Short Scar Facelift
The short-scar facelift has become very
popular with the baby boomer generation.
In a person's mid to late forties, aging
is usually noticeable in the mid-face
region while there are fewer signs of
aging and excess skin around the jaw
line and neck. If you fit this description,
you may be an ideal candidate for a short
scar facelift.
A short scar facelift
is a multi-layer lift where the internal
soft tissue structures (the so-called "SMAS" layer
and malar fat pad) are adjusted separately
from the skin that covers them. It
can remove a number of years from the
most visible signs of aging and can
be performed with other cosmetic surgery
procedures (such as liposuction in
the region of the neck). The potential
results, as with any cosmetic surgery
procedure, vary from patient to patient.
Your surgeon will be able to give you
a more detailed appraisal once he or
she has visited with you in person.
The short scar technique is not a cure-all.
If you feel concern about wrinkles around
your mouth, better alternatives would
be a chemical peel, Intense Pulsed Light
or dermabrasion.
THE PROCEDURE
In a short scar procedure, all the areas
of the face that show signs of aging
are repositioned. Your facial structure
plays a large part in the exact placement
of the incisions as well as your surgeon's
strategy in approaching the procedure.
Your surgeon will separate the skin
from the fat and muscle below the surface.
Fat may be trimmed from around the neck
and chin to improve the contour. The
underlying muscle and membrane are tightened,
the skin is pulled back and any excess
is removed. Your surgeon stitches the
layers of tissue together and closes
the incisions; metal clips may be used
on the scalp.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube
may be temporarily placed under the skin
behind your ear to drain any blood that
might collect there. The surgeon may
also wrap your head loosely in bandages
to minimize bruising and swelling.
COMPARING TYPES OF FACELIFTS
There are actually several modern variations
to the standard facelift that can give
you a wonderfully natural result and
will focus on specific regions of your
face.
SMAS versus The Traditional Method
The "high SMAS" (superficial musculo-aponeurotic
system) technique uses the deeper tissues
(instead of the skin) as a "handle" to
work with and reposition facial muscles.
The procedure can yield predictable and
beautiful results. The 'high SMAS' technique
repositions facial fat and can restore
a jowled, square face to a more youthful,
trapezoid contour.
Short Scar Facelift versus The Traditional
Method
The short scar facelift is a minimally
invasive lift with an incision half the
length of a traditional facelift incision.
It is not the best choice for patients
with excessive skin around the neck;
a traditional approach would give a better
result. Scarring in a short scar lift
occurs in front of the ear and just behind
it. Unlike traditional lifts, the hairline
is usually unaffected, allowing women
to wear their hair back.
The short scar lift is executed on a
deeper plane of the skin and performed
with mini-incisions. Skin, fat and muscle
are all moved at the same time, giving
long-lasting results. Without a brow
or eyelift added, a short scar facelift
takes between 90 minutes to three hours,
which is roughly half the time of a traditional
lift.
Mid Facelift versus The Traditional
Method
The mid-face lift has been implemented
for about 10 years. The fat between the
lower eyelid and cheek is blended, filling
in the trough or ring beneath the lower
eyelid. The advantage of a mid-face lift
versus the traditional method is that
the area between the upper cheeks and
the eyelids also are lifted in the surgery.
This gives the patient a more balanced,
youthful look. Recovery time is longer
(about four weeks versus two weeks for
a traditional facelift) and there tends
to be more swelling and bruising. Adding
a mid-facelift to a standard lower lift
increases the operation time by about
one hour. For more on mid facelifts,
click here .
YOUR FIRST CONSULTATION
It is very important that you feel confident
in your surgeon; during your first consultation,
he or she will evaluate your face, skin
and underlying bone and discuss your
ultimate hopes for the surgery. Since
each face is unique, so are the potential
results in a short-scar facelift. A good
surgeon will make sure you have realistic
expectations.
Personal medical
conditions could cause problems during
or after surgery, such as high blood
pressure, if your blood has difficulty
clotting, or if your body tends to
scar excessively. It is very important
for your surgeon to know if you smoke
or are taking any medications; especially
aspirin, Vitamin E, or
other drugs or herbal medications that
affect clotting.
You'll be given guidelines on eating
and drinking and what to avoid. If you
smoke, it is very important to stop two
weeks before and after surgery. Blood
flow to the skin is inhibited by smoking
and will slow your face's natural healing
process, delaying healing.
It is a good idea to let your hair grow
longer (especially if you have a short
hairstyle) to help conceal the scars
while you heal.
ANESTHESIA
Most short-scar facelifts
are performed under local anesthesia,
along with a sedative to relax you.
Your face will be numb during the surgery,
though you may feel some slight tugging.
Sometimes general anesthesia is preferable,
in which case you'll sleep through
the surgery.
AFTER YOUR FACELIFT
Typically you will feel only slight
discomfort after surgery, which is easily
remedied by pain relievers your surgeon
will prescribe for you. Some numbness
of your skin is normal and lasts a few
weeks. It is best to keep your head elevated
and as still as possible for a few days
after surgery to help keep the swelling
down.
A drainage tube was
inserted and it will be removed a day
or two after surgery. Bandages are
usually removed after one day. For
the first few weeks your face will
look pale, puffy and bruised but this
condition steadily improves, After
6 days nearly all of your stitches
are removed, however a few stitches or
metal clips may be left in for an additional
few days.
It is best to be easy on yourself during
the first week of recovery. Your skin
will be both tender and numb, so be very
gentle to your face and hair. Get plenty
of rest. Avoid heavy, strenuous activity
(including intimacy with your partner),
for at least two weeks (walking and stretching
are good). Also avoid alcohol and saunas
for several months.
It is not uncommon for patients to become
a bit depressed during the first two
weeks after surgery due to the swelling
and bruising that are a part of the healing
process. By your third week, you'll look
and feel much better. Most patients are
back at work about two weeks after surgery.
Special makeup is available that can
mask most bruising that remains.
Your new look after your short-scar
facelift
Once the swelling
and bruising have subsided by 3 weeks
most patients are very pleased with
the results of the short scar facelift,
although for several months the hair
may be thin and your skin may feel
dry. Scars that are
usually hidden within your hairline or
the creases in your face and ears, will
soften, flatten and lighten. Depending
on certain patients, some men may find
they need to shave behind the neck and
ears, due to the repositioning of skin
that grows beard.
A short-scar facelift
doesn't stop time and you may desire
another procedure in five to ten years.
However, the affect to your self-image
and confidence are generally more than
worth the efforts. If
you would like to learn more about short
scar facelifts or would like to set an
appointment to see if this procedure
is right for you, call Dr. Eisemann at
(866) 731-3198. |
