Types of Face Lift - Which is Right for You?

A face lift is an elective cosmetic surgical procedure almost as old as elective cosmetic surgery. As long as people have been trying to improve their appearance, they have been trying to fight the effects of gravity on their face. As we age, our skin naturally loses its elasticity and sags. This results in facial features that look droopy and contraindicate our desire to appear perky and youthful. In return, many of us have decided to fight the effects of aging on our face by getting a literal lift within the skin.

As one of the oldest and most popular elective cosmetic surgical procedures, it’s no wonder there have been a lot of advances and changes in techniques and technology over the years. Physicians and plastic surgeons and scientists and researchers are continually trying to find a new and better way to perform an old idea. This has spawned a dozen different types of face lift procedures with just as many different types of results and side effects or risks. 

The term face lift refers to surgical incisions that are created in order to lift the skin and tighten it over the skull bones. This can have a variety of results depending on where the incisions are placed and what other procedures, such as fat removal or grafting, are done at the same time. The incisions are almost always placed along the ear and under the earlobe, in a location where they will heal quickly and be easily hidden. Even if the scars don’t completely fade, most women have hair that is long enough to cover their ears and men may opt to grow sideburns. 

Some of the different types of face lift procedures include suture-only thread-lift, MACS lift, composite face lift, deep plane lift, SMAS-tightening, lift, and 3D volumetric lift. Results for each of these types of procedures will vary depending on the experience and skill of the plastic surgeon. It is important to find a plastic surgeon that is experienced in the particular procedure that you are interested in. This will dramatically improve the results, reduce the risks and diminish unwanted side effects. 

If you have questions about this type of elective cosmetic procedure and the options that are available, it is important to contact a plastic surgeon in your area. He or she will be able to answer your questions and help you determine which type of procedure is right for you. Since each individual has different problems with their face due to aging that they want to fix, it is important to learn what each type of procedure focuses on in order to find the one that will fix the problem you have.