The Neck is the Most Important Part of a Facelift
One of the most misunderstood issues in facial cosmetic surgery is "the neck". The word "facelift" is bandied about when discussing reversing the outward signs of aging. But what is a facelift? Is it lifting the jawline? Elevating the cheeks? Tightening the temples? Opening the eyelids? Raising the eyebrow? Smoothing the forehead?
In fact, depending on the patient's desires and the surgeon's philosophy and talents, the blanket term "facelift" might include some or all of the above elements. Remember that there should not be "one size fits all". Your operation should be customized, not a cookbook copy of the last patient's procedure. A great cosmetic surgeon is an artist, not the operator of a production line. So, ask for a list of the component elements of that particular doctor's "facelift".
Decision making, a joint effort between doctor and patient, follows attentive analysis by the doctor and, ideally, computer imaging to show the prospective patient the predicted result in that doctor's hands.
So, what about the aging neck? The double chin, jowls, sagging vertical platysma (muscle) bands, and the wrinkled, crepy, discolored, sun-damaged skin? There can be a lot of extra baggage there.
My 38 years of consulting with thousands of patients has taught me that the public is fixated on the face, yet the neck is where the biggest victory is always won.
Of all tell-tale signs of aging above the collarbone, most often the neck demonstrates the first. The main reason is that the neck skin - thinner and less elastic than that of the face - succumbs earliest to the forces of gravity. Among the earliest signs of aging are, in fact, some jowls and the "double chin".
One of the reasons so many patients are dissatisfied with their "facelift" is that it did not include an aggressive neck lift. Often, what was done on the neck, perhaps only liposuction, was inadequate. For most women over 45 and men over 55, the facial rejuvenation effort must include a "neck lift". The neck lift is performed simultaneously with the facelift. The skin of the cheeks, jaw, and neck may be lifted from its attachments as one large sheet. Ultimately, after liposuctioning of excess fatty tissue and removal and/or tightening of the lax neck muscles and tightening of the below-the-skin layers of tissue, some of that broad sheet of skin will be discarded after being "lifted" or re-draped.
Those heavily-advertised, promoted, and marketed shortcut facelift operations give no attention to the neck. Hence, a higher patient dissatisfaction rate after these shortcut face-pulling procedures. The cheeks may look better, but there is no way that doing surgery via only incisions in front of the ears can improve the folds, sags, and loose skin of the neck, particularly the lower half of the neck above the collarbone. It is disingenuous for anyone to propose that such a minimal, quick, and shortcut procedure can do it all - and have longevity.
Yes, it sounds good to have a cheap, one-hour facelift. But, like most things in life, you not only get what you pay for, but the result is proportional to the time and effort put in. Shortcuts in surgery are notorious for short-term benefit. My advice: When consulting, your menu of questions should start with the neck. Your questioning should "work up" to the face. You may find that the neck - not the face - is the area that needs the most help.
Related Topics:Technorati Tags: neck lift, facelift, cosmetic surgery
In fact, depending on the patient's desires and the surgeon's philosophy and talents, the blanket term "facelift" might include some or all of the above elements. Remember that there should not be "one size fits all". Your operation should be customized, not a cookbook copy of the last patient's procedure. A great cosmetic surgeon is an artist, not the operator of a production line. So, ask for a list of the component elements of that particular doctor's "facelift".
Decision making, a joint effort between doctor and patient, follows attentive analysis by the doctor and, ideally, computer imaging to show the prospective patient the predicted result in that doctor's hands.
So, what about the aging neck? The double chin, jowls, sagging vertical platysma (muscle) bands, and the wrinkled, crepy, discolored, sun-damaged skin? There can be a lot of extra baggage there.
My 38 years of consulting with thousands of patients has taught me that the public is fixated on the face, yet the neck is where the biggest victory is always won.
Of all tell-tale signs of aging above the collarbone, most often the neck demonstrates the first. The main reason is that the neck skin - thinner and less elastic than that of the face - succumbs earliest to the forces of gravity. Among the earliest signs of aging are, in fact, some jowls and the "double chin".
One of the reasons so many patients are dissatisfied with their "facelift" is that it did not include an aggressive neck lift. Often, what was done on the neck, perhaps only liposuction, was inadequate. For most women over 45 and men over 55, the facial rejuvenation effort must include a "neck lift". The neck lift is performed simultaneously with the facelift. The skin of the cheeks, jaw, and neck may be lifted from its attachments as one large sheet. Ultimately, after liposuctioning of excess fatty tissue and removal and/or tightening of the lax neck muscles and tightening of the below-the-skin layers of tissue, some of that broad sheet of skin will be discarded after being "lifted" or re-draped.
Those heavily-advertised, promoted, and marketed shortcut facelift operations give no attention to the neck. Hence, a higher patient dissatisfaction rate after these shortcut face-pulling procedures. The cheeks may look better, but there is no way that doing surgery via only incisions in front of the ears can improve the folds, sags, and loose skin of the neck, particularly the lower half of the neck above the collarbone. It is disingenuous for anyone to propose that such a minimal, quick, and shortcut procedure can do it all - and have longevity.
Yes, it sounds good to have a cheap, one-hour facelift. But, like most things in life, you not only get what you pay for, but the result is proportional to the time and effort put in. Shortcuts in surgery are notorious for short-term benefit. My advice: When consulting, your menu of questions should start with the neck. Your questioning should "work up" to the face. You may find that the neck - not the face - is the area that needs the most help.
Related Topics:Technorati Tags: neck lift, facelift, cosmetic surgery
4 Comments:
I've always womdered why women, especially celebrities who have had face lifts or laser peels on their faces always have such bad looking skin on their necks? It's like a total line of demarcation between their face and everything else below their face.
I completely agree. Although I'm not a doctor, I work in ps (with a board certified surgeon performing plastic surgery in Phoenix). Obviously, for a natural result, it's important for a surgeon to assess the face in its entirety... and that includes the neck.
Someone should tell that to Katherine Harris. I can tell she's had work done on her face, her neck and hands look pruny.
YES KATHERINE HARRIIS DOES NEED HELP, BUT THERE IS LITTLE YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE SKIN OF A LIZARD.
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