October 2021 - Fante Eye & Face Centre

Things We Need to Stop Believing about Facelift Surgery

For many years, the surgical facelift has been performed as the gold-standard of facial rejuvenation. This procedure, above all others, can achieve the most dramatic results and also the longest-lasting. It is for this reason that nearly 235,000 facelift procedures were performed in 2020, and for this reason that we routinely meet with patients who are interested in having a surgical facelift even with so many nonsurgical options available. If you’ve been procrastinating in learning about this procedure but have an interest, there may be a few things you need to stop believing to feel confident taking your next step.

A facelift will leave me unrecognizable.

In the early days of facelift surgery, this was a truth that seemed unavoidable. At that time, facelifts focused primarily on the skin. It took time for surgical advances to reach the deeper layers of muscle and fat but, once they did, the results of a facelift became much subtler and natural-looking. Our advanced surgical techniques leave our facelift patients looking like more refreshed versions of themselves.

I’m not old enough for a facelift.

Another antiquated idea about facelift surgery is that it is more for older patients. Younger patients in their 40s and 50s can get by with nonsurgical treatments. The truth is there is no age limit on facelift surgery. Studies are showing that people who get this procedure done around mid-life enjoy better and longer lasting results because they have more elasticity and firmness than do most older patients. With so many facelift options available, including the mini lift or mid-face lift, patients are seeing their younger selves sooner than they had imagined and they’re loving it.

Facelifts are for women only.

Approximately 18,000 of the facelifts performed last year were men. Still, many men ascribe to the school of thought that only women get this procedure. While the goals may be slightly different between all patients, the procedure itself has relevance for both men and women who want to reduce signs of aging like sagging or flattened cheeks and a soft jawline.

Everyone will know.

Facelift surgery does not alter a person’s unique beauty nor their natural facial structure. The results of this procedure are most noticeable to the patients themselves, not to those around them. In fact, sometimes patients get frustrated that no one is remarking on their new, refreshed appearance!

I can get comparable results without surgery.

Nonsurgical facial rejuvenation has its place, and it has brought some exciting changes to the field of aesthetic medicine. Some treatments come somewhat close to the facelift in terms of noticeable improvements. FaceTite and AccuTite are two examples. However advantageous nonsurgical procedures can be in terms of convenience and limited downtime, their results often do not last nearly as long as a surgical facelift. Patients who understand the limitations of these treatments are often the happiest with their choice of treatment, whether they elect to have surgery or not.

We would love to talk about facial rejuvenation with you. Contact our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Fante.

Laser Skin Resurfacing for a Fall Refresher

Blog Category- Laser treatments, Laser Resurfacing

Now that our warmer days are more or less behind us for a period of several months, we can plan specific treatments that may not be ideal during the summertime. Laser skin resurfacing is one of them. This treatment is an excellent option for anyone who has spent time in the sun and who is aging. Yes, that’s all of us. If your time outdoors has begun to show in the form of dark spots, rough texture, and fine lines, now is a great time to schedule your laser skin resurfacing treatment at our Denver facility.

We understand that the idea of laser skin resurfacing can feel scary. This treatment used to be performed under general anesthesia because it would obliterate the top layers of the skin in quite an aggressive manner. Yikes! Today, the laser skin resurfacing that we perform is much gentler, but it still achieves lasting improvements. A laser skin resurfacing treatment may be done either with a topical numbing cream or may not require any anesthetic for comfort. The process works through light energy that stimulates precise actions and activities in the skin.

First, a laser skin resurfacing treatment sloughs off cells that are no longer viable. These could be dead skin cells that are sticking to the epidermis or damaged skin cells that are darkened, rough, and generally unhealthy. Next, through the removal of these cells, laser treatment stimulates the dermis to make more collagen, the protein known to heal damaged tissue. More collagen doesn’t just mean healed skin after treatment, it means smoother, softer, brighter, and more resilient skin for a long time to come.

How Long?

One of the questions that most people have before any treatment is how long their results may last. This can vary, but the good news is that much of the issue is in the patient’s hands. Laser skin resurfacing does have a brief recovery period. This may include moderate redness and swelling that last up to several days. At some point, the skin may become rough and flaky. Some areas of crusting may develop. These should not be picked, but left to fall off naturally, otherwise there is a risk of scarring. In a week or two, the benefits of the resurfacing procedure start to become evident.

Patients can work toward long-lasting results starting immediately after their laser resurfacing treatment. At first, they do so by following their post-treatment care instructions. Once the skin has completed its cellular turnover process, lasting results can be fostered by wearing broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen every day. When more time will be spent in the sun, it is helpful to wear a hat, as well. These simple steps alone can prolong the results of laser resurfacing beyond a few years.

Learn more about laser skin resurfacing and what it can do for you. Contact our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.