Best Facelift Procedure For Thin, Saggy Face?

Facelifts are still the go-to procedure people think of when they hear the words “cosmetic surgery,” and at Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, we field a lot of questions about this common procedure. One example is our Question of the Week, which came in from our Facebook audience. The patient asks, “I am 65, slim, with a long face. It has been suggested to me that fat grafts would not be very successful in my case as I do not have (quality or quantity) of good fat supplies. I have been contemplating a facelift for many years and fat grafting to deep folds and lack of volume has been suggested but this comment about the success of this procedure is confusing. [Also, what is the healing time for nose surgery at my age?”]

Dr. Pane started by observing that based on the description of the face, non-operative or less invasive procedures such as Botox are unlikely to achieve the results the patient wants. What is more likely is that a facelift will be required to help tighten the skin of the face and help restore a more youthful and firm profile to the facial area. This may or may not be accompanied by a necklift, depending on the condition of the skin in that area and whether it is far gone enough to warrant the additional surgical intervention. An in-person clinical evaluation of the area would help point the surgeon in the right direction concerning this.

Regarding the fat transfer, Dr. Pane said he found the comment about the patient lacking adequate adipose tissue to achieve the transfer made no sense. The reason for this is because a fat graft to the face to help fill out the area beneath the skin does not require nearly as much fat as a Brazilian buttlift or fat-transfer-aided breast augmentation. Generally, everyone has sufficient fat somewhere on their body to help fill out the face. Where the fat comes from, be it the breasts, buttocks, abdomen or thighs is another matter, but one way or the other, the typical human being normally has plenty of fat for this application.

Dr. Pane noted that healing time for a facelift is generally short and the surgery well-tolerated by most people. When the procedure is performed by someone who is skilled and experienced, there should be minimal to no pain. However, he stressed that it is crucial to take it easy for the first several days after surgery so that everything heals properly. The downtime after the surgery is normally close to a week, but this depends largely on how comfortable the individual is being seen in public while the incisions are still more or less fresh. In Southern Florida, there is less stigma attached to cosmetic surgery than many other areas of the country, and the incisions are usually small enough and set in such a way that they are mostly concealed.

A normal recovery curve is to take it easy for the first three to five days to allow the area to settle and any bruising to fade, although this is normally minimal to nonexistent. After this time most people are able to resume all normal activities with little risk of potential problems. Proper aftercare and monitoring of the area can help prevent or minimize postoperative complications. This includes avoiding direct sunlight, smoking, alcohol consumption and other environmental and habitual factors that may impact the healing process. In addition, the patient should be aware of excessive tenderness, pain or wound drainage, as these can be warning signs of infection or other problems. However, complications and side effects are typically mild and the vast majority of patients do not experience any of these at all. Having a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon perform the procedure is also a very good way to reduce the likelihood of complications after surgery.

If you have a question about plastic surgery, no matter how big or small, we at ACA are always glad to help you explore your options in an open and honest manner. Simply follow us on Facebook and Twitter, email us at https://acplasticsurg.com or call us at (561) 422-4116. Your question may even be our next ACA Question of the Week, which Dr. Thomas Pane, our founder and Chief Medical Officer, will answer live in an upcoming Google Hangout so we can help you and others get the information they need and want. At ACA, we believe the only bad question is the one you don’t ask!