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It’s 2022, and facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) has come a long way. A procedure that was once designed only to tighten facial skin has morphed into a collection of different approaches that, when executed properly, provide dramatic and natural-looking results.
Gone is the windswept, overdone, tell-tale appearance of plastic surgery, and in its place is a more youthful version of you.
What’s Different About Today’s Facelift?
When facelift surgery was new, the focus was on lifting the skin to eliminate wrinkles and loose skin. While this approach certainly tightened the skin, it did little to adjust the underlying tissues, which — as we know now — is vital to natural-looking results.
Today, the underlying tissue that supports facial skin and loses tone over time is manipulated and lifted in the appropriate direction, restoring lost cheek volume (by repositioning sagging tissue back to where it should be), and better maintaining a unique aesthetic.
The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) is a layer of tissue deep within the skin and subcutaneous tissue. It is one of the most important support structures for the face. The manipulation of this anatomic structure changes the appearance of the face.
The following new approaches are popular and can produce excellent results that last ten years or more!
- Short-scar facelift – Also known as a mini-facelift, this approach elevates the skin and SMAS layer of the face. Like other techniques, sagging cheeks are lifted, loose jowls tightened, the jawline recontoured, and wrinkles are significantly reduced. Rhytidectomy can also correct nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
The main difference is that the incisions for traditional facelifts start in the sideburn area, extend directly in front of the ear, and then continue behind the ear and into the hairline at the back of the neck.
The incisions for short-scar facelift start in the sideburn area and extend to the front of the ear only.
- The SMAS facelift: This customizable facelift technique incorporates a two-step technique that first lifts the skin and then repositions the SMAS layer, allowing the plastic surgeon to address asymmetries and use different angles to tighten and lift according to the patient’s natural anatomy.
The SMAS layer includes the neck’s platysma muscle, which can easily be lifted at the same time.
See more transformations by visiting our facelift before and after photo gallery.
Learn More About Your Facelift Options in New Orleans
Dr. Michele Cooper knows that you have many options for plastic surgery in the New Orleans area. When you choose Dr. Cooper and arrive at our upscale practice for your initial consultation, you will find a knowledgeable staff committed to making you feel comfortable and relaxed rather than being rushed through the process.
You can expect to spend one full hour with Dr. Cooper, at which time you will be informed of your best options for facial rejuvenation, and every question you have will be answered. Here, we believe our patients achieve the best results when they are not pressured and have all the facts.