Facelift Options: Surgical, Non-Surgical and Combination Treatments
Growing older is an intricate aspect of human life. In our youth, we long to age quickly, believing it will grant us the independence and personal freedoms we crave—a journey away from the proverbial nest. Then suddenly, we find ourselves there. We’ve aged. We’re unsure how it happened, but we’re staring at the same face in the mirror we’ve seen for 40, 50, 60, or 70 years, and the sensation is, well, surreal. It’s our face, but it feels different.
While ageing does provide the desired independence, personal freedom, and added benefits like self-confidence and increased self-awareness, it also imprints our life experiences, both good and bad, onto our bodies, particularly our faces. Before we know it, we’re gazing at a face that doesn’t quite feel like it belongs to us, because we remain the same, feeling like the ageless version of ourselves.
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At this point, some of us may contemplate ways to align our facial appearance with our inner selves and how we feel. It’s not about reversing time; it’s about enhancing our features. It’s about preserving the beautiful aspects of our faces and not letting them be overshadowed by changes in our skin caused by a loss of volume, moisture, or elasticity.
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A SMAS facelift or deep plane facelift is an excellent solution to tackle the various changes our faces undergo as we age. However, not everyone needs or is prepared for surgery, and individual needs vary when it comes to facial rejuvenation. The real advantage of today’s cosmetic industry is the availability of multiple surgical and non-surgical facelift methods, allowing for a customised approach to achieve optimal results.
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Here, we’ve compiled a list of facelift options offered at Centre for Surgery.
The traditional facelift
The traditional full facelift is the gold standard for those seeking true transformation and long-lasting results. This procedure is an excellent option for patients in their 40s and 50s, but it has also been performed successfully on individuals in their 60s and 70s. Age is not a limiting factor; rather, it depends on the individual’s desired outcome. Ideal candidates for a comprehensive facelift generally have skin with some elasticity and well-defined bone structure.
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This procedure addresses some of the most prominent signs of ageing, such as weakened facial muscles, skin laxity, deep creases, and excess fat. The comprehensive facelift provides the most dramatic facial rejuvenation results for an extended period of time. However, it is an invasive surgery, which necessitates a longer recovery period and more downtime.
One of the advantages of the comprehensive facelift is its ability to address multiple concerns simultaneously, including the upper face, deep creases between the nose and mouth, lax skin around the jawline and neck, and more. This all-inclusive approach ensures a harmonious, natural-looking outcome.
Facelift Combined with Fat Transfer
For suitable candidates, incorporating a fat transfer into the facelift procedure makes the surgery even more advanced and effective. It might surprise patients to learn that adding fat to the face can contribute to facial rejuvenation since facelifts often involve the removal of excess fat.
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For some individuals, a loss of volume and moisture causes the skin to sag and appear deflated, resulting in deep creases and folds. To address this issue, we can harvest fat from other areas of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen, and then strategically re-inject it into areas like the cheeks, lips, and around the mouth.
The appeal of a facelift combined with fat transfer lies in its dual benefits: removing unwanted fat from specific body areas, contouring and sculpting those regions while simultaneously revitalising facial features. This comprehensive approach provides a more balanced and natural outcome.
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The Mini Facelift
For those patients who need just a subtle degree of skin tightening and facial rejuvenation, the mini facelift, or short scar facelift, may be the ideal solution. It delivers impressive, long-lasting outcomes with fewer scars, less bruising, and a shorter recovery time than a full facelift. The mini facelift primarily focuses on skin laxity in the cheeks, jawline, and neck areas while leaving the forehead and eye regions untouched. If your primary concern is the lower face, the mini facelift could be an excellent choice for you.
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Non-Surgical Facelift
At Centre for Surgery, we understand that not all patients are ready for or in need of a surgical facelift. That’s why we offer a range of non-surgical facelift options, including the liquid facelift.
The liquid facelift, also known as the non-surgical facelift, is a minimally invasive procedure that can provide a refreshed, more youthful appearance without the need for surgery. This treatment combines various injectables, such as anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers, to address fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss in the face.
The results of a liquid facelift are not as long-lasting as a surgical facelift, but they can still offer impressive improvements to the skin’s overall appearance and texture. Neuromodulators such can last for about 3-4 months, while dermal fillers can last around 6-12 months.
In addition to providing more youthful-looking skin, the non-surgical facelift can also be a great way to preview the potential results of a surgical facelift. For some patients, it may be the ideal first step before considering more invasive procedures.
Non-Surgical Facelift Options: Thread Lift & FaceTite Explained
If you’re not ready for a surgical facelift, but are still looking for a non-surgical lift, there are a number of options available to you. In addition to the liquid facelift, the thread lift and FaceTite are two non-surgical facelift options that can offer visible results without surgery.
The thread lift involves the use of dissolvable PDO threads that are inserted just beneath the surface of the skin in targeted areas of the face. These threads are then manipulated to lift and hold the skin tissue up while also stimulating collagen production in the body. The procedure is minimally invasive and offers a subtle but natural lift. The results can last for approximately 6-9 months, but the collagen production stimulated by the treatment can help to keep your results looking fresh for up to a year.
For those looking to target skin laxity, FaceTite is an excellent option. The treatment uses subdermal radiofrequency technology to shrink tissue and melt fat, resulting in a visible lift that can last anywhere from 1-5 years. The procedure is minimally invasive and can effectively target skin laxity on the face and neck.
Both the thread lift and FaceTite are also effective treatments for skin laxity on the neck. At Centre for Surgery, we consider the neck to be just as important as the face and offer a variety of treatments to address this area.
It’s important to keep in mind that while these non-surgical facelift options can offer visible results, they may not be as dramatic or long-lasting as a surgical facelift. However, they can be a great first step for those who are not yet ready for surgery or are looking for a more subtle lift. A consultation with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon can help determine which option is best for your individual needs and goals.
Maintaining a Natural Appearance with Facelift Procedures
At Centre for Surgery, we understand that the ultimate goal of a facelift procedure is to provide our patients with results that look natural and subtle. We pride ourselves on creating personalised treatment plans that are tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs and goals.
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Whether you choose a surgical facelift or a non-surgical option like FaceTite or thread lifting, we strive to achieve results that look completely natural. Our experienced surgeons and practitioners take into account your facial anatomy, skin type, and other factors to ensure that the outcome of your facelift procedure is a natural and refreshed look.
We also understand that our patients want to maintain their results over time, and we offer a range of follow-up treatments to help ensure that your appearance remains natural and youthful. Our commitment to helping our patients achieve their ideal look is why so many people trust us with their facelift procedures.
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