Face

The Face: Anatomic Changes with Aging

Let’s face it, as we get older there are certain changes that occur to our face and neck area that are unavoidable. Gravity, time, essentially aging is something that we can’t circumvent. Sagging, wrinkling and an increased amount of loose skin are all hallmarks of facial and neck aging. There are many factors that accelerate the process of facial aging, including unprotected sun exposure over long periods of time, high stress, poor nutrition, smoking, and poor physiologic health.

Specifically, the changes of the face that are significantly noticeable include prominent nasolabial folds (laugh lines). These run down obliquely from either side of the mouth and are accentuated when we smile. They become more prominent over time. Marionette lines are the lines that develop below the angle of the mouth towards the jawline. One of the most unsatisfactory region of concern are the jowls as they become more prominent as the face becomes more lax and sags further. The cheeks begin to sag and there is increased wrinkling around the lateral portions of the mouth, as well as decrease in cheek prominence. Finally, one of the greatest concerns is that of the neck area. As laxity and redundancy set in, the platysmal bands or neck bands become more prominent underneath the chin. Turkey gobbler deformity is the deformity in which there is so much laxity that the neck tissue actually wobbles when moving the head. This area is generally the area of greatest concern for most individuals.

Aging of the face is unavoidable, but there are many things that we can do to try to alleviate accelerated aging, including taking care of ourselves, taking care of our health, eating well, refraining from smoking, taking care of any medical problems that need our attention such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, overweight concerns, etc. But nonetheless just with standard aging essentially we all will come to a point where we feel better than we appear. Essentially we all come to a point in our live where we feel more youthful and energetic than the facial aging portrays and this is a significant point whereby addressing these issues becomes paramount.

The fountain of youth- the solution

Of all the procedures performed in facial plastic surgery the neck and facelift has become the most desirable and the most commonly performed and the most satisfying. After undergoing a simple facelift and/or neck procedure by an experienced facial plastic surgeon, the overall sense of gratitude, success, satisfaction and excitement generally is extremely high.

As a fountain of youth solution, the facelift helps reduce the hallmarks of aging, the sagging jowls, the loose redundant skin of the neck, the excess banding of the undersurface of the neck, the excess skin in the submental area, the prominent nasolabial folds, and the fine wrinkles in and around the cheek area. Essentially there is a significant restoration of the youthful appearance of the face.

What to expect

Before undergoing a facelift procedure it is important to examine a few important issues. First and foremost, an experienced facelift surgeon is a prerequisite to achieving an excellent result. Generally recommendations from medical personnel such as a friend in nursing or a doctor friend is helpful to seek out an experienced facelift surgeon. Additionally it is important to understand how many procedures of the facelift kind, your facial plastic surgeon has performed or performs on a regular basis. All upsides and downsides, as well as expectations must be carefully discussed to a reasonable satisfaction and all questions should be answered prior to going forward with your fountain of youth facelift procedure. It is important also that the facial plastic surgeon is highly recommended and is board certified for facelift and plastic surgery.

The overall expectation should include improvement and enhancement of the face youthfulness, restoration of normal youthful anatomy, and an increased sense of beauty. There can be anywhere from 5 to 20 years of improvement of one’s facial youthfulness, although commonly it is between 10 to 15 years. Nonetheless, the manifestations of the aging process will continue their effects on the face and neck as the years pass and this procedure is something that provides significant enhancement of one’s appearance and thousands of Americans undergo this procedure each year. Nevertheless, when comparing one’s facial appearance to one’s peers, a sense of a more youthful appearance is persistent for years after undergoing facelift.

The fountain of youth procedure- the facelift procedure

Facelift (rhytidectomy) specifically and nicely treats the neck, cheek, jowls, nasolabial folds and lateral temporal areas. Generally this is an office based procedure performed after consultation with the facelift surgeon. It is performed under local and tumescent anesthesia with oral sedation. Generally the procedure takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half. Incisions are created in and around the ears and hide quite nicely. Tightening is performed in the neck area and lateral face regions. Often times, sculpting of fat is performed to the jowl area and/or neck areas.

Bandage is applied and patients are essentially feeling pretty reasonable the next day, take pain medications for three to four days and are able to go back to work in seven to ten days. On occasion, up to two weeks is required for appropriate convalescence.

Dr. David Q. Santos has been performing facelift surgery since 1995. With over 15 years experience and over 2,000 facelift procedures he is a super specialized expert in facelift surgery.