What are some of the common Cosmetic Procedures for the Face?

Top Cosmetic Procedures for the Face include:

FACELIFT: Though nonsurgical options for the face are at an all-time high, one of the most popular and most effective longterm cosmetic procedures for the face still include the “Facelift”. Originally the facelift was simply removing the skin from in front of the ear in hopes of lifting the face. It resulted in a scar that widened and advanced forward with minimal if any, lifting of the face. Consequently and historically, the classic facelift involves elevating the face from the eyelid level to the lower neck, so basically the lower face and neck. The neck and jowls are actually what most people first notice about the aging process. Often the facelift procedure is combined with fat grafts and CO2 laser as well as the upper and lower eyelid lift. The average facelift can last up to 10 years depending on the age of the patient when undergoing their facelift. Remembering that the aging process will continue and to be realistic about the outcome is important. 

MID-FACELIFT: Where does a “Mid-face” lift fit in? The jowls and neck are not the only facial parts that sag with age. Take your finger and place it on the highest point of your “cheek-bone” and pull it upward and backward away from the corner of your mouth. Notice that this changes the shape of your face to that of a younger person, instead of just tightening the neck and reducing the jowls. The shape of a face starts out as the shape of a “U” and becomes like a square. This is why midface lifts are included in facelifts in the vast majority of cases.

Ancillary procedures: Ancillary procedures include Eyelid lifts, brow lifts, fat injections, and resurfacing with lasers or chemical peels. 

Eyelid lifts: This can involve the upper eyelids and/or the lower eyelids. Upper lids are indicated when the skin overhangs the actual eyelid and sometimes even the lashes. This procedure can be done with a facelift or by itself under local anesthesia. Sutures usually come out on the fifth day. There is usually bruising and swelling as with any plastic surgery procedure on the face. Common problems with lower eyelids can involve excess skin and fat bags below the eyes that appear puffy and never seem to get any better. If injectables, peels, laser treatments, and skincare have not done the trick a skilled plastic surgeon can perform a lower eyelid lift. The appearance of the extra skin and the fat bags can be addressed with an incision inside of the eyelid removing the excess fat that causes the “bags.” If there is excess skin, a skin incision is made or the excess skin can be reduced with a laser or chemical peel. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the options. This too can be an isolated procedure under local anesthesia. As with the upper eyelids, there is initial bruising and swelling. 

65-year-old before and 6 Months after Facelift plus implant to the chin and anterior cheek, lower lid blepharoplasty, and fat grafts to the face.

Brow Lift & Forehead Lift: A brow or forehead lift is indicated when the brow sags excessively, which also makes the upper eyelids sag. This too can be done with a facelift and eyelid lift. There are several methods of brow lifts, all seem to work satisfactorily and depends on the plastic surgeon’s choice. The frown muscles can also be reduced with brow lifts when indicated. 

Fat grafts (Fat Transfer): Ine of the primary causes of the aging appearance is the loss of volume from loss of both fat and bone. Because of this, one of the major advances if facelift surgery has been the use of fat grafts to re-inflate the face to that of a younger person. This has been an enormous advancement in making the facelift look more youthful and natural. There are many different ways to perform this, but usually, the fat is removed from the abdomen, then purified, and injected into the area of the face where the volume loss is visible. The fat is injected in the face with micro-droplets, and this often includes the hollows under the lower eyelids, lips, and even the wrinkles around the mouth, when it is needed. 

Resurfacing the Face: Resurfacing of the face is on top of the list for cosmetic procedures for the face in women and men that are not quite ready for facial surgery. Resurfacing is performed to reduce the wrinkles under the lower eyelids and around the mouth, particularly the upper lip. A laser treatment or chemical peel can often be effective and improvements of texture, tone can last for several years. Note that the areas treated often remain pink for several weeks, and even months, but makeup can be used until the redness subsides and the skin is visibly healed. Most patients think the procedures are well worth it, but it is a process that does not produce instant results. Most Medical Spas do not suggest CO2 lasers to be performed during the summer time due to the restrictions that come with this treatment. No sun exposure is allowed during the healing process. SPF30 is required to protect the skin from any sun exposure.

Cosmetic Procedures for the Face and Recovery Time

 Recovery Time: How long is the recovery for most cosmetic procedures for the face? Depending on what treatment is performed and if there is a combination of procedures performed, (Facelift, Fat Grafting, CO2) three to four weeks is the minimal time required before patients are comfortably going to luncheons, parties and such. With dark glasses and makeup, maybe two weeks. Before there is virtually no evidence that surgery was done the average time frame is three-four months. 

Anesthesia:  Usually, general anesthesia is recommended for most cases, however, with heavy sedation and local anesthesia, Eyelid and Brow lifts as well as Laser Resurfacing can be performed under local anesthesia.

 Pain: Because of the swelling and bruising of the procedures it looks much worse than it actually is and most patients only experience initial discomfort that is tolerable and subsides within a few weeks. 

We hope we have addressed some of your concerns and answered some of your questions about cosmetic procedures. We are dedicated to educating our patients and providing treatments and solutions for women and men seeking Aesthetic improvement for the face and body. If you live in the Coastal Empire and are interested in a consultation with Dr. Finger please feel free to book online or call us at 912-354-4411.

This article was written by Dr. E. Ronald Finger