Facelift and facial rejuvenation procedures are some of the most popular treatments and procedures, particularly among millennials and middle-aged individuals trying to prolong and reverse signs of aging. With age, sun exposure, genetics, and lifestyle behaviors come wrinkles, sunspots, sagging muscles, and skin that can start to take over. Good skin care habits, sun protection, and less invasive treatments can slow down these signs, but there comes a point when natural facial aging starts to happen, and more invasive intervention is needed to correct these concerns. Facelifting is becoming more common and a sure way to lift and restore facial features back in place. But what facelift procedure is the best and going to give long lasting results? There are many options out there and it’s important to know what each provides and will address to make the most educated decision for you.
Understanding How the Face Ages
As we age lines start to form, we lose facial volume, and the contour of our faces start to change. Hollowing under the eyes, temples, and cheek areas become more prominent. Facial bones change, soft tissues like muscles begin to fall due to gravity creating heaviness in the cheek area and jowling. A face that was once a heart shape is becoming squarer. The aging process has impact beyond lines, sunspots and what is apparent on the skin’s surface. For some it happens more or earlier than others and it’s a personal decision to address these concerns. Utah Facial Plastics and UFP Aesthetics is a one stop shop for your facial rejuvenation needs and we provide the latest and most effective non-surgical and surgical options for treatment.
The Infamous SwiftLift™
You may have heard of the “Swift Lift” and people gravitate towards it due to it being a 90-minute outpatient procedure with low downtime to address sagging skin of the lower face. This procedure may be ok for patients who are experiencing very early signs of aging, but the problem with this procedure is that it does not address any of the underlying features that contribute to aging and sagging. An incision is made in front of the ear and the loose skin is pulled back, removed, and then sutured back up. This may be a temporary fix but overtime the dropping muscles will start to resurface and the lift will likely look unnatural and be short lasting where it does not address dropping muscles and descending fat pads.
Mini Facelift or MACSlift
When it comes to the mini facelift, it always sounds more enticing because people are hesitant to undergo a full facelift or might not be as advanced to receive one. It is important to know the difference between a mini lift and a deep plane facelift and what each will accomplish. This procedure is usually best for people in the 30-40s age range, but this isn’t always the case. The mini lift addresses the lower face. The incision is made in the temporal area and extends down the front of the ear and ends at the bottom of the ear. It lifts sagging cheeks and primarily mild to moderate “jowling”. It is great for those who are in the earlier stages of aging and those who don’t have major neck concerns. The MACSlift is also not as long lasting as a standard facelift so some might have to consider another procedure down the road.
Deep Plane Facelift
Individuals looking for a procedure to lift and reverse signs of aging are most hesitant to consider a facelift procedure. It is the most invasive of facelifts, which requires more downtime, and most have concerns of looking unnatural or unlike themselves. This procedure is best for those in the 40-60 age range, but again this really just depends on the genetics and concerns of the individual. However, when done by an experienced and specialized facial plastic surgeon, a facelift can be very rewarding and what someone needs to address their concerns.
UFP’s Exclusive Deep Plane Facelift is unique to a standard facelift technique as it rejuvenates the mid face, jowls, and neck area for a comprehensive improvement. Ideally the face and neck are one unit and if there is sagging, lax skin, protruding neck bands, and excess fat in the neck area this should be addressed as well for the most natural result. The incision route is the same as the mini lift, but it extends further behind the ear and into the hair line so that our surgeons can access the mid face, lower face, and neck area underlying tissues. Once all the lifting has been done any excess skin is removed and the incision line is sutured back up. A deep plane facelift takes anywhere from 4-6 hours to achieve, and most patients will say that there isn’t a lot of pain involved with this procedure. 2-3 weeks of social downtime, swelling, and bruising can be expected.
Choosing the Best Facelift for Me
Choosing to have a procedure is always a personal decision. It is always best to consult and get all the information to determine what will be best for you. Some of the things you will want to consider are:
- Genetics: ethnicity and heritage play a roll in how we age, if we look at our parents and grandparents, we may have somewhat of an idea on how we will age. Some individuals age better than others naturally and that is an unknown factor from person to person.
- Age: Age is inevitable, and time will tell if and when you should consider doing a procedure
- Lifestyle: Lifestyle habits play a role in how we age. Sun protection, eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and avoiding substances like alcohol and smoking will help your body and skin to age better.
- Goals: Your goals will help determine what is best for you. It helps you manage expectations and get a better visual of what your outcome will be.
Ultimately you are unique and it’s important to consult and trust in your surgeon to give you all the information and best recommendations based on your desires and goals. You may want a less invasive treatment or procedure, but it’s important to know what to expect and you may be underwhelmed if your desire is to have big changes. Utah Facial Plastic’s surgeons have years of experience to give you the best recommendations and provide safe and outstanding results when it comes to facial rejuvenation. Schedule a facelift consultation to determine what the best course of treatment is for you or call 801-776-2220 to get more information on why you should choose Utah Facial Plastics.