The term “facelift” can be a bit misleading when your goal is to achieve a more youthful look. A facelift procedure typically lifts the cheek area and smooths the overlying skin, improving the midface and jowls. However, this doesn’t address other areas of your face that may also show signs of aging, and the result can appear unbalanced.
At my Boston practice, it’s not uncommon for patients considering a facelift to discover that a combination of procedures, or a “facelift and …” is often recommended for the best results. By combining a facelift with other complementary procedures, you can achieve a more natural and youthful look for your whole face.
Customizing Your Facelift: Combining Procedures for a Complete Rejuvenation
Facial rejuvenation should be customized to your unique needs, and while not everyone requires additional procedures, the most common treatments I perform alongside a facelift are:
1. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Eyelid surgery, particularly for the lower eyelids, is often needed when a facelift has been successful. As your sagging cheeks are lifted and “driven up” toward the lower eyelids, excess skin can accumulate under your eyes. A lower blepharoplasty can eliminate this redundancy, smoothing the transition from your lower lids to your cheeks and creating a more harmonious appearance.
Upper vs. Lower Blepharoplasty:
- Upper Blepharoplasty: Removes excess skin and fat from the upper eyelids, creating a more alert and youthful look.
- Lower Blepharoplasty: Targets the lower eyelids, addressing puffiness, bags, and sagging skin. This procedure is particularly beneficial when performed alongside a facelift to ensure a seamless transition from the midface to the eyes.
Blepharoplasty enhances the results of your facelift by refreshing the eye area for a more vibrant look.
2. Neck Lift
The same factors—sun exposure, connective tissue laxity, smoking, and genetics—that cause facial aging also affect your neck. However, a facelift won’t correct neck bands or excessively loose neck skin. While some neck issues can be addressed through the same incisions used for the facelift, a complete correction often requires a small additional incision under your chin. This allows for the repair of the platysma, the underlying neck muscle layer, for a smoother, more youthful neck.
The neck is often one of the first areas to show signs of aging, and neglecting it can result in a noticeable contrast between your rejuvenated face and an aged neck. A neck lift can address common concerns such as:
- Loose, sagging skin that hangs below the chin
- Vertical bands caused by the separation of the platysma muscles
- Pockets of fat that create a double chin or undefined jawline
Including a neck lift with your facelift can achieve a more cohesive appearance, with a smooth transition from your face to your neck.
3. Perioral Rejuvenation
The effects of a facelift stop short of the nasolabial folds. The connections between your facial skin and the underlying connective tissues prevent the lift from affecting the area around your mouth. Perioral concerns, such as “smoker’s lines” above and below your lips, need to be addressed separately.
Skin Resurfacing Options
- Chemical Peels: This treatment removes the outer layers of damaged skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. Chemical peels can also improve skin texture and tone, creating a smoother, more youthful appearance.
- Laser- and Light-Based Treatments: Erbium laser skin resurfacing and BBL® effectively target pigmentation, fine lines, and skin texture. These treatments stimulate collagen production and promote a more youthful complexion, enhancing facelift results by rejuvenating the skin’s surface.
By addressing these perioral concerns with targeted treatments, you can refine your facelift results and achieve a more balanced, youthful appearance.
Enhancing Facelift Results With Injectables
In addition to surgical procedures, injectable treatments can play a valuable role in enhancing the results of your facelift. While a facelift effectively addresses sagging skin and tissue, it may not entirely correct lines, wrinkles, or volume loss in certain areas of your face. This is where injectables come into play.
Types of Injectable Treatments
- BOTOX® Cosmetic: Ideal for smoothing out dynamic wrinkles, such as crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines between the brows, BOTOX works by relaxing the muscles that cause these wrinkles for a more refreshed and youthful look.
- Dermal Fillers: Fillers such as hyaluronic acid-based products can restore lost volume to areas such as the cheeks, lips, and under-eye hollows. They can also smooth out static wrinkles and folds not addressed by the facelift.
Additionally, injectables can extend the benefits of your facelift by:
- Smoothing Fine Lines: BOTOX can help prevent new wrinkles from forming and maintain the smooth appearance achieved by your facelift.
- Restoring Volume: Dermal fillers can add volume to areas that have lost fat and fullness, complementing the lifted appearance of your face.
- Maintaining Results: Regular maintenance with injectables can keep up your youthful appearance for a longer period, delaying the need for follow-up surgical procedures.
By combining injectables with your facelift, you can achieve a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation, addressing both the deeper structural changes and surface-level concerns.
Achieving a Balanced, Natural Look
While a facelift remains the gold standard in facial rejuvenation, these additional treatments can elevate your results and achieve natural-looking, harmonious results that go beyond what a facelift alone can deliver. Additionally, it’s essential to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon specifically trained and experienced in achieving the balanced look you desire.
Ready To Transform Your Look?
If you’re ready to explore your options, I invite you to request a consultation using the online form or by calling us at (781) 740-7840 .
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