the procedure should not dramatically alter a mature face in an attempt to look overly young. An age-appropriate facelift provides facial rejuvenation that looks natural and complements the patient's chronological age.
Start Age Interventions Sooner & Make Subtle Adjustments
Many middle-aged people wonder how they can get a naturally ageless look, without anyone knowing they've had surgical interventions. Some make the mistake of waiting for their 60s or later to deal with facial aging, and then go for a dramatic multi-procedure rejuvenation: facelift, neck lift, brow lift, eyelid lift, laser resurfacing, and more. However, the most successful and natural-appearing age maintenance comes with making smaller adjustments at intervals, starting as soon as the early 40s.
Starting with one or two smaller procedures to target the first noticeable facial aging issues will allow for subtle improvements and maintenance of an age-appropriate look throughout a patient's 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Planning this way will help patients avoid a few of the most obvious signs of a bad facelift:
Avoiding a Windswept Result
Because the windswept look that results from an overly tight facelift looks artificial and unflattering, patients will get better results if their plastic surgeon takes a conservative approach. In an age-appropriate facelift, the underlying tissues are lifted to a more youthful position and then the skin is gently draped in place rather than being stretched. This approach improves the face's contours while preserving a natural appearance.
Avoiding a Surprised Look
A complete approach to facial rejuvenation can sometimes include a brow lift, but if this procedure is performed too aggressively it can result in a look of perpetual surprise. A more conservative approach lifts the eyebrows to a more elegant, youthful position while creating a rested, relaxed, and alert appearance. An age-appropriate brow lift alleviates sagging eyebrows and deep creases, and it improves the contour of the forehead without pulling the brow too far upward. Plastic surgeons also must use good judgment and caution when performing eyelid lifts to avoid unnatural changes in the shape of the eyes.
Refining the Results
Nonsurgical approaches should also be included whenever appropriate to supplement and enhance the surgical plan. Treatments such as BOTOX® or injectable fillers can be paired with surgical procedures to complete the more refreshed look. Surface skin treatments such as microdermabrasion or laser therapy can improve the skin's overall quality; the strategy should be to restore a younger-looking appearance without being noticeably altered.
The key to avoiding artificial results from a facelift is to work with an experienced plastic surgeon to develop a surgical plan that strives for age-appropriate rejuvenation. Such an approach allows the patient to get the youthful look he or she desires without having an obvious change in appearance. By combining surgical and nonsurgical approaches, a facelift can be tailor-made for each individual.
About The Center for Plastic Surgery: The Center for Plastic Surgery serves the greater Washington, D.C., area with offices in northern Virginia and Maryland: 3299 Woodburn Road, Suite 490, Annandale, VA 22003, (703) 560-2850; and 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 130, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, (301) 652-7700. For more information, visit http://www.cpsdocs.com.
Media Contact: Debbie Barwick, (877) 427-7888.