If you feel younger than your years, you may be unhappy with the way your face is aging. Sagging skin and wrinkles are a normal part of life, but if you're not ready to look older than you feel, it could be time to consider facelift surgery. Your doctor can consider different approaches depending on where your face needs to be lifted. Here are some types of facelift surgery your doctor might discuss on your initial visit.
The Mini-Facelift
A mini-facelift changes the appearance of the lower part of your face. If you're unhappy with the way your neck or jawline looks, this might be a good option. The mini-facelift uses smaller incisions, and you might even have it done with a local anesthetic and sedation rather than general anesthesia. This procedure might help you delay the need for a full facelift for several years while helping you feel better about your appearance.
If you have a lot of saggy skin in areas other than your jowls and neck, the doctor might recommend a different type of facelift. However, there isn't an upper age limit for this procedure. The decision on whether a mini-facelift is right for you rests on how your skin has aged or been affected by sun damage and the location of sagging and wrinkles.
A Full Facelift
A full facelift works on the mid and lower part of your face. This procedure can be combined with a brow lift if the upper part of your face has sagging and wrinkles too. A full facelift requires longer incisions and more incisions than the mini version, so recovery time might be longer.
With a full facelift, the doctor moves tissues and pulls the skin tight in order to eliminate sagging and to smooth out wrinkles. This surgery often requires the use of a general anesthetic.
A Deep Plane Lift
Deep plane facelift surgery moves the underlying muscle and fat on your face to a more youthful position. The procedure might also involve some fat grafting so the facial tissues under your skin are more like they were in your younger years. Your skin doesn't need to be pulled as tight as it does with a traditional facelift, so your skin looks more relaxed and natural.
While these are three major types of facelift surgery, there are variations on each. For instance, a ponytail lift is a type of mini-facelift that is a popular choice to consider. Since there are many options in facelift surgeries, and there are other procedures, such as a lip lift or brow lift that you might need along with your facelift, talk to your doctor to find out what type of procedure is best for you.
