nuance

Facelift

What Is A Facelift?

The visible signs of skin aging originate from the loss of collagen in the deeper layers of connective tissue, which leads to sagging and deep wrinkles. Sagging is also known as ptosis, and will generally make you look older than fine lines, particularly from a distance. Sagging is most apparent around your jaw; your “smile lines” running from the nose to mouth (also known as the nasolabial fold), and on your eyelids. Exposure to UV light, smoking, and pollution contribute to aging through damaging the superficial layers, causing finer surface-level lines. 

Facelift surgery does not reverse the underlying causes of aging, where connective tissue is lost. Instead, a facelift procedure reduces their appearance by restoring sagging tissues to a more youthful position. An expertly performed treatment will reverse age-related changes to the face in a natural and long-lasting manner. This procedure is performed at Nuance Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery by our facial plastic surgeon. 

Effectiveness Of A Surgical Facelift

The psychological benefits of facelift procedures can be life-changing. With a more youthful face restored, you may feel more confident about yourself and your future. 

Patients generally start seeking facelift surgery in their thirties, when the signs of skin aging become visible. Even patients in their seventies can achieve good results, but younger patients generally see superior results and shorter recovery times. 

A facelift is most effective when performed on your whole face, although it can be reserved for separate areas such as your eyelids or neck. Correcting sagging and wrinkles on your neck is often seen as the key to a successful procedure. SMAS techniques are still relevant here, as the muscles and connective tissue that must be targeted connect to it. People with thin necks or a history of dramatic weight loss stand to benefit the most.

Indications For Surgery

Facelift surgery has several key indications, where you stand to receive the most benefit. Resolving these can make you look far younger than less invasive procedures, which may only target the superficial wrinkles:  

  • Removal of jowling, where the cheeks or lower jaw sag downwards
  • General excessive laxity of the tissue in your lower face
  • Banding down the neck, if you are also undergoing a neck lift
  • The sagging of your eyelids can be addressed too during the procedure
  • An asymmetrical face, if you have facial paralysis that causes sagging on one side. 

How Is The Facelift Performed?

Gone are the days when a facelift meant an obvious tightening of your skin, as excess tissue was removed and your face was pulled back. The SMAS lifting technique intends to avoid this unnatural appearance, and prevent unnecessary strain from being placed on your skin. Some procedures involving the SMAS fold and suture the tissue to restore tension, while others remove excess tissue and re-suspend the face to bring back your youthful appearance. Focusing on the SMAS also protects you against nerve damage. To correct the nasolabial fold, the deep plane facelift is often necessary. 

How Long Does A Facelift Last?

The most important determinant of the longevity of a procedure is the type of facelift performed and the skill with which that facelift is performed. There are many skin tightening procedures that are advertised as facelifts (mini-facelifts, weekend facelifts, etc.) but fail within a year or 2 because the skin is not designed to maintain tension and will weaken and stretch immediately after surgery. A true facelift involves identifying and isolating a dense layer of tissue under the skin called the SMAS and using the SMAS to hold the tension of the facelift. The most durable technique is the deep plane facelift, which involves dissection under the SMAS layer to give maximum mobility and lift to the sagging tissues of the face and neck.  

How Quickly Can I Recover After A Deep Plane Facelift?

Most patients can return to work around 2 weeks after facelift surgery. A typical recovery timeline for a surgery looks like this:

  • Headwrap and drains are removed 1 day after surgery
  • Sutures are removed sequentially 5-10 days after surgery
  • Bruising typically resolves 1-2 weeks after surgery
  • Much of the post-surgical swelling will resolve at 2-4 weeks

Will The Facelift Incision Leave Any Scars?

A skilled facelift surgeon will carefully mark the skin and meticulously close the incision, making the post-surgical scar inconspicuous.

The Best City For A Facelift - Las Vegas

Located in Las Vegas, your procedure at Nuance will be performed by one of the few exclusive surgeons in the United States. 

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