When most people think of a face lift, they think of skin tightening. However, as many Ohio plastic surgeons will tell you, the truth is that it’s much more involved. A successful face lift frequently tightens facial muscles as well as skin, providing much more comprehensive rejuvenation.

Pesky Plastysma

When it comes to facial muscles contributing to an aged look in the lower face, the real culprit is often the platysma muscle. This muscle is visible below the jaw, and can become weakened with age, sometimes leading to jowls. When a weakened plastysma is combined with loose skin and sagging fat deposits, people can look tired and older than their years. That’s where a facelift can help.

A Successful Facelift

While a facelift does sometimes tighten loose skin, in order to be effective it must usually also tighten the platysma. A facelift can:

• Tighten loose skin
• Tighten weakened platysma muscles
• Address deep creases or wrinkles in the lower face
• Lift or reduce displaced fat deposits
• Improve the appearance of an aging neck when combined with a neck lift

Other Facial Muscles

A facelift isn’t the only facial plastic surgery procedure that requires surgeons to address underlying muscles. Eyelid surgery, as well, may involve some muscle tightening. For instance, an upper blepharoplasty may correct a weakened or torn eyelid elevator muscle. Also, a brow lift (or forehead lift) involves tightening the muscles in the forehead to lift a drooping brow.

As we age, all kinds of lines and wrinkles can show up on our faces. Just to name a few, we’ve got marionette lines – the wrinkles from the corners of the mouth down to the chin – and “parentheses” – the wrinkles from the corners of the nose down to the mouth. One of the areas of wrinkling that bothers my patients the most is right between the eyebrows, where vertical lines can appear that make a person look angry or upset.

Several treatment options exist for these furrows between the brows, technically known as glabellar lines.

• Non-surgical: Probably the most frequent treatment I perform for glabellar lines at my Walnut Creek area practice is BOTOX® Cosmetic. BOTOX is designed to reduce wrinkles caused by facial movement (dynamic wrinkles) – and that’s exactly what glabellar lines are. Injected between the eyebrows, BOTOX relaxes the muscles that contract to cause frowns, scowls or other facial expressions. But don’t worry, in the hands of a skilled injector, BOTOX won’t eliminate your ability to show a full range of facial expressions.
• Surgery: Unlike BOTOX (which offers only temporary results), a surgical brow lift, sometimes called a forehead lift, could provide long-lasting improvement. I perform my brow lift procedures with an endoscope, using small incisions and tiny instruments to reposition the forehead skin and underlying tissue from beneath. This results in a more youthful appearance.

Enjoying Smoother Skin

BOTOX actually has many uses beyond glabellar lines, and the other injectable treatments I offer at my practice are often used to address “parentheses” and marionette lines. The truth is, injectable treatments can provide a very natural-looking freshening of the complexion. So whether those lines between your brows or some other lines, wrinkles or folds are weighing you down, help is available with the advanced treatments offered today.

There’s more than one way to “lift” your face, and with the plethora of surgical techniques available today, it may be hard to differentiate which techniques would treat your specific concerns. While an experienced plastic surgeon is your greatest resource for information, it helps for you to be up to date about what procedures are available.

Face lift methods are usually defined by the incision length and the method they employ to actually lift the skin or tighten the facial muscles. Patients who require more extensive lifting may need longer incisions and more invasive lifting techniques, while patients with less significant sagging can opt for smaller incisions and less-invasive techniques. For my patients with minimal sagging on the neck and jowl region, I may recommend a SignatureLift face lift. My North Carolina patients are good candidates for this procedure if they don’t need a full face lift procedure just yet. This means that it’s ideal for the mild skin sagging that often occurs for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

The SignatureLift procedure is a variation of the short-flap technique, which makes a smaller incision and promotes faster healing in patients. Because it is far less invasive than more standard face lift methods, patients recovery quickly, often being able to return to work Monday after having the surgery the previous Thursday. There is minimal swelling and bruising with the SignatureLift. Additionally, patients can undergo the procedure with only local anesthesia, though general anesthesia remains an option as well.

The advantage of the SignatureLift is that you achieve truly significant results with minimal work and very little downtime. To maximize their rejuvenation, sometimes my patients will combine the procedure with other facial rejuvenation options like injectable fillers, BOTOX® or surgical procedures like eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or brow lift in North Carolina. Depending on your specific needs, a SignatureLift may be able to take years off the appearance of your face and neck.

Men visit my facial cosmetic surgery practice in Toronto for the same reasons as women – to look more attractive and hold onto their youth. I make sure my patients understand the differences between what makes a man’s face look attractive and what makes a woman’s face look attractive. Men want to look younger, but they usually don’t want to look “pretty.”

Let’s review some popular procedures and how they can be adapted to preserve masculinity.

• Brow lifts raise a sagging forehead and eyebrows. While high, arched eyebrows are often attractive in women, masculinity is often better-enhanced by thick, lower-set brows that don’t obstruct the upper eyelids.
• Eyelid lifts produce more masculine results when the upper lid retains a slight fullness, as opposed to a more feminine, deep, well-defined eyelid crease.
• Facelifts vary for men mainly in the incision placement, because men often have receding hairlines. The surgeon must also account for men’s thicker skin and facial hair (like sideburns and beards).
• Nose surgery improves the shape and function of the nose. Rhinoplasy surgeons in Toronto should understand that a strong, straight nose enhances masculinity as opposed to a softly rounded nose. Many men benefit from lifting the tip of the nose, as it commonly droops with age.

Cosmetic surgery, when performed by an experienced professional with well-developed aesthetic understanding, can give men a rejuvenated appearance without sacrificing the attributes that make them look masculine.

It’s not uncommon to feel that you don’t look as good as you used to, but knowing what to do about it isn’t always easy. Many of my patients tell me that they simply look tired, even though they’re not really behind on their sleep. I tell these patients that there are several facial cosmetic surgery procedures in Toronto that can help women and men look refreshed, vibrant, and even years younger.
When it comes to addressing the eye area there are several options, including:

• Eyelid surgery: Because the eye area is often the first to show signs of aging, eyelid lifts can help you look revitalized and alert. Upper eyelid surgery involves incisions along the natural eyelid crease to remove excess skin. For some patients, this skin sags to the point where it obstructs their vision. If this is the case, the procedure might be considered medically necessary and therefore covered by insurance. Lower eyelid surgery can reduce the puffy bags that can make you look worn out.
• Browlift: A heavy brow line and sagging forehead can make you look older, tired, and even angry. Some people have naturally heavy brows while others develop them over the years. A browlift raises heavy brows and tightens a sagging forehead. It can be performed endoscopically through a few tiny incisions. Many patients think they need eyelid surgery when a brow lift may suit them better.
• Combination browlift/eyelid surgery: Sometimes a combination of the 2 procedures is the most effective way to achieve the alert, refreshed appearance patients are looking for.

If you want to improve the appearance of your eye area but are not ready for surgery, consider BOTOX® Cosmetic. These simple injections can relax lines on the forehead and wrinkles around the eyes. You can also have these treatments after facial surgery to extend the life of your improvements.
Because there are so many options, the wisest course of action is to enlist the guidance of a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. They have a specialized understanding of the underlying anatomy of the face and are ideally qualified to recommend treatments for the eye area. Their judgment and experience will be invaluable in suggesting the approach that will help you look renewed and alert, yet natural.

A “Mommy Makeover” can be very rewarding, helping women regain their pre-baby figure (and their self-confidence). Many Mommy Makeover patients feel that they get a new lease on life – and that’s a truly wonderful thing. But what about dads? They stay up with fussy babies, change diapers, and get worn out too. While it’s not as common, the “Daddy Makeover” does exist, and the procedures men tend to choose for their cosmetic enhancement may surprise you.

Tummy tucks are usually included in my Sacramento Mommy Makeovers. Tummy tucks can reduce excess skin and fat in the midsection and mend separated abdominal muscles – conditions encountered by most moms. But women aren’t the only ones frustrated by the changes they see in their midsection; men may also benefit from a tummy tuck procedure.

I’ve found that liposuction is often an even better body contouring procedure for most men because it can address love handles, male breasts, and other areas besides the abdomen. I can adjust the liposuction procedure specifically for the areas that concern men the most.

Most men aren’t just worried about the changes they see in their bodies – they’re unhappy about changes in their faces as well. For a refreshed, stronger, and more virile look, men may want to consider eyelid surgery, a brow lift, chin augmentation, or a face lift.

As you can see, a skilled plastic surgeon can help men get exactly the kind of makeover they want. For slight improvements or more dramatic changes, Daddy Makeovers just might be the next big thing.

By: Richard Rival, MD

How we look affects how people see us, and in recent months a few researchers have given us some interesting specifics on how even small changes to your facial features can dramatically impact what emotions your face communicates. One of the more recent studies by a research group from Yale looked at changes to the brow line, an area that treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic, brow lift, and other Toronto facial cosmetic surgery procedures can affect.

Facial Features and Apparent Emotion: What We Know

Studies like the one at Yale typically show their participants photos of the same person, digitally edited to adjust the facial features, and ask the participants to identify what the person in the image seems to be feeling.

Not surprisingly, the photos showing someone with low brows or a wrinkled forehead were identified as showing anger or disgust, and saggy eyelids and wrinkles around the eyebrows created a significantly more tired expression. Interestingly, though, very elevated brows were seen as making a person look more, rather than less tired, and the photos that showed the most significant positive changes in mood showed adjustments to the curve, not the position, of the brows.

How This Information Helps You:

Studies like these underscore two important points about facial cosmetic surgery in Toronto:

• Moderate changes are best: Many people want to see big improvements to their features through a cosmetic procedure, but sometimes less drastic surgeries can produce more desirable results – this is especially true for facial cosmetic surgery. Toronto BOTOX Cosmetic patients, for example, sometimes think that good results need to create a completely smooth skin texture, but in reality a good facial plastic surgeon or nurse injector will know how to place the product so that the patient sees visible changes but still looks natural and retains a bit of the expressiveness that people expect to see. While the results will be less “extreme,” they will also give you a much more natural, approachable, and positive appearance.
• Great results match your facial features: Especially where a brow lift is combined with eyelid surgery, the line of your rejuvenated eyelid crease needs to match the line of your brows, and vice versa. After healing, you should not be seeing dramatic differences between the curves of your eyelid creases and the larger curve of your brows. While very high brows do emphasize the eyes, they can also communicate negative emotions like tiredness or surprise that compromise the benefits of the procedure. An experienced Toronto facial plastic surgeon ought to be able to work with you to tailor your surgical plan and make sure that your results accurately show who you are – and how you feel.

By: Jason Lichten, MD, FACS

When patients come to me considering a Columbus area cosmetic surgery procedure, I tell them that their choice of surgeon is the first and most important decision they have to make. Unfortunately, many people are unaware how to choose wisely, or unwilling to act on their instincts when they have reservations about their surgeon.

Here are three signs your surgeon may not offer the quality of care you deserve:

1. Your surgeon’s credentials don’t stand up to scrutiny

There are plenty of certification boards out there, but not all are created equal. Doctors who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery have received rigorous training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery techniques, while many other boards do not have such high standards. If your surgeon lacks certification from a reputable board, or their stated credentials don’t match up with what you find when you research them with the ABMS and state boards, it is time to look elsewhere for your procedure.

2. Your surgeon does not seem to listen

I see Columbus area cosmetic surgery as a partnership. Even though I have the skills to provide the enhancements my patients want, their procedures will only be “successful” in my eyes if my patients are happy.

A good plastic surgeon will demonstrate a strong commitment to understanding your reasons and goals for surgery, so that you can work together to plan for results that line up reasonably with those objectives and look natural. If you have trouble getting a quick response from your surgeon’s offices or you are not entirely confident that you and your surgeon are “on the same page,” it might be time to reassess your objectives with your doctor, or to look for someone more dedicated.

3. Your surgeon wants to “sell” you on a specific procedure

Some patients require better education about their options before they understand clearly which procedure matches their needs best, but you should never feel pressured to undergo a procedure you aren’t sure about, from a surgeon who makes recommendations before understanding your goals.

Some plastic surgery offices will give price quotes and assessments over the phone, without even seeing the patient or hearing why and how they want to make a change. A good surgeon will focus on your needs and educate you about your options so that you have realistic expectations and can make healthy choices.

Sometimes, for example, patients come into my office thinking they need face lift surgery in Columbus, OH when a brow lift might offer results much closer to what they want. Before I can make any suggestions, I have to understand an individual patient’s concerns and desires clearly. If your surgeon seems to fall short in this area, it might be time to look elsewhere.

By: Steven Schuster, MD

Some cosmetic surgeons will push for you to undergo multiple facial enhancements when one procedure alone may get you the results you want – but other facial surgeons’ “one-stop” procedures may not be enough to preserve your results in the long term. So, how do you know whether a combination approach is right for you?

At my Boca Raton facelift and plastic surgery offices, I make it my top priority to ensure that my patients undergo safe, accurate procedures that offer genuine benefits. Here are some tips to help you find out whether one of the more popular combination approaches makes sense for you.

Remember: Qualified Doctors Give Better Advice

The American Board of Plastic Surgery requires plastic surgeons to pass a rigorous series of examinations in addition to completing years of medical school and surgical training. As a Boca Raton plastic surgeon, I have also received additional specialized training in facial surgery, which helps me to create satisfying results.

Understand Your Options

1. Injectable Filler Combination Treatments

A number of surgeons are now offering “liquid facelift” in Boca Raton and Palm Beach by combining dermal fillers such as Restylane® with other injectables such as BOTOX® Cosmetic.

When It Can Be Appropriate:

• You are beginning to experience thinning facial tissue and hollow areas in the cheeks
• You have a combination of static and dynamic wrinkles, especially around the forehead and mouth
• You are not experiencing significant sagging of the muscles, fatty tissues or skin, which tend to gather at the jowls and below the eyelids

2. Facial Liposuction Combination Treatments

Not all surgeons offer the same facial liposuction options, but with the right surgeon, certain patients can benefit from the smoothing effect of liposuction to remove patchy neck fat and a traditional or mini Boca Raton facelift to further smooth the jaw line.

When It Can Be Appropriate:

• You have good skin quality overall, but have pouchy areas near the neck where isolated fatty deposits cause your skin to sag
• You have noticeable lines in the mid-face area, especially at the nasolabial folds
• Your jaw and neck appear to blend together because of a combination of patchy fat and mid-face tissue sagging

3. Facelift and Eye-Enhancing Surgery Combinations

A facelift can refresh the look of the whole face, but its direct focus is on the mid-to-lower facial area. Often, patients will combine a facelift with either eyelid surgery or a brow lift to give the eyes a brighter look to match their younger-looking face.

When It Can Be Appropriate:

• You have both static and dynamic wrinkles at the mid-face area
• Your sagging facial tissues worsen the effect of those wrinkles
• Baggy tissues either below or above your eyelids worsen your “tired” look and make you appear unhappy

By: Paul Stallman, M.D.

Trust and understanding are absolutely essential for the patient-surgeon relationship, which is why personal consultations are so important to evaluating how you feel about a surgeon. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you compare surgeons for your facial plastic surgery procedure.

Surgical philosophy: Some surgeons tend to believe that “less is more,” while others will push for more extensive procedures. Some patients will in fact achieve better results from a larger-scale procedure, but the consultation is a key time for you to evaluate how comfortable you feel that your surgeon is suggesting the right approach for you without “overselling” non-essential surgical options. You may think that all you need is a Fresno BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment to smooth out those wrinkles, but a cosmetic professional who understands the full range of surgical and nonsurgical options may have a legitimate reason for suggesting longer-term wrinkle correction from a procedure such as a brow lift.

Reputable surgeons will be happy to explain the reasons behind their procedure suggestions, and because patient-surgeon communication is so important, it is worth knowing if your surgeon can validate his or her suggestions clearly and compassionately.

Training and experience: Plastic surgery is a rapidly changing field, and it’s important to find a doctor who remains current with the latest techniques and technologies. Don’t be afraid to ask surgeons about their credentials – their medical education and post-doctoral training – and find out what they have done to keep their training fresh. Most Fresno and San Luis Obispo blepharoplasty surgeons should be able to tell you about seminars and continuing education sessions where they learned recent procedure innovations that they have put into practice.

Options: Each surgeon has his or her specialties, and a doctor whose experience and training focused specifically on facial surgery will more likely offer a wider range of procedure options for face lift and related procedures than, for example, a surgeon whose training emphasized breast augmentation or body contouring. Talking with several surgeons about their procedure focus will give you a better sense of which procedures they prefer to perform. When it comes to eyelid surgery, for instance, a surgeon who has done 1,000 Fresno blepharoplasty procedures is much more likely to achieve a satisfying result than a surgeon who primarily performs breast augmentation.

Focusing your questions: Research your options before your procedure, and when you talk with a surgeon make sure you understand why he or she is suggesting one approach over another. By asking the right questions, you can be on equal footing with the surgeon and feel confident that you are making the right choices for your health and your cosmetic goals.

Before you undergo any cosmetic procedure, you need to have confidence in the surgical process. The one-on-one consultation is your opportunity to get to know a surgeon and judge for yourself whether surgery or nonsurgical options are right for you. At my practice, I have helped many patients who have visited with several facial surgery doctors near Fresno and San Luis Obispo before choosing my practice for their cosmetic procedure.