Age takes a toll on our whole body, and our face is one of the first places we usually notice the effects. After all, we move our faces constantly, and they’re constantly exposed to the sun and environment around us in a way most of the rest of our skin is not. It’s not surprising that the facelift has become one of the most desired plastic surgical procedures, and at Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre in Columbus, OH, we offer several types of lifts that can address your specific needs.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift is an outpatient procedure that gives the face and neck a younger, healthier appearance. It can tighten loose skin, remove the deeper creases around the mouth and nose, and remove any excess skin that may be hanging on the neck or under the chin. A lift can also address some of the underlying issues that affect the way you feel about your face, including making adjustments to the muscles or tightening deeper tissues.
4 Fast Facts About the Procedure
- The results typically last about 10 years, depending on how well you care for your skin.
- It takes around a week to 10 days to recover, but you can resume many activities the next day.
- This procedure is not associated with a lot of pain and discomfort.
- A facelift actually focuses on the lower 2/3rds of the face but can be combined with other procedures to improve the upper portion.
Today’s Lifts
Lifts of the past were associated with long hospital stays, many weeks of downtime, pain, and a sudden, dramatic change in appearance that signaled to the world that you’d “had work done.” Thanks to enormous advances in technology and medical skill, a qualified surgeon like Dr. Stephen Nogan at Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre can offer much better results. Today’s lifts are outpatient procedures that are finished in just a few hours. They do not cause pain or weeks of isolated downtime, and they work subtly to make natural changes that make you look fresh and young without looking strange or unnatural. In fact, today’s lifts can be customized very specifically to your needs and goals.
Facelift Choices
The Lower Rhytidectomy
This lift concentrates on the face from the upper lip to the lower neck. During this procedure, we’ll suspend the fatty tissues and muscle layer to give the face a higher, younger appearance. We then lift the skin to the same level, removing any excess so you look natural and never stretched or pulled. This procedure is especially important for making improvements to the nasolabial fold, stopping sagging along the jawline, and dealing with creases just below the corners of the mouth.
The Mid-Face Lift
The mid-face lift address the middle of the face, or the area around the cheeks and cheekbone to the upper lip. The way you look in this area is determined by two things: the shape of the bones beneath and the state of the soft tissues that sit on top of these bones. During a mid-face lift, the goal is to re-establish the heart-shaped contours you enjoyed when younger. This lift makes the nasolabial fold less prominent and smooths the area under the eyes while making the cheekbones more prominent. In some cases, this can be done best by using an implant to replace some of the bone or soft tissues in the area which have worn away with time. In other cases, the procedure involves repositioning fallen fat in the face. The incisions from this procedure are cleverly hidden just below the lower eyelashes or in the temple where hair can hide them perfectly.
The Mini-Lift
The mini-lift focuses entirely on the lower part of the face and restoring definition to the chin and jaw. For many men and women, one of the most dismaying signs of aging comes as the tissues in the face begin to sag. This happens as collagen production in the middle layer of our skin, which anchors the outer layers and the deeper fat, starts to slow and the foundation weakens. As the foundation weakens, the fat and tissue succumb to the pull of gravity and move downward. During the mini-lift, we remove the excess tissue to restore youthful contours to the chin and jaw, refreshing the appearance and giving you a natural look. The only incisions required here are hidden around the ears.
Non-Surgical Lifts
Sometimes a surgical procedure is the only way to get the full results you’re looking for, and surgical lifts have the longest, most lasting results. But at Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre, we also offer the “Weekend Facelift,” a series of treatments that enhance volume and tighten the skin without the need for surgery for those looking for something other than surgery.
FaceTite
This treatment uses radiofrequency energy to heat up the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and promote healing from the inside out. FaceTite addresses the neck and jowls most effectively.
Ultherapy
This treatment delivers ultrasonic heat to the skin. This warms up the lower levels and causes skin regeneration that will firm and tighten skin on the face, neck, and chest.
Infini
Infini combines micro needling with radiofrequency energy to tighten and smooth skin in the face, neck, or chest. This combination of treatments promotes fast, effective tissue regeneration.
Which Is the Right Lift for Me?
There used to be very little choice when it came to getting a facelift, and many people thought of a lift as something only for Hollywood stars. Today, things are much different. There are so many advanced techniques and customization options that anyone can give their face a youthful restoration no matter what issues are bothering them most. Choosing the right lift is something that should be done in consultation with our doctors, and that’s why every lift starts with an appointment with Dr. Stephen Nogan. This consultation gives us a chance to understand your goals, examine your skin and areas of concern, and get details about your age, medical history, lifestyle, and skin condition that can help us make the best possible recommendation for you. The final choice of treatments or procedures involves your preferences, Dr. Nogan’s expertise, and a few key factors that we’ll discuss with you. We want you to have a realistic understanding of what each procedure can and cannot do for you as well as find the right procedure for your needs. The goal is always for you to enjoy a higher quality of life with better self-esteem and confidence.
FAQ About Lifts
Is My Choice of Surgeon Important?
Nothing will have a greater impact on your final results than your choice of surgeon. When you’re seeking plastic surgery for the face and neck, it’s important to have a board-certified facial plastic surgeon working on you rather than a general plastic surgeon. Why? A general plastic surgeon works on many areas other than the face, such as the breasts, hands, buttocks, and more. A facial expert concentrates training and experience in working with the delicate structures of the face. That training and expertise make all the difference in getting you perfect, natural results. At Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre, our facial surgeries are performed by Dr. Stephen Nogan, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with extensive training and experience specifically in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Am I a Good Candidate?
You’re likely a good candidate if you’re in good health overall and are dissatisfied with the signs of aging on your face and neck. If your weight is stable, you don’t smoke, and you have realistic goals, there are only a few issues that could stand in your way, most of them related to being cleared medically for surgery. When you meet with us, we’ll help you figure out if you’re a good candidate and make sure you are tested for any allergies or similar issues that could interfere with your candidacy for a surgical procedure. If surgery isn’t right for you, we can help you find nonsurgical options that may still be able to address your concerns.
How Long Does It All Take?
The length of your procedure will depend on what you’re having done, but generally, the maximum amount of time would be five hours, and most procedures take less time than this. This is an outpatient procedure, so you’ll be able to return home when it’s over. It’s important to rest from stresses like vigorous exercise and work for a week to 10 days to give your body plenty of energy for healing, but you can take walks and do many normal life tasks starting the very next day. The full results will be visible just a week or two after surgery, and you can expect to keep your results for up to a decade.
Will There Be Scarring?
Today’s advanced techniques enable us to carefully hide scars under hair and in the natural folds of the skin so no one is the wiser. However, if you are particularly concerned about scarring, talk to us in person and we can show you pictures or even suggest the right non-surgical treatment to address your concerns.
Will I Look Stretched or Pulled Afterward?
Years ago, it was easy to tell when someone had just had a lift. That’s because lifts basically just lifted the skin, leaving the tissues underneath untouched. That caused a dramatic difference between the layers and a strange, tight look to the face. Today’s techniques are nothing like this. We tighten the muscles and deeper structures right along with the skin so everything looks natural. Your friends will think you’ve just gotten back from a long, refreshing vacation.
Is a Lift Only for Women?
These surgical lifts are perfect for men as well as women. We find that men are typically most interested in addressing the skin of the neck and lower face, but anyone who is unhappy with the look of their face should come in for a consultation!
When Is the Right Time for My Lift?
Again, this is a very personal decision based on your age, skin condition, and time of life. When you talk to us, we can help you decide the best course of action for your needs. Younger and younger patients are now choosing some of the more minimally invasive procedures in order to get a jump start on the signs of aging and prevent them from developing. And it’s worth knowing that the younger you are when you get your lift, the longer the results will typically last.
Time for a Lift?
Plastic surgery for the face and neck has come a long way, and today’s lifts are fast procedures that give you natural, beautiful results that last. If you’d like to know more about these lifts and talk over your options, contact Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre in Columbus, OH for a consultation. Our team of medical experts is ready to help you find the most effective treatment for the best results.
