Facelifts and Rejuvenation Questions and Answers

We often get questions about how to turn back the clock and what procedure or treatment is best to look youthful. Well, there is not one simple answer, but here is what we have gathered for you. Dr. E. Ronald Finger is a board certified Plastic Surgeon, Author of the book “Why Grow Old” and founder of New Youth Skin Care. Dr. Finger has 40 years of experience as a Plastic Surgeon and has offices in Savannah Ga, and Bluffton SC.

This patient had a full facelift, fat grafts, liposuction of the chin, upper and lower Eyelid Lift by Dr. E. Ronald Finger — at Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center.

Facelifts and Facial Rejuvenation can change your life! From old and tired to looking young and vibrant. Patient shown here had a full facelift, neck liposuction, fat grafts, and upper and lower eyelid lift.

Facelifts and Face Rejuvenation: Q & A

1. What is a basic Facelift? Originally a 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.

2. 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.

3. What is the ancillary procedure that can be performed? Eyelid lifts, brow lifts, fat injections, and resurfacing with lasers or chemical peels.

4. 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 is often done in conjunction with facelifts but also performed 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.

Problems with lower eyelids can involve excess skin and/or fat (the bags). Generally, the problem is the fat, and this 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 of choice 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.

5. 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.

6. Fat grafts (fat transfer): one 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 the fat is removed from the abdomen, processed, and injected into the deficient areas of the face with micro-droplets, including the hollows under the lower eyelids, lips, and wrinkles around the mouth, when indicated.

7. Resurfacing: Usually done to reduce the wrinkles under the lower eyelids and around the mouth, particularly the upper lip. A laser or chemical peel can be effectively used. Usually, the areas remain pink for several weeks, and even months, but makeup can be used until this subsides. Most patients think the procedures are well worth it.

8. How long is the recovery? This is related to the combination of procedures done. Generally, if all of the procedures are done, three weeks is the minimal time required before patients are comfortable going to luncheons, parties and such. With dark glasses and makeup, maybe two weeks. Before there is virtually no evidence that surgery was done is usually three months.

9. Anesthesia? Usually, general anesthesia is used. However, with heavy sedation and local anesthesia, the procedures can be done. Eyelid and brow lifts can be done under local anesthesia.

10. is there a lot of pain with these procedures? Actually no. Because of the swelling and bruising it looks much worse than it is regarding pain. Most patients say there is discomfort, but it is more than tolerable.

If you live in the Savannah Ga, Bluffton SC or the surrounding area and are interested in learning more, feel free to book your consultation with Dr. E. Ronald Finger in either Savanah or Bluffton SC. Call 912-354-4411 or fill out the form below to book your consultation with Dr. Finger.