Facelift
As we get older, the skin’s elasticity diminishes, allowing wrinkles, folds and excess skin to develop in the face. These aging signs can be particularly pronounced in the chin, jaw and neck. At Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of New York.
Dr. Ran Rubinstein performs the face lift to address these aging conditions for a more refreshed and youthful facial appearance.
Face Lift Surgery Patient Before and After
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
What is a Facelift?
The facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, can dramatically improve the appearance of the face as well as the neck, allowing you to feel revitalized and more confident. Dr. Rubinstein performs the facelift in New York at his accredited surgical suite. As a facial plastic surgeon, he specializes in plastic surgery of the face and is well-versed in a variety of face lift techniques. Depending on the individual patient, he may perform a traditional facelift, a mini facelift (S-lift), a neck lift or non-surgical alternatives such as injectable fillers. Dr. Rubinstein’s goal for all of his New York patients is to achieve a natural rejuvenated look. He is able to show patients the youth restoring effects a facelift can have on them through 3D imaging technology with the Canfield VECTRA system during consultation. Digital imaging allows patients to see how each technique can impact their appearance.
The facelift is typically performed with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. For a traditional full facelift, Dr. Rubinstein starts the incision in the hairline at the temple and then continues in front of and around the ear and ends the incision in the scalp behind the ear. This incision allows him to tighten sagging muscles and connective tissues. Excess skin is then removed and, if needed, fatty deposits can be removed from beneath the chin and the neck. The surgery can take as much as five hours to complete.
Patients are often able to return to work and many other normal activities within ten to fourteen days after the facelift. A bandage will be applied to the head after surgery. Patients may experience some degree of discomfort, numbness, swelling and bruising. It may take as much as six months for the final result to be achieved.
To learn more about the facelift in New York or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, please contact Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists at (845) 863-1772.
Will I have noticeable scars after a facelift?
Facelift incisions can be hidden in hair baring areas along the temple and behind the ears. In addition, the angle (or beveling) of the incision along the hair bearing areas allows for hair to grow right thru the incision further camouflaging the scar. Incisions are also hidden in front of the ear by using a post tragal (inside the ear canal) incision. Last but not least, it is important to maintain a natural hairline avoiding elevating the hairline by the temple and avoiding step offs behind the ear hair baring areas. In patients who have a tendency to scar formation, we begin laser treatments of the face lift incisions 6 weeks after surgery to facilitate optimal healing. When all these methods are followed, facelift incisions heal inconspicuously.
The Many Aesthetic Benefits of a Facelift Surgery
Prospective facelift patients often meet with a plastic surgeon to address one main concern: to look younger. While the highly sought after facial procedure creates a more youthful appearance, patients enjoy numerous cosmetic benefits after they have healed from a facelift, medically termed rhytidectomy. The surgery is potentially more diverse in its application than many are aware of.
Camouflaging Acne Scars
Both males and females may suffer from acne well beyond their teenage years. It can be the result of poor hygiene, hormonal imbalance, and a host of other concerns. Acne can lead to permanent scarring of the skin, which may be difficult to treat. Even when breakouts have not been successfully controlled, Isolaz Acne Light Treatment may be effective in the treatment of both acne and acne scars. Additional laser treatments, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion can be used to treat the skin following Isolaz light therapy. The doctor may also opt to use injectable fillers to plump divots in the skin. While these treatments are traditionally used to lessen the appearance of or eliminate acne scars, facelift surgery is less common among patients. While a facelift offers a modest improvement of the facial skin, it may complete a patient’s look. During the procedure, excess skin and tissues are trimmed from the face, and the skin is pulled taught, then sutured into place. The removal of scarred tissue along with the newly stretched skin can create a smoother facial canvas. While some scarring may remain, the pitted areas will be shallower, preventing shadows within the skin that can increase the prominence of damaged tissue.
Restoring the Skin of a Slimmer Face
The elasticity of the skin has limits, and will not return to its original shape when stretched beyond capacity. When individuals lose weight, loose skin is noted all over the body and face. The skin of the face may hang loosely and age a person and create the illusion of a wider or longer face. This happens when excess fat stretched the overlying skin of the face and neck, and lessens or is eliminated through weight loss. Often times, this is especially noticeable in the jowls, chin, and neck. A facelift can remove the extra skin and tighten affected muscles and tissues, if necessary.
Challenging Genetics
Patients of all ages may feel unhappy with the appearance of their face, especially if it has a downturned appearance. A perpetual frown may not be due to a sour disposition, but rather the genetics one inherited. It is possible for people to be young, of a healthy weight, and have sagging jowls or sunken cheekbones. In many cases, a mini facelift combined with other procedures like dermal fillers and laser treatments may be the best course of action. It allows the doctor to target certain areas of the face and customize each individual’s results. In young patients, a conservative approach may be necessary for the most natural, yet improved, aesthetics.
Feminize the Face
As the skin matures, it becomes lax on the face and can detract from a woman’s natural beauty. The contours of high cheekbones, a bold pout of the lips, and a well-define jawline all complement a woman’s natural femininity. During the aging process, the face will gradually change. Women feel less attractive when the strong lines of these defining features are blurred. A facelift can restore or preserve the femininity of the face. In addition to a facelift, women may choose to undergo plumping injections to the lips, cheek augmentation, and rhinoplasty (nose job surgery) for a full facial rejuvenation.
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Five Problems Getting in the Way of Your Facelift
Not everyone is a good candidate for facial plastic surgery, especially a delicate and involved procedure like a facelift. If you have been denied surgical care by a facial plastic surgeon, you might want to stop and reassess the situation. This way you can resolve any problems that may be getting in the way. Barring disqualifying health complications, these guidelines will give you the best shot at eligibility before your second consultation.
- You are a smoker. Smoking is hazardous to your health even without surgery to complicate things. When it comes to smoking and surgery, however, the dangers are much more imminent. The nicotine in cigarettes actually constricts the blood vessels, which can make it difficult for your face to get the appropriate levels of blood (and the oxygen it contains) to heal properly. Smoking has been linked to a number of post-surgical complications, so surgeons recommend you stop smoking for three weeks before and three weeks after any surgery to be safe.
- You have a health condition that delays healing. Some prospective patients must be sidelined because of medical conditions that could interfere with surgery or the healing process. Having an elective procedure can be dangerous with one of these conditions, which may include diabetes, high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, severe allergies, high cholesterol, and arthritis. Not all of these conditions are prohibitive to surgery, but you will definitely be evaluated on an individual basis to determine if a facelift is the right fit for you.
- You are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can lead to problems during and after your facelift surgery. Overweight or obese patients tend to have one or more of the conditions mentioned above, making it difficult to heal properly and increasing the risk of harmful complications. Beyond the immediate health threats, being overweight can also affect your results. If your facelift is completed when you are 50 pounds overweight, for example, may change your results. If the composition of your face changes drastically, you won’t be as happy.
- You take certain medications or supplements. Yes, it’s true: every medication, vitamin, and supplement you take can put you at risk for an interaction with another medication or something worse. Follow your surgeon’s instructions regarding what pills you can and cannot take. Aspirin and other NSAID pain relievers can increase your risk for bleeding during and after surgery. Some all-natural supplements can also cause similar troubles for facelift patients, so stop taking everything for at least one week before your procedure.
- You have unrealistic expectations. Facelift surgery can create dramatic results for the right patient, but even this surgery has its limitations. Before going in for your consultation, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the surgery and what your realistic expectations might be. Take a peek at your facial plastic surgeon’s before and after photos for a good idea of what types of strategies could work best for you. If your expectations are too lofty, your end results are going to be disappointing no matter what they are. Having realistic expectations is not exclusive, yet it could help prospective patients learn more about this surgery.
The Ideal Facelift Candidate
Facelift surgery is a popular procedure that addresses many signs of aging on the face. The surgery involves tightening the sagging skin, lifting and tightening the underlying sheet of tissue, and even removing the fat cells that have collected around the chin and jaw. The surgery is an outpatient procedure often performed under general anesthesia.
The ideal candidate for a facelift should be experiencing some signs of aging, especially around the lower portion of the face. In addition, he or she should be in good overall health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations for the results.
Schedule Your Facelift Consultation Today
To learn more about your facelift surgery options, contact Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists. Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein is a facial plastic surgeon that can provide the guidance you need. Please contact us either by email or calling 845-863-1772. Dr. Rubinstein’s practice, Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, has two locations in New York, one in Newburgh and one in Manhattan.
Dr. Rubinstein has been practicing in the Hudson Valley for more than 15 years and specializes in esthetic laser producers, facial plastic surgery, nasal, and sinus disorders. He uniquely combines his medical and surgical expertise to help patients feel better and look better. He holds dual board certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, is a member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, and is an Assistant Professor at New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Why Choose Dr. Rubinstein
- Dr. Rubinstein is one of the top facial plastic surgeons in New York.
- He is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
- Dr. Rubinstein has been in both private and academic practice for over 15 years.
- He is also an active member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery.
- Clinical Professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital
