The aging process can lead to sagging skin and the onset of deep facial creases and wrinkles. The signs of aging might be natural and inevitable, but they’re not irreversible. Dr. Fathimani is a fellowship-trained facial cosmetic surgeon who employs cutting-edge surgical techniques to reverse the signs of aging and help you reclaim your youthful looks with a facelift in Lone Tree.
How Facial Aging Occurs
As we age, our skin cells produce less collagen and elastin. These are the proteins that give our skin a youthful appearance. The loss of collagen and elastin leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and a loss of plumpness. Sun damage also plays a role in facial aging. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun damage the skin cells and break down collagen. This damage is cumulative, meaning that the more sun exposure you have, the greater the damage will be.
Over time, the gradual loss of collagen and elastin makes your face become worn out, tired, and frustrated. Furthermore, the onset of deep wrinkles between the eyebrows and on the forehead can make you look frustrated, even if you feel jovial within. Over time, the signs of aging can take a toll on your self-esteem and confidence, making you feel how you look on the outside. Dr. Fathimani’s facelift reintroduces you to your younger self.
What is Facelift?
A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the face. Facelift surgery aims to tighten the skin and underlying tissues and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin. A facelift in Lone Tree can be performed on the forehead, mid-face, or lower face. During a facelift, the surgeon makes incisions along the hairline, following which the skin is lifted, and the underlying tissues are tightened with sutures. A facelift takes a decade or more off your face.
Benefits of Facelift
One of the key benefits of a facelift is the longevity of results. Unlike fillers and other injectables, which must be repeated every few months to maintain results, a facelift provides long-lasting improvement. In most cases, a facelift’s benefits can last several years, so you’ll still look considerably younger, even a decade after the surgery.
The following are some of the other important benefits of a facelift:
- Reverse the signs of aging on the face
- Improve overall facial contours
- Make the skin look firm and taut
- Incisions are carefully hidden along the contours of your face
- Minimal scarring after the healing period
- Personalized according to your skin conditions and goals
- Can be combined with minimally-invasive techniques, like FaceTite and AccuTite
Facelift Can Correct:
- Skin laxity and sagging skin
- Facial creases, folds, and wrinkles
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Nasolabial folds around the nose
- Marionette lines around the mouth
- Prominent jowls
- Loss of facial definition
- Weak neck and chin contours
- Sagging skin under the chin
To learn more about facelifts in Lone Tree, contact our office for a consultation.
Facelift: Aftercare Guidelines
- Limit physical activity. Avoid strenuous activities, such as aerobics, jogging, weight lifting, and contact sports, for at least four weeks. Walking is fine, but take it easy at first.
- Apply ice. Applying ice to your face can reduce swelling and bruising. Wrap ice cubes in a towel and apply them to your face for 10-15 minutes at a time.
- Keep your head elevated. For the first few days after your facelift, try to sleep with your head elevated on pillows. This will reduce swelling and bruising.
- Wear sunscreen. This is especially important if you have had a skin graft.
- Be gentle with your skin. Avoid scrubbing or using harsh cleansers. Gently wash your face with a mild soap and apply a thin layer of moisturizer.
- Watch for signs of infection. Signs of infection after a facelift can include fever, redness, increased pain, and drainage from your incisions. If you notice any of these signs, be sure to call your doctor right away.
Types of Facelift
Mini Facelift
The mini facelift in Lone Tree is the least invasive type of facelift. It is best suited for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who do not require correction of the deeper structures of the face. The mini facelift involves making small incisions around the hairline and ear, through which the skin is lifted, and excess skin is removed. The mini facelift is ideal for patients with pre-jowling, excess sagging skin, and wrinkles on the lower half of the face.
SMAS Facelift
The SMAS facelift is a more involved procedure than the mini facelift, best suited for patients with moderate to severe skin laxity who require correction of the deeper structures of the face. The SMAS facelift involves incisions around the hairline and ear and in the crease beneath the chin. Through these incisions, the skin is lifted, and the deeper structures of the face, including the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), are tightened. The SMAS facelift is also known as a traditional facelift.
Deep-Plane Facelift
The deep plane facelift is the most invasive type, best suited for patients with severe skin laxity, prominent jowls, sagging skin, and facial creases. The deep-plane facelift in Lone Tree involves incisions around the hairline and ear and under the chin. Through these incisions, the skin is lifted, and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is tightened without over-tightening the skin, thus ensuring a dramatic but natural transformation.
Minimally Invasive Facelift Techniques
FaceTite
FaceTite is a minimally invasive facelift technique that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten skin. A small probe is inserted beneath the skin and delivers radio frequency energy to heat up the skin and underlying tissues, which stimulates collagen production and leads to tighter, more youthful-looking skin. Dr. Fathimani can perform FaceTite as an independent procedure or in combination with other facelift techniques to enhance the results.
AccuTite
AccuTite is another minimally invasive facelift option that uses radiofrequency energy to tighten skin. However, AccuTite uses a much smaller probe than FaceTite. This smaller probe allows the doctor to target specific areas of the face, such as the crow’s feet, brow line, or under-eye tear troughs, without prominent scars. The AccuTite technique can also be combined with other facelift techniques or performed independently.
Facelift: Recovery & Downtime
A facelift in Lone Tree can take anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the extent of the procedure. During a facelift, your surgeon will make incisions along the hairline at the temples, continuing around the ear and ending in the lower scalp. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the underlying muscles may be tightened. The skin is then redraped over the new contours of your face, and the incisions are closed with sutures.
Most people feel ready to return to work and their normal activities within two weeks after surgery. Although you may feel well enough to go out in public, it can take up to six weeks for the swelling and bruising to completely dissipate. It’s important to avoid activities that can raise your blood pressure during this time, such as strenuous workouts, as they can increase the risk of bleeding and cause more swelling.
Facelift: Results & Longevity
The results of a facelift can be long-lasting. The aging process will eventually cause the skin and underlying structures to loosen and sag again. You may be able to prolong the results of your facelift in Lone Tree with non-surgical treatments like injectable fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and good skin care. Generally speaking, a facelift can take a decade off your face, and you may not need another facelift for 10 to 15 years.
Before & After
Schedule Your Consultation
Dr. Kayvan Fathimani is a triple board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and fellowship-trained facial cosmetic surgeon specializing in the latest surgical techniques. He takes the time to listen to your goals, measures your skin laxity, and recommends the least invasive techniques to produce the most dramatic yet natural results. His measured, conservative, and personalized approach to facelifts ensures a dramatic reversal in the signs of aging. Please contact Dr. Fathimani to explore your facelift options in Lone Tree, Colorado.
