While you cannot stop the aging process, you can turn back the hands of time with surgeries such as an endoscopic facelift or traditional facelift. A traditional facelift is so called because it is the procedure that’s been performed for years to reduce sagging skin and to make the lower portion of the face more toned and youthful looking. Endoscopic facelift surgery is a procedure that has been introduced more recently. Although some patients are still better candidates for a traditional facelift, many others can benefit from an endoscopic procedure.
Areas Treated
One big difference between a traditional facelift and an endoscopic facelift is the areas that the surgeon can reach when performing the procedure. A traditional surgery focuses on the lower portion of the face, including the jowls, cheeks, and chin. During an endoscopic procedure, the endoscope allows a surgeon to reach more areas, such as the middle of the face (midface) and the area between the eyebrows. In some cases, the endoscopic facelift is performed at the same time as a lower face and neck lift.
Smaller Incisions in an Endoscopic Facelift
Another difference between a traditional and endoscopic facelift is the size and location of the incisions. During a traditional surgery to access the forehead and brow, the surgeon makes incisions from ear to ear. In the case of an endoscopic surgery, the incisions are made in the hairline. They are also tiny. The incisions only need to be large enough to allow the surgeon to thread the scope, which is a small camera, through to let him or her see where he or she is working.
Type of Anesthesia Used
Many surgeons prefer to use a full general anesthetic 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 his or her own. It also takes longer for the effects of the anesthetic to wear off and it often costs more. In some cases, there’s a risk of a patient having a negative or allergic reaction to the anesthetic.
At the Aesthetic Surgery Center, all of our Endoscopic surgeries and Uplift procedures are performed with deep twilight sedation. There are numerous benefits when it comes to twilight sedation. For one thing, a patient is sufficiently sedated so that he or she won’t remember what happened during the surgery. But, the patient is still able to breathe on his or her own and doesn’t require as much anesthetic medication. The effects of twilight anesthesia also wear off quickly, so a patient is able to return home sooner after the procedure, with less postoperative side effects.
Recovery After an Endoscopic Facelift
Although it might be less invasive than a traditional facelift and the incisions are smaller, it’s important to understand that an endoscopic facelift is still surgery. That means that a patient still needs to dedicate some time to recovery afterwards. Typically, patients are asked to take between one and two weeks off from their jobs to allow their body time to heal and to allow the bruising and swelling time to decrease. Along with taking it easy for two weeks by not going to work, patients are usually asked to avoid physical activity and exercise, such as working out, golfing, or running, for at least two 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 days before shaving again. If you regularly color your hair, it’s a good idea to have a touch-up before your surgery, as you’ll want to wait about three weeks afterwards before dying it again.
Who is a Candidate?
Whether you’re a candidate for an endoscopic facelift or a traditional one depends on the amount of aging on your face and a few other factors. Typically, endoscopic procedures are recommended to patients who are just beginning to show some signs of aging. People with more advanced facial sagging might be better off with a traditional procedure. But, depending on how fast you are aging, you can benefit from the surgery when you are in your late 30s or in your late 60s/70s. A consultation with one of our plastic surgeons can help you see if you’re a good candidate.
A few other factors affect whether or not a facelift is right for you. For example, smoking usually has a negative effect on 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. It’s important to discuss any medicines you take with your surgeon. You’ll most likely be given a list of medicines to avoid, starting 10 days before your procedure.
Schedule an Endoscopic Facelift Consultation Today
To learn more about the endoscopic facelift and to see if it’s the right choice for you, contact the Aesthetic Surgery Center to book an appointment with Dr. Anurag Agarwal, Dr. Richard Maloney, or Dr. Kiranjeet Gill, one of our 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. Gill believe that educating and communicating with their patients are the keys to helping them achieve successful, natural-looking results. Book your appointment at the Aesthetic Surgery Center, located at 1175 Creekside Parkway #100 in Naples, FL, by calling (239) 594-9100.