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If I Smoke Should I Get a Facelift?

If I Smoke Should I Get a Facelift?

If you smoke, chances are you already know that the habit is bad for your health. But if you are considering getting a facelift, smoking can potentially increase the risks associated with surgery. So during your consultation be sure to ask your plastic surgeon this question – If I smoke should I get a facelift.

Facelift Surgery

Facelift surgery is done to reduce visible signs of aging and give patients a more youthful look. The procedure is usually very safe, and complications are rare. However, patients must follow the pre and post-surgical instructions of their plastic surgeon to ensure the best possible outcome.

If you smoke should you get a Facelift?

Doctors generally recommend that patients considering a facelift or any type of plastic surgery should stop smoking several weeks before the operation. This is crucial, because studies have shown that nicotine can increase complications after surgery and can therefore sabotage healing (read more).

If you are planning to undergo a facelift, safety is of utmost importance, so that’s why surgeons always advise patients to refrain from smoking before and after surgery. This ban extends to the use of nicotine releasing products such as nicotine patches or gums.

Smoking generally causes the small blood vessels to narrow, and this in turn reduces the flow of blood to the skin and can lead to tissue death. The limited blood flow can also delay recovery, and result in less than satisfactory outcomes.

Being a smoker does not prevent you from getting a facelift, but you will certainly have to stop smoking before and after surgery.

Would you like to learn more about facelift surgery? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the eastern South Carolina area, Nirvana Plastic Surgery located in Myrtle Beach, SC is our featured practice.

You can reach them at www.nirvanaplasticsurgery.com, or by calling 843-839-2004.

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What is a deep plane facelift?

What is a deep plane facelift?

Are you thinking about having a facelift? If you are, you may not realize that there are different types of facelifts beyond the standard facelift that is commonly performed. In particular, there is the deep plane facelift that can provide superior results for some patients, with less chance of scarring and complications. But what is a deep plane facelift.

Facelift
A facelift (or rhytidectomy) is a procedure that is done to rejuvenate the face. The SMAS facelift is the standard facelift these days, and it generally addresses the jowls, jawline, and neck. The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) is the muscular system of the face, which is normally tightened and suspended during a standard facelift.

What is a deep plane facelift?
When performing a deep plane facelift the surgeon manipulates the deep plane of the face, which is the area below the SMAS.

The deep plane facelift gives the surgeon greater access to the midface, so it does a better job of addressing volume loss and the descent of fat pads in the cheeks, when compared to traditional facelift techniques.

During a deep plane facelift the area below the eyes and around the nose and mouth is worked on. As a result, it does a good job of improving the appearance of the cheeks, and reducing hollowing below the eyes and deep lines and wrinkles such as nasolabial folds. It also refines the jawline and neck.

When performed correctly, deep plane facelifts provide long lasting results.

Do you think you may be a good candidate for a deep plane facelift? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the San Francisco or Walnut Creek, CA areas, Andrew Barnett, MD is our featured board certified plastic surgeon.

You can reach Dr. Barnett at www.drbarnett.com, or by calling (415) 855-4115.

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What Should I Expect During Recovery from Facial Fat Grafting?

Facial fat grafting must certainly rank as one of the most effective ways to address the problem of facial volume loss. Unlike a surgical facelift that can leave the face looking pulled tight, facial fat grafting produces more natural looking results. You probably already know about the long recovery time after a facelift, but what should you expect during recovery from facial fat grafting.

Facial Fat Grafting
Facial Fat Grafting or autologous fat transfer is a less invasive way to replenish lost facial volume. It can be used to fill in facial features such as the cheeks, temples, jawline, smile lines, and lips. The procedure involves removing excess fat from areas such as the stomach region, and purifying it before injecting it into those areas of the face that are sunken-in due to fat loss.

What to expect during facial fat grafting recovery
Although fat grafting can produce some beautiful results, the recovery time can be long for some people. You can expect to there to be some bruising and swelling after the procedure. These symptoms can take anywhere from 7 to 14 days to clear. It is not easy to predict how you will react, but a lot depends on how easily you bruise, and the amount of fat injected.  There is usually little or no discomfort during recovery.

With facial fat grafting there are fewer risks, lower costs, and a faster recovery time when compared to a surgical facelift, and the final results are permanent.

If you would like to find out more about facial fat grafting, contact Rocheford Plastic Surgery, Woodbury, MN, (also serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul area). Please call (651) 739-1100, to schedule a visit with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Heather Rocheford.

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Pinole Facelift – For a Younger Appearance

There was a time when a man would never have considered having a facelift. Not so nowadays, as men have now caught on to America’s addiction to plastic surgery. For that reason, plastic surgeons in Pinole offer facelift options for both men and women. Many individuals opt to undergo a facelift in order to fulfill a desire to look younger, and erase some of the years.

Facelift Facts

A facelift or rhytidectomy modifies facial features, by making adjustments to areas that have been affected by the passage of time, as well as other factors. The procedure involves tightening of the skin and facial muscles, as well as improving facial contours. It corrects jowls, as well as laxity in the cheeks and neck. Non-surgical facelift options are also now available.

Depending on the extent of the corrections to be made, the plastic surgeon in Pinole may recommend a full facelift or a mini facelift. A mini facelift is usually recommended for people that have minimal aging, and not much neck laxity. This facelift is of shorter duration. On the other hand, a full facelift is recommended for individuals with severe sagging that requires adjustments to be made to the forehead, cheeks and jawline, as well as the neck.

The Procedure

The incisions for the facelift are usually made in front of and behind the ear. A skilled surgeon will ensure that they are carefully placed within the natural creases, so that they are not easily visible after surgery. During the procedure, the deep layers of the skin and sagging muscles are tightened, and excess skin removed. After surgery there will be some bruising and swelling, and this will last for about 10 days.

Is a facelift right for you?

If you have excess sagging of the skin, especially along the jawline or around the neck, then you may be a good candidate for a facelift. However it is necessary to contact a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Having said all that, it is important that individuals contemplating a facelift be mature enough to understand what they are going through and why. Also, since there are inherent risks in any type of surgery, they should be able to handle the consequences of any complications.

Women are no longer solely seen as the vain ones, as men are also now going to great lengths to change how they look. If you are contemplating undergoing a facelift in Pinole, then be sure to contact a certified and experienced plastic surgeon.

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A Non-Surgical Face Lift Can Help You Look Your Best

For some people, the idea of having a non-surgical face lift almost sounds too good to be true. But it is a real procedure, and it does work. These non-invasive options have become popular, because some people simply don’t think that going under the knife is fun. In fact, some of them consider it risky, and also don’t like the lengthy downtime, therefore non-surgical face lifts have now become a very viable option.

When it comes to non-surgical facelifts, plastic surgeons are known to take different approaches to achieve the desired results. Dermal fillers, botox injections, skin tightening lasers, and light therapy are just a few of the procedures that are often combined to create the tightness and lift that patients are looking for.

Depending on the therapies used, the effects of the non-surgical face lift can last up to 2 years. The duration will depend on the type of treatments done, as well as the areas of the face that are treated. It usually takes about 2-3 sessions to achieve optimal outcomes. The results of the non-invasive procedure look very natural, so your face won’t look as if it has been pulled too tight.

A non-surgical facelift can be used to accomplish the following:

  • Tighten the skin
  • Smooth fine line and wrinkles
  • Lift facial features
  • Restore facial contours

The procedures can be undertaken to lift the entire face, or to contour specific parts of the face.

Advanced laser technology has made it possible to tighten and lift the face without incisions, stitches, or scars. In particular, the Accent laser with its breakthrough radio frequency RF technology works to tighten the tissue beneath the skin, and this reduces wrinkles and results in firmer skin. The Accent laser heats the inner layer or dermis of the skin. As it does so, it stimulates collagen, which in turn promotes tighter skin.

Dermal fillers like Juvederm are also used to lift and plump the skin. Juvederm is soft tissue filler that is made of hyaluronic acid. It is able to effectively restore volume, fill in lines and creases, and firm sagging jowls and jawlines. Fillers are often used in conjunction with botox, to rejuvenate specific areas of the face.

It is possible to get impressive results with a non-surgical facelift, so if you are growing older, and need a little help looking your best, then a non-invasive facelift can help. Why not consult your plastic surgeon to find out the options that are available.