When it comes to searching for the best advice in all beauty related topics, realself.com is a valuable source for finding the best doctors, getting answers from professionals in their field and educating us on the up-and-coming trends and treatments in aesthetics. In their most recent feature, “Lower Facelift: What You Need to Know,” realself.com asks the experts and does the hard research work for us – to make our facial rejuvenation decisions a little easier. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know if this youth-boosting surgery if it’s right for you.
Depending on a patient’s individual facial rejuvenation needs and concerns, a highly qualified plastic surgeon will determine the best facelift technique to use in each case for optimum results. A lower facelift is typically best suited for patients in their early 40’s and 50’s with early signs of aging looking to eliminate jowls, achieve a more defined jawline and create a refreshed appearance in the lower third part of the face. This type of facelift, sometimes called by surgeons a ”mini lift,” has also become popular with 30-year-olds who want to prevent the aging process altogether (also called “prejuvenation”) and get rid of any early jowling and skin laxity. Furthermore, it is worth noting, although a lower facelift can be performed by itself, it is usually combined with a neck lift to tighten and smooth sagging skin and remove excess fat under the chin for an overall beautiful “lifted” result. For patients with more significant facial sagging, whose areas of concern are the cheeks and mid face, a SMAS or deep-plane facelift is generally more appropriate and can yield a better outcome by targeting the lower two-thirds of the face, below the top of the ears.
Patients who undergo a lower facelift procedure versus a SMAS or deep-plane facelift will find this technique has additional benefits. A lower facelift is usually less invasive and requires shorter incisions, unlike the SMAS or deep-plane facelifts, which for most people means a shorter recovery time and less scarring. While everyone heals at different paces, most patients usually experience a decrease in post-surgery swelling and noticeable improvement in a week, however it is important to keep in mind it can take six months and up to a year to see the final outcome. Dr. Konstantin, a top New York City facial plastic surgeon, tells us it is best to wait at least three months before critically evaluating your lower facelift results. He says “….one has to remember that there is quite a bit of healing happening, and this healing will take time. As the healing process continues, the swelling goes down and the soft tissue settles into its new position, all the positive changes become a lot more apparent.” Once patients are past the recovery phase of their lower facelift procedure, they can expect the results to last on average 8 to 10 years or more, depending on factors such as genetics, facial structure and lifestyle.
When deciding if lower facelift surgery is right for you, other important aspects to consider are the cost and possible risks involved. As with facial rejuvenation surgery, such as SMAS or deep-plane facelift, the lower facelift is a long-term investment in looking and feeling your best and the cost can be substantial. Although prices can vary, patients can expect to pay upwards of $25,000 for a lower facelift procedure, especially with an experienced, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in facelift surgery. However, even when a facelift surgery is performed by a reputable doctor, patients must be aware that while it is rare, there is still a possibility of complications such as a hematoma, mild bleeding, or infection. Adhering to your doctors post-operative care instructions and attending follow-up appointments can help ensure a smooth and successful recovery.
You can read the full article on realself.com. If you would like to know if a lower facelift is right for you or about other facial rejuvenation procedures, we would be happy to see you for a consultation. Please contact our Manhattan-based practice to schedule your appointment with New York’s top facial plastic surgeon and facelift expert, Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD.
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