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Facelift

At Dr. Konstantin's practice in Manhattan, NYC, and around the world, the facelift has long been considered the "gold standard" of facial rejuvenation. No other cosmetic procedure can compare to its profound rejuvenating effect. Improving skin laxity, reducing facial wrinkles, smoothing out deep lines, and restoring youthful facial contours are just a few most notable benefits of a facelift. However, looking years younger does not mean looking different. As Dr. Konstantin often tells his patients: "Your face will still be your face, it will just look years younger."

If you're interested in learning whether facelift surgery at Dr. Konstantin's New York City practice is right for you, contact us online for a consultation, or call (212) 380-3634 to speak to a member of our team.

Modern Techniques

The best part of a modern-day facelift technique is that it achieves significant facial rejuvenation without changing patient's unique facial features. Long gone are the days of the facelift that would make the face look pulled or stretched. The face that appears "done" or "lifted" is not acceptable in today's cosmetic surgery world.

Natural-looking results with preservation of one's distinct facial character are expected with the use of up-to-date facelift methods. Dr. Konstantin keeps this goal as a top priority when designing each patient's customized facelift plan.

Speaking from Experience

"There is no one facelift technique that fits all. Each procedure is individually tailored for each patient. This individualized, targeted approach enables me to achieve the utmost rejuvenation possible in a minimally invasive fashion." – Dr. Konstantin

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Today we lead longer and healthier lives. It's not uncommon for those who watch their diet and exercise habits to be in better physical shape in their 50s than in their 30s. In fact, in 2014 more than 12,000 of the runners in the New York City Marathon were in their 50s and 60s. Unfortunately, even with the best diet, regular exercise, and the use of most advanced skin care products, we cannot stop the process of facial aging.

Facelift surgery is the most effective and reliable cosmetic procedure that can reverse these changes. If you think a facelift might be the right treatment for you, one easy test can confirm that. While standing in front of the mirror, place your fingers on the sides of your face and lift the skin upward and slightly back. If doing so makes your face look years younger, a facelift might be just the right procedure for you. If you see no significant difference, you might want to look at other means of facial rejuvenation.

Why Choose Dr. Konstantin for Your Facelift?

• Specializes exclusively in enhancement of the face and neck
• Performs more than 1,000 facial cosmetic procedures each year
• Proficient in a range of modern facelift techniques
• Double board certified: Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology (Head-Neck Surgery)
• Member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS)

What Areas Can Be Improved?

As with any other cosmetic procedure, evaluation for a facelift starts with Dr. Konstantin's thorough analysis of a patient's facial features, skin texture and elasticity, the amount and distribution of excess of fat, and the degree of facial aging. Photographs are taken and reviewed to establish and prioritize the goals of facial rejuvenation procedures.

The specific areas we can target with a facelift may vary from patient to patient, so in each case, Dr. Konstantin develops a highly individualized surgical plan. Although unique characteristics of each patient's face necessitate an individual approach, some areas nearly always require attention. Some of the most common targets for improvement and rejuvenation are:

• Visible muscle bands in the neck
• Neck skin laxity (often paired with a neck lift)
• Excessive fullness under the chin
• Noticeable jowls
• Sagging of facial tissue

Once Dr. Konstantin performs a facial analysis and determines the areas where most improvement is needed, he can select a proper facelift technique. He can also make recommendations about other procedures at this time, including upper face treatments such as brow lift and eyelid surgery. Dr. Konstantin may incorporate fat transfer or dermal fillers to restore lost volume around the eyes and on the cheeks.

Facelift Techniques

Many different types of facelift can be used to rejuvenate the face. Deep plane, high SMAS, SMAS lift, lower facelift, mini lift — these are just a few commonly used techniques. Dr. Konstantin also offers an endoscopic-assisted facelift using advanced technology. It can be overwhelming to understand the differences between all the facelift terminology for procedures and treatments, both surgical and nonsurgical.

Patients often ask "What is the best facelift technique out there?" Some patients may come for a consultation with already formed opinions and ask for a specific type of facelift. Such preferences are often based on the opinions of other patients found on the Internet or after seeing a friend who had a certain type of facelift and "now looks just great."

However, keep in mind that choosing a particular facelift type because it worked well for somebody else may not give you the best result. Each method of facial rejuvenation was developed to meet a specific set of goals, and each technique was designed to rejuvenate patients with a certain type of facial structures. An experienced surgeon should be able to take into account each patient's unique characteristics and select a facelift technique that would work best for him or her.

Your Procedure

Most facelifts start with making skin incisions (sorry, there is just no other way). Typically, one incision would hide in a skin crease under the chin and another would be placed around the ear starting at the temple and extending into the hairline behind the ear. (See illustration.) The length of incisions may vary from patient to patient. As a general rule, a longer incision would be necessary for people with more advanced facial aging. The main goal and the reason for a particular choice of incision placement would be to make them as discreet as possible.

The next step after making the incisions is the removal of excess fat (typically through liposuction), and tightening of the underlying muscle or SMAS*. Dr. Konstantin can accomplish this using various methods. The main goal of this step is to create a youthful contour of the face and neck and get rid of tissue laxity.

Once he establishes the facial contour, Dr. Konstantin removes the excess skin and closes the incisions with specially designed sutures. A contour dressing consisting of cotton and soft bandages is then placed. Most patients choose to bring scarf or a hat to cover the bandages for the trip home.

A Few Words About Anesthesia

Traditionally, facelifts were done in the hospital using general anesthesia. However, in recent years with the development of newer, less-invasive facelift techniques, there has been a trend toward using less and less anesthesia for cosmetic procedures.

Many surgeons who specialize in facial rejuvenation believe that avoiding general anesthesia improves the safety of the procedure and helps to speed up the recovery. Dr. Konstantin believes using less-invasive anesthesia for cosmetic surgery can make the patient's experience with facial rejuvenation much easier. That is why a great many of his patients prefer a safer alternative to deep general anesthesia.

What to Expect After a Facelift

You will need to take some personal time for healing after a facelift procedure. The time needed for healing varies significantly between patients; however, most people are able to get back to work in 1 to 2 weeks.

In the immediate postoperative period, it is advisable to stay within driving distance to Dr. Konstantin's the office in New York in case and additional postoperative visit becomes necessary. The majority of Dr. Konstantin's facelift patients can expect a fairly smooth recovery, particularly if they take prescribed pain medications and follow instructions. Nevertheless, it's wise to remember that individual experiences may be different and some people might heal much faster than others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best age to get a facelift?

There isn't really a specific age that is "best" for a facelift. Even people in their 30s begin to see signs of aging that can make them appear much older than they are. Instead, what matters is whether patients have jowls or a double chin that truly bothers them. If so, a facelift is an appropriate procedure.

How much does a facelift cost?

Because cosmetic surgery is customized to meet the specific needs of individual patients, it's difficult to pinpoint the price of a facelift or any other aesthetic surgery before meeting a patient. A number of factors influence that actual cost, including the extent of the surgery and the techniques used. At our practice, a facelift can typically range from $8,000 to $18,000. The lower end of the range is what patients who undergo a mini facelift generally pay, while more comprehensive facelift procedures increase the price.

How long before an important social event should I get a facelift?

If you're planning on attending a class reunion or a child's wedding, it's best to schedule any facial plastic surgery procedure at least 6 weeks before the event. Even though the initial recovery takes only a week or 2, residual swelling and bruising typically need several more weeks to resolve.

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