Beware of the Facelift Shortcut

Minimally invasive facelifts have become a trend in recent years. More and more patients are turning to what has become known as a “weekend lift” to address their unwanted facial laxity. These mini lifts are advertised as being alternatives to traditional facelift surgery for patients who may require a lesser degree of correction. The weekend lift is generally marketed to younger patients (usually in their 40s or early 50s) who are just beginning to notice the onset of facial aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as the subtle development of jowls.

On paper, a weekend lift sounds like the ideal treatment: you still achieve the desired correction of fine lines and wrinkles; the surgery is done in a way that requires a shorter incision, which means a less noticeable scar; and the procedure only requires a weekend of recovery and downtime because there is less postoperative swelling and bruising. Many patients read through the benefits offered through a modified weekend lift and jump at the opportunity to undergo one. Unfortunately, while the procedure sounds like it would be a winner, the results are not always guaranteed to be as successful as with a traditional facelift. A traditional facelift, while it may require a slightly bigger incision and longer downtime, is still the best approach when it comes to handling your unwanted facial aging.

Keeping It Natural

Years ago, facelift surgery was first performed in a way that did not necessarily provide natural-looking results. With original facelift surgeries, the surgeon would make an incision (which was close to the incision currently used) and then simply pull the loose skin upward before suturing it in a way that would keep the skin taut. The original techniques only focused on the skin without addressing the underlying issue: the muscle, tissues, and fat that sit (or droop down) beneath the surface. Fortunately, over the decades, surgeons have learned from their predecessors’ mistakes.

Today, during a traditional facelift, such as the ones performed by Dr. Ackerman, the procedure is performed in stages. Each aspect of facial aging, from the gravitational pull of the underlying muscles, tissues, and fat to the formation of excess skin, is addressed and given adequate time and attention to detail. By focusing on every aspect, Dr. Ackerman provides a dramatic reduction in the appearance of facial aging, and more than anything, the procedure can deliver these results in a completely organic and natural-looking way. The hallmark of a good facelift is one that is unnoticeable to someone who had never seen you before your surgery. There should be no tell-tale signs of the procedure. Instead, you should only have smoother and more lifted contours, which results in a rejuvenated facial appearance.

Unfortunately, this attention to detail takes a significant amount of time. A weekend facelift is unable to dedicate the time and effort necessary to place each tissue where it needs to go. It is for this reason that modified facelifts can sometimes result in an unnatural pulled or windswept look. And while there may be the benefit of less recovery time or extensiveness with the mini lift, the overall quality of your results will not match up to those of a traditional facelift. To achieve your best results, look beyond the bright lights of the shortcut and consider the time-tested and natural results offered by the traditional lift.

If you are interested in learning more about facelift surgery, contact Dr. Ackerman by calling (949) 759-3284 or using the online form to set up a consultation.