Facelifts remain one of the most popular cosmetic surgery options in the US. Facelifts do what other treatments can’t. They help to tighten loose skin around the lower area of the face, giving you a more youthful appearance.
While the procedure is popular, there are still plenty of myths and misconceptions out there. If you are considering a facelift, it helps to know the facts about the surgery before you schedule a consultation with a facial plastic surgery specialist. Take a look at some of the most common myths and learn the truth instead.
1. You Have to Be Over 50 to Benefit from a Facelift
There are probably two factors that have fed the myth that facelifts are only designed for people over the age of 50. One might be the fact that there are several non-invasive treatments available today, such as Botox and other types of wrinkle-smoothing injectables, which are designed to treat the earliest signs of aging. While injections are helpful for wrinkles, they aren’t designed to treat what a facelift can — loose skin.
Another thing that fuels this myth is the belief that people age at the same rate. That’s simply not true. Visit a 20-year high school reunion and you’ll find plenty of people who still look like they did in graduation photos, along with plenty of people who look like they could be grandparents. Everyone ages differently, which means that one 38 or 40-year-old might be an ideal candidate for a facelift even if another 38 or 40-year-old won’t be for 10 years of more.
2. Your Face Will Look Fake After a Facelift
Older facelift techniques primarily focused on tightening the outermost layers of skin. That often lead to an unnatural, “windswept” look. Fortunately, you don’t see that too much anymore, as today’s surgeons use a multi-layer approach and aim to customize their procedures to each patient’s individual needs. Today’s facelift typically produces very natural-looking results. You’ll look like yourself, but years younger. Dr. Agarwal focuses on lifting the face in a vertical direction because you age in a vertical direction. You don’t age in a horizontal direction, so it doesn’t make sense to pull the face back, but rather up! (Hence the UpliftTM procedure…)
3. You’ll Stop Aging After a Facelift
A facelift turns back the hands of time, but it doesn’t stop them. You will continue to get older and your skin will continue to age after the surgery. That said, while a facelift won’t press stop or pause on time, it will help you look younger and can help slow down the process of aging.
Often, a facelift takes about 10 years off of a person’s appearance. If a 55-year-old has a facelift, they might look 45 afterward. Fast forward five years, and the person is now 60. Instead of looking 60, they are likely to look 50, thanks to the facelift.
4. Recovery Is Long and Difficult
Facelifts are surgery, so there is some recovery involved. You will most likely want to take a week or two to rest and recover. That means taking that much time off from work or your other activities. While you do want to give your body time to recuperate after the surgery, recovery isn’t particularly challenging for most patients.
You might have some discomfort in the area during the first two days and there’s likely to be some swelling and bruising. Usually, though, the discomfort is easily managed with medication. Ice packs can help to bring down swelling or bruising. You can look at the recovery period as a chance to rest and relax, rather than as a time of stress and suffering.
5. A Facelift is the Only Way to Treat the Signs of Aging
Some people think that a facelift is the only option when it comes to fighting the signs of aging. In fact, you have many more choices, depending on what your specific concern is. For example, if you are primarily concerned about wrinkles, Juvederm or Botox might be a good option. If you have sagging in the forehead area or drooping, tired-looking eyes, procedures such as an eyebrow lift or an eyelid lift can be appropriate. In some cases, people get the results they want and the best possible results by combining a facelift with another surgical or even a non-surgical treatment.
Schedule Your Facelift Consultation Today
To learn more about facelifts, schedule a consultation with the specialists at the Aesthetic Surgery Center today. Our specialists have been featured on many of the major news networks, including ABC, NBC, and FOX, as a recognized expert on a variety of plastic surgery topics. They believe that educating and communicating with patients are the keys to helping them achieve successful, natural-looking results. Book your appointment at the Aesthetic Surgery Center, located at 1175 Creekside Pkwy, Suite 100, Naples, FL, by calling 239-594-9100.