While you cannot stop the aging process entirely, you can turn back the hands of time significantly with cosmetic facial surgeries like an endoscopic or traditional facelift. At Aesthetic Surgery Center in Naples, FL, our surgeons understand that deciding which treatment is right for you can be difficult. Both surgeries will reduce signs of aging but were designed with different types of patients in mind and are distinct procedures.
A traditional facelift is an invasive, yet effective procedure that has been performed since the beginning of the 20th century. It reduces sagging skin and makes the lower portion of the face more toned and youthful-looking.
Endoscopic facelift surgery, on the other hand, was introduced in the 1980s. This newer type of facelift is a less invasive, targeted procedure that can be used to supplement traditional facelift surgery or may be performed as a stand-alone treatment.
The Differences Between Endoscopic and Traditional Facelifts
Your candidacy for either an endoscopic or traditional facelift depends on several factors, including the area of the face you wish to treat and how much your face is currently showing signs of aging. If you are trying to figure out which procedure might be right for you, here are some of the key differences between traditional and endoscopic facelifts to help you choose:
1. Areas Treated
Your surgeon will provide a recommendation based on the area of your face that needs treatment. A traditional facelift focuses on the lower portion of the face, including the jowls, cheeks, and chin.
During an endoscopic procedure, the endoscope allows a surgeon to access hard-to-reach areas, such as the middle of the face (midface) and the area between the eyebrows. In some cases, an endoscopic facelift is performed at the same time as a lower face and neck lift.
2. Incision Size
The surgical technique also dictates the size of the incisions. During traditional facelift surgery, the surgeon makes incisions from ear to ear to access the forehead and brow.
The incisions for an endoscopic surgery only need to be large enough to allow the surgeon to thread a small camera through (called an endoscope) to let them see where they are working. These tiny incisions are made along the hairline.
3. Anesthesia
Many surgeons use general anesthesia to perform facial surgery. However, this is not the case at the Aesthetic Surgery Center, where we use twilight anesthesia.
With general anesthesia, a patient isn’t able to breathe on their own. It also takes longer for the effects of the anesthetic to wear off and costs more. In some cases, general anesthesia can cause a negative or allergic reaction depending on the patient.
At Aesthetic Surgery Center, all of our endoscopic and traditional facelifts are performed with deep twilight sedation. With twilight sedation, the patient doesn’t remember what happened during the surgery. However, they can still breathe on their own and don’t require as much anesthesia. The effects of twilight anesthesia also wear off quickly, so a patient can return home sooner after the procedure, with fewer postoperative side effects.
4. Recovery
In either a traditional or endoscopic facelift surgery, you will need to dedicate some time to recovery. Typically, a surgeon will advise patients to take between one and two weeks off from their jobs to allow their body time to heal and the bruising and swelling time to decrease. Along with taking it easy for two weeks, patients should avoid physical activity and exercise, including working out, golfing, or running, for several weeks following surgery.
A few other daily habits might need to be postponed for a few days after surgery. For example, men might have to wait a couple of days before shaving again. If you regularly color your hair, you should schedule a touch-up before your surgery, as you will want to wait about three weeks after your surgery before dying it again.
Although it might be less invasive than a traditional facelift and the incisions are smaller, an endoscopic facelift is still surgery and thus has a similar recovery time.
Are You A Candidate?
Your candidacy for either an endoscopic or traditional facelift depends on how much your face shows the effects of aging. You could benefit from facelift surgery as early as your 30s and as late as your 60s or 70s.
Typically, our surgeons recommend endoscopic procedures for patients who are just beginning to show signs of aging. People with more advanced facial sagging might be better off with a traditional facelift. A consultation with one of our plastic surgeons will determine your candidacy for either procedure.
A few other factors affect whether or not a facelift is right for you. For example, smoking usually impacts the healing process, and your surgeon will likely advise you to quit before your surgery.
The medications you take can also affect your healing and results. Make sure to discuss any medicines you take with your surgeon before surgery. You will most likely receive a list of medications to avoid starting ten days before your procedure.
Which Surgery Is Better?
In the end, your candidacy for endoscopic or traditional facelift procedures will depend on your specific needs. People with small wrinkles and those just beginning to show the signs of aging will probably benefit from a less invasive endoscopic procedure.
Those with sagging jowls, cheeks, and chin, or other advanced signs of aging, will most likely benefit from a traditional facelift. Both types of facial surgery use twilight anesthetic and have a two-week recovery time.
Schedule an Endoscopic Facelift Consultation Today
To learn more about facelifts and find out which treatment is the right choice for you, contact Aesthetic Surgery Center to book an appointment with one of our renowned plastic surgeons. They have been featured on many of the major news networks, including ABC, NBC, and FOX, as recognized experts on a variety of plastic surgery topics. Dr. Agarwal, Dr. Maloney, and Dr. Ross believe that educating and communicating with their patients are the keys to helping them achieve successful, natural-looking results.
Book your facelift consultation appointment at the Aesthetic Surgery Center, located at 1175 Creekside Parkway #100 in Naples, FL, by calling (239) 420-8503.