Getting a Facelift: Is it worth it?

Do you find yourself looking in the mirror and wistfully tracing the march of time across your face? Do you ever find yourself wishing you could turn back the hands of time? If you’ve answered “yes,” then you may benefit from a facelift—especially if you find that Botox, fillers or your favorite night creams no longer keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that is designed to remove excess skin and sagging soft tissue along the jawline. People who are candidates for a facelift often complain that they have jowls and “marionette lines,” or lines that extend from the corner of the mouth to the chin. A facelift will lift the jowls and shift the volume upward to the cheek area, returning them to a position they held years ago. This improves the marionette lines and leaves an individual looking fresher with a smoother jawline.

Many times men and women who are concerned with their jawline also have issues with the appearance of their neck.  If you are no longer happy with your neck angle, neck bands, or the fullness in your neck, you may be a candidate for a necklift.  A facelift and necklift are frequently performed at the same time.  By significantly improving your jaw line and neck contour, you will look like a younger, fresher version of yourself.

If you’re seriously considering a facelift or even if you’re just thinking about it, always remember to do your research. At The Aesthetic Center, we offer several options that are suited to fit every patient’s needs. The two most popular options you may want to explore are:

• Lower Facelift with Necklift: the traditional facelift that most people think of when they hear the word targets the lower third of your face, as well as your jowls and neck. Your surgeon will make incisions around your ears, lift the jowls by tightening the “muscle” layer beneath the skin, and remove the extra skin. This will lift the jowls and improve the jawline contour.

• Mini Lift: The mini lift is essentially just like it sounds. It’s a facelift that is done through a shorter incision! This procedure is ideal for those who have jowls but don’t have an excess amount of skin.

Candidates for a Facelift

There are a few important things to check-off your list to help you determine whether or not a facelift is for you. Patients should be in general good health and typically between the ages of 40 and 70. If the appearance of your lower face and/or neck bothers you when you look in the mirror, you are likely a strong candidate for a facelift.

A Facelift vs. Injectables

Non-surgical options are also available, with Botox and Juvederm leading the pack as common age-defying procedures:

• Botox is a purified protein that is injected into muscles of the face and relaxes them. These muscles cause wrinkles like the frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. Botox typically lasts about 3-4 months.

• Juvederm is a filler that that is injected under the skin to restore volume and provide improvements in the appearance of wrinkles. Juvederm can last up to 1 ½ years.

• Voluma is one of the newest fillers on the market and it is used to restore volume to the cheeks. Voluma can last up to 2 years.

While the above options are popular, it’s important to remember that both will require you to have treatments repeated in order to maintain results.

Injectable treatments will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but they will not remove excess skin, improve skin laxity, or eliminate skin sagging. The only way to effectively treat these issues is through surgery. A facelift will provide much more long-lasting results than non-surgical options. Most surgeons say a facelift or neck lift will “last” about 8-10 years.

Finding the right doctor

It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to find a doctor with the right amount of experience, who can understand your wants and needs, and with whom you feel comfortable. After all, this is your face we’re talking about, and it is unique and precious to you.

Don’t let nickels and dimes stand in the way of selecting the doctor you feel is best suited to perform your procedure. Even if it means paying slightly more for the surgeon your gut is telling you is “the one”, go for it! You won’t regret it.

When it comes to experience, education and knowledge—Dr. Ahn ranks high on the list. He is double board certified and specializes in facial cosmetic surgery. Over the past 11 years he has lead The Aesthetic Wellness Center to its current status as one of the leading providers of aesthetic facial rejuvenation in the country. To learn more about our talented surgeon, click here.

 The cost of a facelift:

The average cost of a facelift will run you $9,000-$16,000. Ultimately, the cost will depend on a number of factors including: how much work the surgeon will need to do to achieve the perfect look for you, your surgeon’s experience and skill level, and even your geographic location. You can expect your cost to consist of not only your surgeon’s fee but also an anesthesia and facility fee..

Recovery after the procedure:

The final thing to consider when planning for a facelift is the amount time you’ll need to set aside for recovery after the procedure. You will experience some mild soreness and bruising for the first week after the surgery. It’s important that you rest at home and relax with your head elevated.

Typically after 10 days, the majority of your bruising will have faded and can be touched-up with a little bit of make-up. With normal healing, the total recovery time is on average 10-14 days with plenty of rest.

Interested in learning more?

Once you’ve analyzed every aspect of a facelift and explored all of the benefits, come find out why Dr. Ahn is one of the most sought after facial plastic surgeons in the region. He’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have about the procedure in order to help you achieve the look you’ve always wanted.  He does not charge for a consultation. Call us today at (508) 593-4385. Cheers to a younger and more vibrant looking you!