There’s no doubt that advances in nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatments have changed the aesthetic landscape in the past 10 to 20 years more than any other development. Some men and women may even benefit from a “liquid facelift” at our Eugene, Oregon, practice. Still, injectables and non-invasive skin tightening procedures such as Ultherapy® can’t match the results produced by modern facelift techniques performed by Dr. Mark Jewell.
Facelift surgery is still among the most popular plastic surgery procedures, in part because advanced techniques create results that look natural. About 20 years ago, surgeons considered facelifts a success based on pulling the skin as tight as possible. That’s no longer the case, as facelift techniques now focus more on lifting and repositioning the muscle and tissue underlying the skin.
What’s Different Now
The primary goal of a facelift is to minimize loose skin in the lower face and the neck. Even though the loss of the skin’s elasticity contributes to this condition, the collapse of the underlying support system of fat and muscle also causes droopy cheeks and jowls. That facial support system is now the target of facelift surgery. The modern facelift involves tightening and repositioning of the deep layers that support the skin.
Treatment depth: Previously used “skin-only” facelifts produced immediate results but lasted only a few years. Facelift surgery has evolved with newer techniques, including the so-called SMAS or subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system lift) and deep-plane lift. There is also a newer technique that Dr. Jewell has been performing over the last 13 years called the Cranial Suspension Facelift. This technique uses suture loops to re-suspend drooping deep layers. It is less-invasive than the SMAS or deep plane technique. He believes that this approach provides natural, long-lasting outcomes for his patients and has a shorter recovery than traditional approaches. Dr. Jewell is the author of 3 textbook chapters on the cranial suspension facelift and teaches this procedure at plastic surgery meetings.
Sagging Neck Skin and Bands: The modern facelift is a series of component procedures that manages loose facial tissue and involves surgery to create a sharper neckline and less neck bands. Excess neck fat can be removed through liposuction or from under the neck muscles through a small incision under the chin. Neck bands are also managed in this fashion.
More discreet incisions: Today, plastic surgeons make smaller, more precise incisions than in the past. This means scarring is barely perceptible, and recovery is shorter and more comfortable.
Use of fillers: The increased use of dermal fillers and fat grafting helps add volume that a facelift alone can’t produce. Plastic surgeons now recognize that wrinkles and lines aren’t the only issues that need to be addressed for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. The loss of volume that creates the appearance of sunken cheeks or hollows under the eyes also contributes to facial aging.
Eyelid Surgery: Many patients combine eyelid surgery known as blepharoplasty with facial rejuvenation surgery. As we age, the lower eyelid becomes longer in the vertical plane and fat bags can appear. Hooding of the upper eyelids can be reduced with an upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
Combining Treatments
In some cases, Dr. Jewell can combine fillers with BOTOX® Cosmetic injections for a liquid facelift without surgery. But this approach is limited to patients whose skin still retains most of its laxity. This is a great option for women and men who don’t have the time needed for recovery and who want immediate results.
Fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, medical skin care, Ulthera, and light-based treatments (Intense pulsed light/laser) are useful in maintaining the results of a facelift. Additionally, these treatments address other areas of the face including the forehead, lips, and cheek volume.
When performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Jewell, a facelift results in patients looking like themselves, but about 10 years younger. You can see the types of results produced by Dr. Jewell in our gallery of before-and-after photos.
If you’re considering facial rejuvenation but aren’t sure if a nonsurgical approach is right for you, contact us using the online form to request a personal consultation with Dr. Jewell. Men and women travel from Salem and throughout Oregon to our practice for facelift surgery. You can also call us at (541) 204-3540 to schedule an appointment.
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