The Face Lift

One of the most talked about procedures in the media, at hair salons, and even
among plastic surgeons is the face lift. This procedure is also one of the least
understood by the general public due to misrepresentation in the media.

What is a “face lift?”

Although many think that the procedure is an overall rejuvenation of the entire
face, the actual plastic surgery definition is a rejuvenation of the cheek and jowl
areas of the face. To perform a face lift, an incision is made in front of your ear
and extends underneath your earlobe toward the back of your scalp. The
surgeon can then remove a small amount of loose skin, pull the skin tighter and
occasionally tighten the underlying structures, and finally, suture the skin back
together around the ear

When people think of a face lift, they often think of the over-tightened faces of
celebrities. They often think of Hollywood celebrities such as Joan Rivers or
Kenny Rogers, but those celebrities’ face lifts are not typical. Overtightening is
often the result of multiple procedures, which causes scar tissue and problems
with healing. Sometimes, people request a very dramatic result. You must have a
conversation with the doctor about how you want your results to look because if
you do want to look pulled, which some people do, you should communicate this
to your doctor. If you want to look very natural, you should say that too because
the amount of skin that’s removed and the amount of pulling that is done in the
operating room is under the doctor’s control.

The reality is that most people who have had a face lift have a natural,
rejuvenated look. Just remember, while a face lift can dramatically give the look
of turning back the clock, it can’t actually stop the aging process or prevent gravity from working on you.
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Eventually, the skin will settle, and gravity will continue its work in causing sagging and volume loss. You can slow down the effects of aging with a face lift, but you’re still going to see changes over time.

Learn more about this and other procedures in my new book, “Making the Cut” available for purchase on Amazon.

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