1) My skin will look stretched out and/or fake
While this statement may have been true years ago, with today’s advances in technology this is no longer the case. Facelifts of the past consisted of simply pulling the skin to the side, which often lead to a stretched out appearance. Today’s plastic surgeons actually lift the skin and underlying tissues, which leads to a more natural look. Fat transfer can be utilized to fill out areas of hollowing and to restore elasticity of the skin as well. Some of the “botched” facelifts that we see in the media today are often the result of a series of surgical procedures, often going against the advice of a plastic surgeon.
2) I will have obvious scars
When undergoing a facelift, or any cosmetic surgery, it is very important that you seek out a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon. By finding a board-certified surgeon, you can trust that you are under the care a properly-trained and highly-experienced doctor who will give you the best possible results. Scars for this procedure will be minimal and often unseen, as your surgeon will strategical place them in locations such as the hairline.
3) I am too young for a facelift
The “perfect” age for a facelift does not exist. Whether you are 30 or 60, determining whether you are a good candidate is largely dependent on your body’s natural aging process. If you begin to notice jowls, or excess sagging of the face/neck skin you may be a great candidate for a facelift. Furthermore, early intervention at a younger age may actually lead to a more natural results. If you are not interested in a full facelift, many younger patients will consider a mini facelift technique instead.
4) Facelifts are only for women
False! Although traditionally women have turned to plastic surgery more often than men, both genders can both benefit from a facelift surgery. In fact, popularity for facelifts among the male gender has greatly increased in the last few years. There is no reason why men should feel uncomfortable with the idea of a facelift procedure, as it can be a great way to increase self-confidence.
5) It is going to be a long and painful recovery
Any surgical procedure does require some amount of recovery time, but do not expect this to be long and painful by any means. The recovery for today’s facelift procedure is much more tolerable than in the past, generally only 10-14 days with minimal discomfort. Dr. Kim has even experienced patients coming into the office less than 24 hours post-op already looking and feeling great.
If you are interested in learning more about a facelift surgery, come into Northwestern Memorial Hospital and have your free consultation with Dr. Kim, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.