Time may be a great healer, but when it comes to ageing, it can bring our skin down. Skin laxity or loosening of our skin and facial layers is inevitable. Fortunately, there is more than one facelift technique to tighten and lift in line with your facial anatomy.
Understanding ageing . . .
There is no one direct ageing pathway – gravity, sun exposure, genetics all come to the party. When we seek facial rejuvenation, one of the most common issues we look to address is skin laxity. As the years tick on, we experience an overall ‘loosening’ of the layers of our face: the underlying muscular layer, the subcutaneous fat layer and the skin. This breakdown in laxity results in volume depletion, an increase in wrinkles and fine lines, jowling and a loss of facial shape and definition.
Facelift tried and true
The facelift holds ageless appeal for good reason. It effectively targets and restores to volume and shape to deliver a more youthful form. And most importantly, it is customisable to each person. A qualified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon will tailor a surgical and nonsurgical facelift plan in line with a patient's goals and needs, their facial anatomy, and health and wellness.
Why is understanding facial anatomy so important?
Our facial anatomy is unique to us alone, so surgical and noninvasive cosmetic treatment plans should follow suit. Our bone structure, fat pads, extent of laxity in different areas of the face, all impact the facelift techniques and choices a surgeon makes to ensure the end results are balanced and naturally attuned. Fun fact! Did you know that each of us is actually longer and leaner on one side of our face than the other!
Therefore, evaluation of facial anatomy and identification of asymmetries is essential to every facelift procedure. An experienced cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, who specialises in facelift procedures, won’t cut corners. They’ll delve into all layers of the face – including bone structure – to hone a clearer picture of facial anatomy and then customise a treatment plan.
What ‘type’ of facelift might I undergo and when?
Genetics, environmental factors, weight gain and loss all factor into facelift timing. And whilst there is no ‘set’ age to undergo a facelift procedure, more commonly people aged 45+ seek surgical facial rejuvenation, whilst those younger may be able to address the first signs of ageing with noninvasive appearance medicine treatments – such as skin tightening with Sofwave, Botox injections and dermal fillers.
As for facelift procedure types, there is more than one, but essentially every facelift technique will address the superficial muscular aponeurotic system, SMAS, layer of the face.
- A Superficial facelift is typically suited to mild-to-moderate signs of ageing and lifts the whole face and neck. Incisions are made along the hairline, ears and temples, accessing the superficial muscular aponeurotic network of tissues which support the face. This layer is repositioned and tightened, and excess skin trimmed. Results include a firmer, tighter appearance with reduced laxity and greater contouring definition.
- A Deep-plane facelift is focused on elevation below thefacial muscle – known as the deep-plane. It is a more comprehensive approach to addressing muscle, skin and tissue laxity. A Deep-plane lift can be more adept at lifting the cheeks – targeting the nasal labial folds – than a Superficial lift.
Lift in line with you
What remains at the forefront of any facelift decision-making is staying true to your facial anatomy and keeping safety on the frontline. So, placing yourself in the hands of a qualified and experienced cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon who specialises in facial plastic surgery is a must.
