Many of the people we talk to about facelifts say they spent time reviewing our patients’ before-and-after photos before scheduling a consultation. Many of those patients appear at least 10 years younger than their “before” photos. The dramatic improvement is something we’re quite proud of.
It’s important to note, however, that the significant outcomes you’ll see in many before-and-after photos occur when facial plastic surgeons combine a facelift with complementary procedures to address other cosmetic concerns. This total facial rejuvenation approach highlights the importance of facial harmony and why a facelift alone may not match those results.
How Do We Create Facial Harmony?
Facial plastic surgery is something like home remodeling. Imagine the excitement of seeing your remodeled kitchen only to then see how outdated your dining room looks. That can happen when people love the results of a facelift but then focus on their sagging eyelids.
Our board-certified facial plastic surgeons understand that facial aging doesn’t occur in one area at a time and that patients enjoy seeing comprehensive results. Facial anatomy and the skin’s elasticity and texture all influence the overall appearance of a person’s face. At our practice, we refer to facelift surgery as a cheek and neck lift because our surgeons rarely perform a neck lift as a standalone procedure.
To create facial harmony, they examine the patient’s facial structure, listen to their concerns, and produce a customized treatment plan that includes multiple procedures.
What Procedures Do We Combine With a Facelift?
People understandably often think that facelift surgery improves the appearance of the entire face. That’s not the case. A traditional facelift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face. Modern facelift techniques involve making discreet incisions, repositioning the tissue and muscle supporting the skin, and then removing excess skin. It’s an excellent way to minimize jowls and reduce sagging in the cheek area. But the procedure won’t improve the skin’s texture, lift droopy eyelids, or restore volume.
As mentioned above, our surgeons commonly combine a neck lift and facelift because, in virtually all cases, the neck skin and muscle need tightening at the same time as the lower face. But other procedures can help create the facial harmony people desire, too. These procedures include:
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty): Sagging upper eyelids can detract from the youthful appearance produced by a facelift. Upper blepharoplasty is one of the most common procedures we combine with a facelift, but lower eyelid surgery to remove or reposition fat may also be recommended.
- Facial liposuction: Even though facial aging is often marked by the loss of volume and a hollowed-out appearance, some areas tend to accumulate fat as we age. Facial liposuction, especially in the neck, is an effective way to create the chin and jawline definition that patients want.
- Brow lift: Our male patients often say that a heavy brow makes them appear older than they feel. A brow lift combined with a facelift can produce remarkable outcomes.
Additionally, we may use dermal fillers as part of a facelift procedure to create volume in strategic locations.
Patients from Ankeny, Ames, and throughout central Iowa choose our Des Moines practice for facial plastic surgery and nonsurgical treatments. If you’re looking for a facial plastic surgeon in Iowa, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (515) 277-5555 to schedule an appointment.
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