Procedures Commonly Combined with a Facelift

Commonly, a facelift is performed with other cosmetic procedures for a balanced rejuvenation result. Most of these procedures can certainly performed at a later time; sometimes they were done already earlier (i.e., eyelid lift). It is worthwhile to discuss other procedures with your cosmetic surgeon, even if you decide not to go ahead with these at this particular time. Additional rejuvenation procedures include eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), browlift, chin implant, fat transfer, cheek implants, skin resurfacing, dermal fillers and even rhinoplasty (nose surgery).

Eyelid Rejuvenation (Blepharoplasty)

The eyes are commonly affected during the normal aging process. In addition, when we observe another person’s face, we generally look at the eyes first. Therefore, it is important to consider the upper and lower eyelid in any complete face rejuvenation program. In pure surgical terms, the eyelids can be addressed before a facelift, at the same time or later.

The main advantage of performing blepharoplasty together with a facelift is the recovery time that is usually similar for both procedures. Main concerns of eyelid aging involve the development of droopy and puffy eyes due to saggy unsupported fatty tissue which becomes visible. This leads to an overall aged and tired appearance of the face. The upper and lower eyelids can be affected either alone or both together.

Blepharoplasty is one of the most delicate and successful procedures for rejuvenating the area around the eyes. An eyelid lift can enhance the youthful glow of one’s face for a natural appearance.

Browlift (Forehead Lift)

Commonly forgotten, the brows play an important part in the look of the eyes and the face at large. Therefore, a browlift is a frequent procedure performed together with a facelift. Similar to the remainder of our face, gravity forces the brows lower with time. A low brow position leads to a stern facial appearance and contributes to the droopy upper eye appearance.

Youthful female brows are located on top of the bony ridge of the upper eye socket. This bone is called the upper orbital rim and it creates a pleasant prominence just below well-positioned eyebrows. A successful browlift recreates this natural position without the undesired “surprised look” – the tell-tale sign of an overly eager surgery.

The normal brow position for man is just at the level of the bone. Therefore, restoring the brow position in a man too high may have a feminizing effect. Because a lower brow position is not uncommon in men, browlifts are less frequently performed in men than in women.

Chin Implant (Chin Augmentation)

With our normal aging process, the chin region experiences some recess due to decrease in bone and soft tissue prominence. Augmentation of the chin can improve the overall balance and proportion of the face and can significantly improve definition of the chin-neck angle, one of the youthful features in the lower face.

In addition, the overall profile of nose, lips and chin contributes to the decision making. In a man, a strong chin is desirable; in a woman, a slightly smaller chin may be more aesthetically pleasing. The specific choice of chin implant can further add to the success of the facelift. The implant is usually placed through the same small incision under the chin that is used for the neck procedure.

Cheek Implant (Cheek Augmentation)

High cheek bones are a feature of the attractive young face. With time, soft tissues overlying the cheek bones descend leading to a square facial shape. Enhancement of the cheek bones can improve the facial balance and improve the aesthetic result after your facelift. The cheek implant can be performed together with the facelift, before or afterwards. The implants are usually placed through small gum incisions inside the mouth.

Lip/Mouth Enhancement

Similar to other parts of the face, also the lips loose volume over the years. In addition, lip skin is exposed to damaging sun light which further adds to aging with “smoker lines” and lip thinning. These changes can be addressed by resurfacing techniques (dermabrasion, laser treatments, chemical peel) of the lip skin to allow more youthful skin to arise. Talk to your plastic surgeon to learn which treatments may be right for you.

In order to enhance the lip volume, injectable fillers are the most commonly used treatment options because of there relative ease of use and minimal recovery. There are many dermal filling materials (see below) on the market and each one has its own characteristics. Alternatively, lip implants can be placed through a small procedure.

Facial Resurfacing

Skin rejuvenation procedures include chemical peels and laser resurfacing. These procedures help to address the hallmarks of aging skin such as brown spots, pigmentation irregularities, lines and wrinkles. Depending on your cosmetic doctor’s philosophy, these treatments can be performed together with the facelift, before or after the procedure. The recovery time after skin resurfacing depends on the depth of the skin removal and ranges from 1 to 3 weeks or even longer.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal and soft tissue fillers can be used to enhance the lips or smoothen deep folds and grooves of the face. The most commonly treated regions are the nasolabial creases (extending from nose to corner of mouth), the forehead frown lines and the marionette lines. Some injectable filling materials are temporary and others are permanent.

These ancillary procedures can be performed together with your facelift or may be better performed after the procedures. Discuss these options with your facial plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping Surgery)

Although not as commonly combined with facelift surgery, rhinoplasty can be performed together with a facelift. As part of the natural aging process, the nose changes its appearance together with the remainder of the face. Some of these changes are related to the decreasing elasticity of the nasal skin. The nose may become droopy and longer adding to the overall aged facial appearance.

Improving the nasal appearance can in fact result in a younger and refreshed look without unwanted signs of cosmetic surgery. Therefore, aging rhinoplasty should be considered as an adjunct in the overall facial rejuvenation plan.

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