Analyzing the effects after your face lift surgery
When thinking about a face lift, one of the most important questions patients ask is “How long will my results last?” Most of the answers to this question were anecdotal… until now.
Recent research published in the December issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has shown that face lift surgery does in fact produce long-lasting results. Researchers analyzed 50 face lift patients before and roughly 5 ½ years after face lift surgery to determine how their results were holding up over time.
They looked at several of the time honored criteria of facial aging and classified them into both objective and subjective measurements:
- Objective measurements that carefully gauged factors like jowl height and the angle of the chin to the neck.
- Subjective assessments that examined key areas like the nasolabial folds.
- Overall subjective assessment of the patient’s appearance.
Based on their analysis, researchers were able to conclude that 76% of patients still looked younger 5 ½ years after having a face lift when compared to their before photos. Lines running between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds) were the least likely to show diminished improvement over time, while the neck area was the most likely to exhibit some deterioration.
As we age, our facial skin loosens and wrinkles, and the muscles of the neck may weaken. Anything that will cause the skin to lose elasticity can hasten the process, including sun exposure, weight fluctuations, and heredity. A facelift addresses these problems by reversing the signs of facial aging. If you are considering face lift surgery, find out what all your options are and be sure to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Dr. Romano carefully reviews all patient expectations and anatomy and then determines what your face will allow him to do safely and predictably to obtain the look you want. There are many state of the art techniques that provide better and longer lasting results that he will teach you about. There are also many documented interventions and products that will contribute greatly to preserving your result and delay, even prevent, the need for further surgery.
As Dr. Romano reminds all his patients for face lift, “Regardless if it lasts 5 years or 15, you will always look better than if you had not done it.”
