Your skin often suffers the most from aging, or at least the most visibly. A facelift primarily addresses deeper signs of aging in your face’s foundational muscles and tissues, so you might wonder how it affects your skin.
How Does a Facelift Work?
A facelift (rhytidectomy) tightens sagging skin and facial muscles, reducing jowls and skin laxity. As your facial muscles weaken and stretch with age, your youthful facial contours begin to droop. Anti-aging treatments for your skin can do very little for these effects. Rhytidectomy, on the other hand, addresses the root of these problems in your facial structure.
Dr. Stein performs facelifts on an outpatient basis. He will make small incisions around your ears or within your hairline, which will be inconspicuous once healed. He then lifts and tightens the skin, fat, and muscles (SMAS) to restore a youthful facial structure.
How Long Does a Facelift Last?
There are countless non-surgical anti-aging treatments out there to rejuvenate your face, but they typically offer short-term results. That’s why many patients turn to a facelift for lasting results. A facelift often lasts a decade or more. Though signs of aging will eventually reappear, you will likely always look younger than you would have without the surgery.
Will My Skin Age Faster After a Facelift?
Unlike non-surgical alternatives, a facelift improves the effects of aging on your deeper tissues and muscles, not just the skin. However, this means it doesn’t significantly improve wrinkles, uneven texture, or other skin issues. Still, a facelift will not make your skin age faster. It simply repositions and tightens your skin and will have little impact on your skin’s health and appearance.
If you’re also bothered by complexion concerns like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and dark spots, consider skin rejuvenation treatments to complement your facelift. Treatments that boost collagen and elastin production can help reduce these issues.
How Can I Make My Facelift Last Longer?
Keeping yourself and your skin healthy is the best way to maintain your facelift results. Smoking and sun damage accelerate aging, so avoiding these can help you look and feel younger for longer.
Maintaining the health of your skin can also enhance and prolong facelift results. Dr. Stein often recommends pairing a facelift with laser resurfacing or chemical peels. These treatments can improve complexion issues like wrinkles, age spots, and uneven skin texture.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
You may benefit from a facelift if you have jowls and sagging in your face and neck. For skin concerns like texture, hyperpigmentation, or fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Stein may recommend a chemical peel or laser treatment instead of or in addition to surgery. During a detailed consultation, he will discuss all your options and help you create a customized treatment plan for your unique needs and goals.
Take the Next Step
Are you interested in a facelift? If you would like to schedule an in-person consultation, please fill out the form on this page or call (919) 261-7099, and one of our knowledgeable medical staff members at Stein Plastic Surgery will reach out to you promptly.
Stein Plastic Surgery is located in the Raleigh, Durham, and Southeast NC areas serving patients.