If you are searching for ways to reduce the amount of aging that you're experience within your face, there are a variety of treatments that can reduce your wrinkle lines, eliminate the presence of jowls, improve your frown lines, and lessen any sagging of the skin. The primary plastic surgeries that can be provided to you as a means of rejuvenating your face include a brow lift and a facelift. Although both of these treatments offer a range of advantages that you will want to be aware of, you should also know what the differences are so that you can more effectively select the surgery that's right for your specific situation.
Differences Between Facelifts and Brow Lifts
A brow lift is a type of plastic surgery that is designed to reduce wrinkle lines along the upper portion of your face, improve your frown lines, position the eyebrows in a more youthful position, and raise any brows that are starting to sag. There are times when a facelift may be used in combination with a brow lift. On the other hand, a facelift is a type of plastic surgery that is designed to improve a number of signs of aging that can be found in your neck and face.
These signs of aging can extend anywhere from loose skin in your neck to the deepening of fold lines around the corner of your mouth. There are several different types of facelifts that include a traditional facelift, a neck lift, and a limited incision facelift, each of which targets a different area of your face. Both of these plastic surgeries will allow you to appear younger.
When You Should Obtain a Facelift
You should consider obtaining a facelift if the primary aspects of aging occur on the lower two-thirds of your face, which can extend from the top of your nose down to your neck. If your skin has loosened or the skin on your face has become too thin, it's highly recommended that you consider a facelift. The best candidates for a facelift are people who are healthy, don't smoke, and have realistic expectations.
When You Should Seek a Brow Lift
You should think about seeking a brow lift if the primary signs of aging that you're dealing with can be found around your eyes or your forehead. This type of plastic surgery is almost entirely meant for the upper portion of the face. Given the fact that a brow lift and a facelift target different areas of the face, you may want to consider combining the two plastic surgeries so as to ensure that you are able to obtain the benefits of both treatments.
Brow Lift Procedure
The brow lift procedure begins with the application of either general anesthesia or local anesthesia, which largely depends on the extent of the surgery. The incisions will then be made. Since a brow lift can be performed on a variety of areas within the upper face, the incisions can also be made in different locations. The most common type of incision is referred to as an endoscopic incision, which means that the incision will occur from one ear to the other along your hairline. The forehead skin will then be lifted and any adjustments of the muscles underneath can then be made.
The primary advantage of this type of incision is that the scar that results from an endoscopic incision is very easily concealed within your natural hairline. If you have a high forehead, it's possible that you may require a coronal incision, which is a type of incision that occurs a couple inches back from the front hairline. Once the incisions have been made and the adjustments have occurred, the incisions are then closed with the use of sutures, clips, or skin adhesives. All that's left is for you to wait for the results.
Facelift Procedure
If you are obtaining a standard facelift, you will be provided with anesthesia and then the initial incisions will be made. The incisions will typically take place around your temples and can extend around your ear. Depending on the type of work that needs to be done with your face, the fat could be sculpted or the underlying tissue could be repositioned. If the aging problems that you would like to have resolved extend down to the chin, a second incision could be made in this location. When all of the necessary alterations have been provided to you, the incisions are closed and you can begin the healing process.
How to Recover From a Facelift or Brow Lift
When you have obtained a facelift, you will likely be required by your surgeon to wear some bandages around your face for a week or two. You should be able to return to work in around 2-3 weeks. However, it can take several months for your face to feel normal once again in regards to its sensibility and texture. The bruising and swelling that invariably occur with a facelift should dissipate entirely in a couple of weeks. Once these issues disappear, you should be able to start seeing the actual results from the facelift.
As for a brow lift, your surgeon will provide you with detailed instructions that you will need to follow during the recovery period to make sure that the healing progresses smoothly. The initial healing should take around two weeks to complete. It's also around this time that you should consider returning to work. It can take a few months for all of the issues to heal, which is particularly true of the bruising that accompanies a brow lift. Make sure to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to check up on the results of the treatment.
Dr. Andrew Jacono is a Dual Board Certified plastic surgeon who performs a wide range of facial plastic surgery procedures as well as reconstructive surgery procedures. Dr. Jacono is known for his advanced approach to non-surgical and minimally invasive facial rejuvenation with flawless, yet natural results. Please visit his site if you’re interested in a facelift in the New York City area.
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