Are you considering facelift surgery? You’re in good company. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that in 2016, more than 131,000 women and men had facelift surgery to banish wrinkles and tighten sagging skin. But what causes facial aging in the first place, and how do facelifts “work” to reverse these signs?
Facial aging is caused by a number of factors. For example, sun and other environmental exposures play an especially significant role by causing incremental damage to the internal structure of skin, weakening it and making it more susceptible to the signs of aging. There’s a natural decline in facial volume—especially in the cheeks and around the eyes—which means skin looks and feels less firm and plump. At the same time, there’s a gradual weakening of the facial muscles—especially the large platysma muscle—that results in a “downward drift” that contributes substantially to sagging and wrinkles in the lower face and jowl area.
And your overall health and life experience play a role: Chronic disease, stress and even genetics also play significant roles in facial aging.
Good skin care routines, including faithful use of sunscreen, can help alleviate some very minor signs of skin aging. But to address more significant signs, like saggy skin and wrinkles, you need a more aggressive and comprehensive approach. That’s where facelift surgery comes in.
Facelifts use advanced surgical techniques that focus on correcting age-related issues in the midface and lower facial regions, including sagging skin, droopy jowls, lines and wrinkles around the mouth and chin.
During the facelift procedure, your surgeon restores the natural contours associated with a more youthful face. He does this by gently lifting and repositioning weak facial muscles and removing excess skin to create a smoother, former appearance. Plus, facelifts can be combined with other procedures, like a neck lift to eliminate the dreaded “turkey neck” or a forehead lift to elevate your brow area.
If you’d like to learn more about facelift surgery and whether it might be a good option for helping you achieve your goals, call The Cosmetic Surgery Center at (216) 264-8100 to schedule your free consultation today.