History of Facelifts
Facelift surgery is probably the best known cosmetic facial procedure worldwide. It is performed in most countries, and to a certain degree, has a negative stigmata attached to it! Let me try to explain some of the truths and myths about this surgical procedure which has been around for around 100 years.
First, let's look at some of the negative misconceptions about facelift surgery since many patients are scared of facelift surgery and nobody wants a facelift. A generation ago, facelift surgery took place in a hospital with an average hospital stay of 2-4 days. Today, the surgery is performed in our office which is an accredited surgical facility and patients are sent home within an hour or two following the 2-3 hour surgery. Previously, patients waited till they looked old before seeking a consultation for a facelift surgery.
Today, patients do not want to wait till they look old to have cosmetic surgery. They prefer to stay looking younger all their lives. By opting to have surgery earlier, patients can avoid a big surgery and extended recovery. Be aware of "facelift-like" results with new technology where it sounds to good to be true; it most likely does not produce facelift surgery results. None of these technologies can compare to the longevity and its of modern short incision facelift surgery.
We get inundated with radio and television advertising promoting and describing the many types of facelift surgeries. These include the S-lift, Lifestyle lift, MACS-lift, Quick-lift, Mini-lift, or Mid-face lift. The truth about facelift surgery is that there has not been any new discoveries on how to perform a facelift. All these facelift have the same underlying techniques, but differ in the length of the incision or type of suture technique that is used to create the "lift". In some cases, the names are different but the technique is exactly the same! Don't get confused or rely on the name attached to the surgery to select the procedure that is best for you.
Contemporary facelift surgery has undergone refinement with shorter incisions, fewer drains, dissolvable sutures, and surgeons have a better understanding about the need to volumize the face prior to surgery. In my office, we can treat a high percentage of patients by using a short incision facelift technique, which requires less surgery time, faster recovery and the incision is well hidden in the creases of the face to offer superior results when compared to a traditional facelift. However, there are times when we still perform a more traditional facelift when this technique is required to produce the best results that can be obtained.