When facelift procedures first became popular, they were designed as a reactionary approach to the process of aging. The changes that are possible through the facelift surgery can be dramatic, often reversing up to 10 years of aging effects on the face.
But today, opinions are shifting from this reactionary thinking to the proactive approach of an early maintenance facelift. So what’s the reason for this change and should you consider the procedure for yourself?
The Early Maintenance Facelift
The term “early maintenance” has been added on to facelift surgeries requested by patients in their younger years and with minimal signs of aging. It’s not strictly a technical term, but more of a descriptor to explain this trend in facelift surgery. The procedure itself is no different from a facelift surgery, so your treatment is customized to fit your unique features and needs.
The facelift procedure can be performed using the traditional or limited technique for your incisions. The traditional facelift involves incisions made along the hairline, continuing in front of and behind the ears, then extending to the lower scalp. With a limited facelift, the incisions will be placed in the same location, without extending as long. The incisions used to perform your procedure will depend on your surgical needs and trouble areas.
Once your incisions are in place, your facial plastic surgeon will work to redistribute fat cells or remove the excess from the lower face and neck. Your facial muscles will be lifted and tightened along with the skin. If extra work is needed on the area beneath your chin, an extra incision may be made to allow more extensive corrections. If needed, this extra incision will be well hidden within the natural creases of your face.
Stopping the Clock
While there’s no procedure that can actually stop the aging process, an early maintenance facelift is the best way for patients to press the pause button at an age when they like the way they look. Not all patients are keen on the idea of looking as young as possible; many men and women are happy to stay the way they are somewhere in their 30s, or somewhere nearby. For many facelift patients, this is the prime time for their looks.
When patients opt for an early maintenance facelift, they are typically hoping to achieve minimal rejuvenation in order to maintain a youthful look. On the other hand, facelifts performed on patients who are older and exhibiting more advanced signs of aging tend to seek the procedure for the purpose of regaining that youthful appearance. Earlier facelifts provide patients with a baseline for their looks in the long run.
Recognizing the Early Signs
In the early days of the aging process, the signs and symptoms appear slowly and gradually, often going unnoticed for years. For many patients, these signs seem to crop up overnight. If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed some of these tell-tale signs of the early aging process:
- Crow’s feet: These fine lines appear at the corners of the eyes and extend outward. They form when the muscles of the face contract to smile or laugh, so they will deepen with time. While the facelift procedure won’t address crow’s feet directly, they are a good indicator of your skin’s elasticity and your potential need for facial surgery.
- Fine lines: Trace more fine lines throughout other areas of the face and you’ll know you’re on your way to more advanced signs of aging.
- Less elastic skin: While you may not have sagging, drooping skin around the lower portion of your face, you might have noticed that your skin feels less elastic and firm. This could indicate that the early breakdown of elastic tissue has begun and a facelift could help you maintain your look before it progresses.
If you’ve noticed these signs when you look in the mirror, it might be time for you to get proactive about your anti-aging regimen. As the term suggests, an early maintenance facelift can be your initial step toward maintaining your current look just the way it is. The first step is to learn more information about the procedure and whether it could be a good fit for you.
Discover How Early Maintenance Surgery Could Help You
All in all, it is clear that researching your surgeon pays dividends. In fact, the reason why people fly to Florida to become Dr. Bustillo’s patients is because they have taken the time to research who will give them the results they want. All noses and all expectations are different, but Dr. Bustillo takes pride in performing the most natural facelift possible, and making sure that his clients are ecstatic with the result.
Dr. Bustillo can be contacted at 305-663-3380, at his Miami-based practice. His team will be there to answer questions, and help you to plan your initial consultation. It is important to conduct this consultation after becoming familiar with Dr. Bustillo’s approach and reading about the way he views facelift surgery. You can do this on his excellent website.