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.
