The Face Lift Gets Lifted: New and Improved Techniques

The face lift has lost a lot of popularity among both patients and surgeons in the cosmetic world. It is often associated with elderly women, their faces pulled excruciatingly taut and unnaturally smooth with little stitches visible through their hairlines. Perhaps that image rings true of procedures performed in the past, but today there are several options that have transformed this procedure. Now, this procedure can appear much more natural, complimentary, and tailored to the individual.

There are now several techniques that are minimally invasive, less expensive, and with a much faster recovery time that will give similar results to a traditional face lift. The thread lift is one of these procedures that has sparked both client and media interest in the past few years. Unlike a traditional face lift, it concentrates on the brow and cheek area only and won't rejuvenate the chin or neck. A surgeon will place small, clear barbs into the skin behind the ear or in the hairline of the forehead using incisions so small that noticeable scarring would be exceedingly rare. Once in place, the skin will be pulled tighter and the body will start a natural process of building more collagen around the barbs, further enhancing the outcome. It only takes one hour to perform a thread lift and most patients are fully recovered within a few days to a week. Results can last several years depending on the individual.

Another minimally invasive procedure that can give similar results to the traditional procedure is the liquid face lift. There is generally not one standard form as it is adjusted depending on the plastic surgeon's preferences and the client's needs. The patient will point out any problem areas such as crow's feet, smoker's lines, or deep brow furrows that they wished to be addressed. The surgeon will then create and implement a series of injectable fillers that will best target these issues. Since there are several different types of fillers on the market, both patient and surgeon will decide together which would make the best combination. Results and longevity will vary by the products used as well as the amount, but generally will last from one to two years. The cost can be significantly lower than surgical procedures and recovery is usually within a few hours to a day.

If you still want the dramatic effects of a face lift without the commitment to long term recovery and potential scarring, an endoscopic procedure is the preferred route. Instead of using traditional long incisions and suturing, microscopic incisions are created in the hairline and behind the ears and endoscopic cameras are inserted inside the body, allowing the surgeon to operate in much more smaller, precise areas below the skin without disturbing surrounding areas. The results are fantastic, especially in patients with milder signs of aging such as those in their 50's or younger. The body also responds better to healing, so there is less downtime and few if any scars.