Facial rejuvenation treatments that are right for you

How do you know whether facial rejuvenation is right for you? Take the mirror test. Stand in front of a mirror in a well-lit room and truly look at all your features. Ask yourself what bothers you and what would you like to change.

Are your brows or eyelids droopy? Are your cheeks hollow or sagging? Do you have jowls? Is your neck full or is it sagging? Are there other marks or lines on your face you don't like? Are your earlobes and nose getting longer and droopy? Are your lips deflated or getting longer? Do you have wrinkles on your lips and laugh lines around your eyes?

Well, if you answered yes to any or all of these, perhaps it's time to consider surgical facial rejuvenation including a facelift, neck lift and/or blepharoplasty. The key factor in considering a facelift is when you begin to have lower facial jowling and lax or sagging neck skin – then it is time to stop fillers and Botox and consider a surgical facelift.

What are your options for facial rejuvenation?

When considering facial rejuvenation treatments, it is important to have a partnership with a real board-certified plastic surgeon who is an expert in facelift surgery and understands the science of facial aging.

You need a professional who not only understands the aging process but can determine whether a noninvasive or invasive procedure will be required to achieve your desired results. You might think you need a facelift or neck lift when you actually may just need filler and Botox or vice versa. What are your options for facial rejuvenation? The most commonly sought-after procedures include eyelid rejuvenation, facelifts after age 50 and the use of facial fillers and Botox when there is no facial skin sagging or jowling.

Is eyelid rejuvenation right for me?

Eyelid rejuvenation, also known as blepharoplasty, is a common area of the face that patients request to refresh first. Eyelid rejuvenation usually precedes a face and neck lift or can be done at the same time. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and as you age, that window will start to show severe signs of aging. Loss of volume in the face leads to sunken eyes and sagging skin that was never there before. Since your eyes are the most prominent feature of your facial structure, it is vital, when considering eyelid rejuvenation, that you do not change the appearance of your eyes too dramatically. We cannot overemphasize this concept enough because excessively slanting or making your eyes smaller with surgery will forever change how you look to yourself and to others. The goal is to look like yourself only better.

Is a facelift what I need?

Facelifts, also known as rhytidectomy, is sometimes required to correct sagging facial skin. There are many different techniques used to accomplish a facelift. We cannot stress enough the importance of choosing a real board-certified plastic surgeon who is a true expert and who specializes in facial rejuvenation when considering a facelift. Facial rejuvenation is so much more than just a facelift, and when done correctly, facial rejuvenation focuses on facial harmony. To maintain facial harmony, often facelifts are accompanied with eyelid surgery and filler to restore the eyes, bring back the natural jawline and reestablish fullness in your cheeks.

Do I need Botox?

Neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport and Xenomin are agents that block muscular nerve signals, which in turn weakens the target muscle limiting or nullifying muscle contraction. The action of Botox, in turn, results in diminished unwanted wrinkles in the target area. Botox has multiple uses and can be used to treat crow's feet, forehead furrows, frown lines, skin bands on the neck, etc. When considering plastic surgery procedures to address the effects of aging, you should always work in close partnership with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the aging process. You need an expert that can help you determine if neuromodulators are appropriate to correct lines and wrinkles or if a more invasive procedure is necessary.

Do I need fillers?

As we age, our bodies naturally lose fat. This is especially evident in the face. Fat loss is especially apparent in the hollowing of the eyes and cheeks. Soft tissue fillers help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by adding volume and fullness back to the face. Most fillers such as Restylane, Voluma or Juvéderm work by replenishing the hyaluronic acid levels in your skin and pulling in moisture from the body to add to its plumping and smoothing effect. These safe, degradable hyaluronic acid fillers are helpful at reducing early signs of aging such as plumping thin lips and softening facial creases and wrinkles.

When should you have facial rejuvenation?

As with any elective medical procedure, you should only undergo facial rejuvenation when you are in good health physically, psychologically and mentally. When deciding to have plastic surgery, you want to make sure your body and your immune system are in good shape to minimize the risk of complications. Facial rejuvenation is not advisable if you have any significant underlying medical issues, and especially if you smoke.

For your safety, we cannot stress enough the importance of discussing your goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the natural aging process and can therefore perform the correct anti-aging surgical procedure that will restore your youthful face. An expert plastic surgeon can also determine whether a noninvasive or an invasive procedure will be required to achieve your desired results.