In my Sarasota office, facelift surgery is one of our most popular services. But for years, this procedure was considered drastic by many, and previous methods could often leave the face with a too-taut, stretched appearance. Today’s facelifts create much more natural-looking results and rely on more advanced techniques than simply pulling the skin.
One of the things I love about medicine is that it’s a living field. New medications, treatments, and surgical techniques are always being developed, and plastic surgery is no exception.
At Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center, for instance, we use a newer, 2-layered approach when performing a facelift. By altering the SMAS muscle layer (the layer of tissue that connects the facial muscles) we can actually alter the structure of the face instead of simply stretching the skin over it to eliminate lines and wrinkles. In addition, most facelifts I perform include fat grafting which replaces much needed facial volume. This combination of structural lifting using the SMAS and adding back volume with fat grafting gives the most natural and dramatic improvements we have ever obtained with a facelift. During consultations, we also spend plenty of time with each patient, learning about his or her lifestyle and the areas that he or she wishes to address. For these reasons, today’s facelifts create much more favorable results than the facelifts of years past.
As a doctor, it’s exciting to see the way advancements in my field affect the lives of my patients in positive ways. Facelift surgery has long been called the “gold standard” of facial rejuvenation, with non-invasive procedures and over-the-counter products routinely trying — and failing — to replicate its results. As plastic surgery continues to evolve, the techniques we use and the results they deliver will continue to improve. I encourage people interested in a facelift to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon and see for themselves the exciting ways this procedure has gotten better with age.