Facelifts: How Far They’ve Come

Can you spot a facelift in a crowd? Not if it’s a good one. Today’s modern facelifts provide natural-looking rejuvenation. Patients and plastic surgeons alike love the results we’re able to achieve using advanced facelift techniques. However, it hasn’t always been this way. Let’s take a quick journey to the past to see how far facelift surgery has come.

A Brief History of the Facelift

The first reported surgical face “lift” occurred in early 1901. At first, facelift surgery only lifted the skin, but soon surgeons began using subcutaneous incisions. Since that time, surgeons have developed many new techniques and innovations to create the modern facelift. Dr. Epstein uses many different techniques, customizing the facelift procedure to each patient’s unique needs. He is grateful for the surgical pioneers that have worked hard to make modern facelift surgery the powerful procedure that it has become.

More Natural Looking Results

Years ago, facelift surgery often left patients looking tight, stretched out, and overdone. In an effort to remove wrinkles, the skin was pulled too tight, creating an unnatural-looking result. Today, we understand that loose skin is only one of the changes the face experiences as it ages. The skin does become loose, but the quality of our skin also changes, muscles and supportive tissues start to sag, and the fat pads under skin also changes position. Pulling the skin tight only addresses one of these issues.

To get more natural looking results, the modern facelift uses a variety of techniques. In addition to tightening and removing excess skin, Dr. Epstein also lifts the underlying SMAS and platysma muscle. He may recommend laser treatment, micro-needling, chemical peels, and other treatments to improve the skin’s quality in addition to lifting it. Dermal fillers or fat grafting are also often used along with a facelift to restore lost facial volume. We don’t just pull your skin tight; we address the many changes the face experiences as it gets older to create a more natural-looking result.

Facelifts Are for Men and Women

Women love plastic surgery and facial rejuvenation, but we are excited to see men exploring their options, too. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of men seeking facelift surgery. Male facelifts can provide natural-looking rejuvenation, but are often more complex than female facelift. Men have more blood flow to the face, increasing the risk of bleeding during surgery. Men also have facial hair and surgeons must pay careful attention as they shift skin to ensure that their hair growth aren’t affected.

Today, there are more surgeons that have worked extensively with male patients and understand the unique considerations for a male facelift. Dr. Epstein is an excellent choice for male facelift surgery in the Chicago area.

Minimally Invasive Options

Surgery isn’t the only way to slow down the hands of time any more. Nowadays, non-invasive alternatives to facial rejuvenation are more popular than ever. If you want a facelift, we can help, but we also offer a variety of treatments if you aren’t ready for surgery. We have many minimally invasive and non-surgical options to help our patients rejuvenate without surgery, too. We love having so many options for helping our patients feel comfortable and confident, no matter their age.

Some of our minimally invasive facial rejuvenation options include:

  • Chemical Peels – Improve your skin tone and quality with a chemical peel. This treatment can help with brown spots, dull skin, and more. We recommend a series of treatments to start and regular touch-ups to maintain skin quality.
  • Micro-needling – Your body already has everything it needs for beautiful skin. Micro-needling can help boost collagen production without using any chemicals. This treatment evens out your skin tone and improves the quality of your skin. Use it to fight back against aging skin!
  • Kybella® – Got a double chin? Kybella® is an injectable treatment that can remove unwanted fat from under the chin. You’ll need to undergo a series of treatments to get optimal results.
  • Dermal Fillers – Sometimes, we lose facial volume due to sagging skin and shifting facial pads. Dermal fillers can restore that lost volume, smooth out wrinkles, and more. Most fillers offer immediate results but can last for months at a time.
  • BOTOX®/Dysport – Say goodbye to crow’s feet and the lines between the brows with BOTOX® or Dysport. These treatments relax the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles. Treatment is quick and requires no downtime.
  • Laser Skin Rejuvenation – Aging skin can be treated with laser skin rejuvenation. We offer a variety of laser treatments and can address common skin concerns like wrinkles, brown spots, and more.
  • Liquid Facelift – By combining injectable treatments we can rejuvenate the face without surgery. A liquid facelift isn’t actually a facelift, but you’ll still achieve incredible rejuvenation. You’ll love your new, younger look.

Facelift surgery has come a long way since that first facelift was performed over 100 years ago. We’re excited to see continued improvement in the plastic surgery industry, we’re excited to bring our patients the latest rejuvenation options for face and body. Contact MAE Plastic Surgery now, for a consultation on what a modern facelift can do for you.