As you move through life, it is natural to develop wrinkles on your face and loose skin around your jawline. If you would like to create lasting improvements in these issues, you should consider receiving a facelift. Dustin C. Derrick, MD is the leading provider of facelifts at Cosmetic Surgery of DFW in Fort Worth, TX. Read on to learn how he can use this aesthetic technique to smooth your wrinkles and firm your loose skin.
How Does a Facelift Work? The Process Explained
A facelift is an aesthetic procedure that can be used to make your facial features and neck look youthful and fresh. The technical term for this procedure is a rhytidectomy.
A Customized Process
Since your lift will be personalized to fit your cosmetic objectives and facial structure, the specific techniques that Dr. Derrick uses to improve your appearance will vary. For example, he can use a SMAS plication lift to improve your face. The SMAS, also known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, is a sheet of tissue that lies on top of the muscles in your face.
It’s normal for the SMAS to become looser as you age. This process can cause you to develop marionette lines on your face, folds around your nose, and sagging skin on your jawline.
An SMAS Plication Lift
In the past, medical professionals would lift people’s skin without altering their SMAS. This old technique often gave people’s faces an overly tight, unnatural look.
During an SMAS plication lift, Dr. Derrick will use a special technique to improve your face in a natural-looking manner. During this type of lift, he can put sutures in your SMAS. These sutures will tighten your SMAS and decrease the amount of loose skin around your jawline and neck. Once you recover from your procedure, your skin will look firm and youthful.
What Will My Initial Consultation Involve?
When you come in for your first meeting, Dr. Derrick will discuss your medical history and carefully examine your face. In addition to assessing the condition of your skin and facial structures, he will ask you to discuss the specific issues that are bothering you. For example, if you don’t like the loose skin on your neck, you should share this concern with him.
Once Dr. Derrick has assessed your aesthetic concerns, he will talk about the cosmetic techniques that can be used to address your issues. At this point, you should feel free to ask him questions and share your concerns with him. For instance, if you would like to know more about the anticipated cost of your procedure or are curious about the amount of time that it will take you to recover, we can talk about these subjects at this point.
How Long Will It Take Me to Recover From My Lift?
The type of lift that you received, the severity of your skin issues, and your general health will affect the total length of your recovery period. That said, this is usually an outpatient procedure that takes about two to five hours to complete. As a result, you should be able to have a friend or family member drive you home after your procedure is finished.
The First Day
Once you are at home, you will probably feel very sleepy for the rest of the day. To protect your safety, your friend or relative should stay with you for the next 24 hours or so. During this time, you should rest and keep your face in an elevated position while you are sleeping.
The First Week
During the first week after your procedure, we will probably prescribe you medications that will help you feel comfortable during the healing process. In addition, you will need to come in for follow-up appointments. During these appointments, Dr. Derrick can monitor your body’s reaction to your lift, remove bandages, and assess the condition of your incisions.
The Second Week
You may be able to return to your job after within 14 days. You might also be able to start sleeping on your side at this point. However, we will probably advise you not to start exercising yet. Increasing your heart rate could put extra stress on your body and delay the healing process. In addition to avoiding exercise, you should not try to carry heavy objects or bend over.
Will I Need to Change My Skincare Routine While I Am Recovering From My Lift?
You’ll need be very gentle with your face during your recovery process. When you are cleaning your face, you should not distrub your sutures or incisions. Your also should not blow-dry your hair for a while. In addition, you should not wear makeup or use your usual skincare products. We can let you know when it’s safe to return to your normal skincare routine.
When Will I See the Final Results of My Lift?
When Dr. Derrick removes your bandages, you will probably notice improvements in your wrinkles and loose skin. However, you should not judge your results until your skin and other facial tissues have had sufficient time to recover.
Although your recovery will be unique, you will probably feel comfortable going out in public within about two weeks. After a year, you can expect to see the final changes in your face.
Will My Lift Create Lasting Changes in My Appearance?
Many minimally invasive treatments create temporary changes in your look. For example, if you use injectables to reduce your wrinkles, your improvements are likely to last for a couple of months. Once your injectables wear off, you’ll have to receive touch-up injections to maintain your youthful appearance.
In contrast, a lift is designed to produce more lasting improvements in your skin. If you use sunscreen and take good care of your body, the benefits of your lift will probably last for a long time.
What Is the Right Age to Receive a Lift?
There isn’t a specific age when you should consider using a lift to improve sagging skin and wrinkles on your face. Genetics, lifestyle choices, sun exposure, and many other factors will impact the behavior of your skin over time. For example, if your genes cause you to age quickly, you could develop deep wrinkles and very loose skin when you are in your early forties. Alternatively, you might not experience these problems until you are much older.
To determine whether you are ready for a lift, you should come in for an initial consultation. After Dr. Derrick has examined your face, he can recommend the best treatment options for you. For example, if you are dealing with relatively minor wrinkles, he will probably advise you to use injectables and other minimally invasive techniques. If your skin is very lax, he will probably recommend a lift or other invasive procedure.
Can I Combine a Lift With Other Aesthetic Procedures?
In addition to smoothing wrinkles on the lower portion of your face, many other cosmetic techniques can be used to improve the condition of your brows, neck, and other areas of your body. Depending on your health, you might be able to receive these other procedures at the same time as your lift. Combining aesthetic procedures can be a good way to reduce your overall recovery time and achieve significant improvements in your look.
Eyelid Lift
Like the skin on your face and neck, your eyelids will start to sag and droop as you get older. Droopy eyelids can make you look perpetually sleepy or tired. In addition, this issue can interfere with your ability to see clearly. Getting an eyelid lift, also known as a blepharoplasty, can give you a more rested, attractive look.
During this procedure, Dr. Derrick can improve the appearance of sagging lower eyelids that reveal some of the white under your iris. He can also lift upper eyelids that are obstructing your vision. In addition to fixing sagging eyelids, he can decrease wrinkles on your eyelids, remove excess skin from this location, and minimize bags under your eyes.
Neck Lift
Since the skin on your neck is very mobile and delicate, this area of your body often begins to sag and loosen at a fairly early point in your life. Further, excess fat in this area can give you a noticable double chin. A neck lift can be used to reduce your neck fat, eliminate unwanted skin, and firm the muscles in your neck.
A neck lift usually takes about one to three hours to complete. When Dr. Derrick improves your neck, he will make very small incisions in your skin. Next, he will use these tiny incisions to firm your muscles and remove unnecessary fat and skin from your neck. Since your incisions will be located in carefully chosen, discreet places, you should not have noticeable scars after you have finished healing.
Fat Grafting
In addition to developing sagging skin on your face, you will probably lose volume in your cheeks and other areas of your face as you age. As your volume decreases, your facial features will become hollow and sunken. If you are dealing with this frustrating issue, you should consider receiving fat grafting in combination with your lift.
Fat grafting is a technique that uses your own fat cells to give your face a plump, youthful appearance. If you receive a fat graft in connection with your lift, Dr. Derrick will harvest fat from another area on your body. After he purifies your fat cells, he will use a cannula or a needle to transfer them into your face. Adding additional fat to your face will improve the appearance of hollow cheeks and other sunken facial features.
Brow Lift
As you get older, your eyebrows and forehead will begin to sag. Developing loose skin on the upper portion of your face will make you look tired or frustrated. Further, your friends, co-workers, and family members might think that you are constantly angry or upset.
A brow lift corrects this issue by eliminating excess skin that is located above your eyes. Dr. Derrick can also firm and reposition your muscles during your brow lift. Receiving a brow lift at the same time as your facelift is a good way to rejuvenate the skin on the upper and lower portions of your face. Fixing these issues will make you look alert, youthful, and approachable.
Improve Your Face
A lift is a wonderful way to smooth your wrinkles and tighten loose skin on your face. If you take good care of your skin and eat a balanced, healthy diet, the positive changes in your face are likely to improve your look for a long time. If you would like to discuss the benefits of getting a facelift, please give us a quick call at (817) 562-7979 to set up a meeting with Dustin C. Derrick, MD at the Cosmetic Surgery of DFW in Fort Worth, Texas.
