Full Facelift and Mini Facelifts
There are many different names for facelifts — Lifestyle lift, Quicklfit, Threadlift, and many other names have been developed and patented as marketing tools. The bottom line is that a procedure to rejuvenate the cheeks and neck is a FACELIFT period.
The word “facelift” generally refers to lifting of the cheek and neck tissues; however, some think it means lifting every area of the face – the eyes, forehead, cheek, and neck. Regardless, the term “facelift” is nonspecific and a bit ambiguous. For clarification, let’s use “cheek -neck lift” when referring to surgical improvement of sagging of the neck and jowl line. A browlift or forehead lift is lifting and improving the brow position. Blepharoplasty refers to rejuvenation of the upper and lower eyelids. Improvement of the jowls and neck can be accomplished with a full cheek neck lift or a mini-lift (S-lift) depending on the degree of sagging in the neck.
Lifting and tightening of the cheek and neck tissues can make a dramatic, but natural change in the way you look. For today’s patient, the “wind-tunnel”, unnatural look caused by overdone, pulled skin is no longer acceptable. Our patients desire a more “natural looking” appearance and that is Dr. Bigelow’s philosophy on cosmetic surgery. Rest assured that your family and friends with still recognize “you” – they will just think you have a new hairdo or have been on a long, relaxing vacation.
It’s not necessary to wait until you reach a certain age to have the cheek and neck tissues tightened. In fact, it can be more challenging to repair the aging face in those who wait until the sagging is severe. These days, people often choose to proceed with rejuvenation when they are in their early forties. In these cases, the repair needed is less drastic and the changes afterwards are refreshing, yet more subtle and less noticeable to others. It can be thought of a prophylactic or preventative procedure. Also in these cases, a mini lift or Slift is often all that is necessary. It is ideal for those who have mild to moderate lower facial and neck sagging; usually middle aged and younger patients who what to stay ahead of the aging process. The advantage of the mini-lift over a full cheek-neck lift is a shorter incision (avoiding the incision behind the ear in the hairline), a shorter operative time, shorter recovery period, and less expense. In those who have more aging in the neck (a good guideline is sagging below the level of the upper curve of the neck) a full cheek- neck lift is done. As with a mini-lift, this procedure is done in the office with local and “twilight” conscious sedation. In both procedures, the incisions are hidden in natural facial creases and are barely discernible after they are fully healed. In the full cheek-neck lift, the recovery time may be a bit longer but full activity can be resumed in two weeks.
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