Facelift

Aging happens in many dimensions – it’s so much more than your skin migrating up and down or backwards and forwards. When we age, our skin doesn’t just sag downward – the underlying musculature in the face also starts to sag and our facial fat pads begin to shift under the skin. Overall, this leads to a loss of tone and results in a general looseness in our facial tissues. To correct these changes, the surgeons at Aesthetx address aging from all dimensions. This multi-dimensional approach allows them to create the natural, balanced, and proportionate results that patients desire.

Dr. Zeidler and Dr. Berkowitz pride themselves on customizing every procedure to each patient’s unique anatomy and pattern of aging. To see how patients aged over time, the Aesthetx surgeons take medical black and white photographs of patients and compare them with photos taken in their 20s. Through this process, they found that restoring areas suffering from fat loss and skin laxity provided better results than a one-size-fits-all approach.

As a result, Aesthetx’s facelift procedures are focused on reshaping deeper tissues. This allows the skin to be gently re-draped once it’s in a more lifted position, and ensures that these results are long lasting. Your Aesthetx surgeons also strive to create well-concealed incisions so that patients can rest assured that their facelift will be as inconspicuous as possible.

Dr. Zeidler and Dr. Berkowitz think of their facelift as a way to turn back the hands of time instead of a way to make patients look altered or drastically different. “You. Only better,” is their guiding principle, and they take an active and extensive effort to restore each patient to a naturally youthful state.

Contact Aesthetx today at (408) 559-7177 to schedule your personal consultation for a facelift in San Jose.

Facelift Topics

History of the Facelift

Unlike today, facelift procedures were surrounded by considerable stigma. It’s why it’s so difficult to pinpoint when the facelift was first developed. Surgeons from centuries ago were often reluctant to keep records on what they accomplished and when. We do know that European and American surgeons were developing primitive facelifts in the early 1900s, and it’s thought that the first true facelift may have been completed by a surgeon named Eugene von Hollander in 1901. For his facelift, he made elliptical incisions by the hairline and ears and then closed the incisions to re-drape the skin. Other surgeons like Dr. Lexer, Dr. Joseph, Dr. Passot, Dr. Bourget, and more attempted their own versions. One surgeon, Dr. Charles Miller, may have been the first American surgeon to perform a facelift. Regardless of the number of surgeons attempting to perform early facelifts, it wasn’t until after World War I that reconstructive efforts took off and plastic surgery started to gain wider acceptance in society.

At that point, the facelift only addressed shallow tissues, often leading to a more artificial “pulled” look. However, by the 1930s, more and more surgeons were “undermining” the skin, a technique that separated the skin from the underlying fascia. This innovation was an essential part of creating a more natural look.

Surgeons continued to address deeper tissues, and in the 1960s and 1970s, a series of facelift publications and findings regarding the deeper fascial layers led to the adoption of the SMAS technique. This method tightens the connective tissue under the skin. Today, techniques like the deep plane facelift go even further under the SMAS layer, while other techniques developed as a way to create effective anti-aging solutions without an extensive recovery or noticeable stitches.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for a Facelift?

Ideal candidates for a facelift include healthy men and women who are dissatisfied with age-related facial changes. There are multiple symptoms of aging that inspire patients to pursue a facelift:

  • Loss of facial definition
  • Sagging facial skin
  • Development of creases, deep wrinkles, and jowls
  • A sad or tired appearance because of drooping skin and wrinkles

There is no perfect age to undergo a facelift because we all age at different rates. Some patients undergo their first facelift in their late 30s, while others wait until their 60s. The right time for you is when you are no longer comfortable with the way that age, genetics, or environmental factors have changed your look. At your consultation for a facelift in San Jose, the surgeons at Aesthetx can further evaluate your candidacy for this transformative procedure.

Your Consultation for a Facelift in San Jose

If you’re considering a facelift in San Jose, the surgeons at Aesthetx would be happy to personally meet with you to discuss your options. Both Dr. Berkowitz and Dr. Zeidler pride themselves on facilitating informative and in-depth consultations, and you can expect to have every question or concern answered in detail.

Your consultation will include a physical examination of your face so that the extent of facial aging can be assessed. Based on your anatomy, degree of facial aging, and aesthetic preferences, you will be provided with a custom treatment plan that is tailored to your cosmetic goals. You will also be able to explore additional procedures that are commonly performed with a facelift such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and necklift surgery. When performed together, these procedures can produce optimal rejuvenation.

Whether you’re interested in undergoing multiple procedures or you’d prefer to have a facelift on its own, Dr. Berkowitz and Dr. Zeidler are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals.

Your Options for a Fully Customized Facelift

The beauty of facelift surgery is that it can be completely customized to each patient’s unique anatomy and degree of aging. Explore your options below to discover which type of facelift would be best suited to your needs and goals.

Mid Facelift

The mid facelift is one of the most unique and specialized forms of the facelift. Essentially, it targets signs of aging in the cheeks. Dr. Berkowitz has developed a special technique for the mid facelift that leaves the most inconspicuous scars while creating long-lasting lift. For his mid facelift, Dr. Berkowitz will create one incision near the hairline, and another inside the cheek. The tissues are then elevated between the temple and cheek to lift the cheeks’ fat pads and underlying muscle. By targeting a small, but often affected area, the mid facelift can effectively and precisely rejuvenate the skin without too much of a recovery period.

Lower Facelift

Jowls, drooping corners of the mouth, loose skin, heavy neck bands, and excess fat around the neck are often the most prominent signs of aging. For those who specifically want to target these areas, Aesthetx offers the lower face lift, which addresses the lower third of the face and the neck. With the lower facelift, your surgeon will create a well-concealed incision that starts in front of the ear and extends behind the ear. Excess skin will be removed, and the underlying layers will be tightened as needed. Often combined with a necklift, the lower facelift is a wonderful way to target one of the most troublesome areas for aging.

MACS Facelift

The minimal cranial suspension short scar technique, also known as the MACS mini facelift, is one of the latest discoveries in the world of facelifts. It’s a remarkable procedure that’s performed using a blend of discreet incisions and surgical precision. The MACS facelift specifically targets the lower-thirds of the face and the upper-third of the neck to improve aging on the cheeks, jaw, and neck area. The MACS facelift’s incisions will be hidden by the sideburns and the ear canal. Using this incision, your surgeon will access and manipulate the deep tissue underneath your skin.

The MACS facelift provides another dimension of lift by implanting suspension sutures in to the deep tissues. These sutures are tightened to elevate the facial tissue, but the lift is vertical rather than a general outward tension on the skin. Suspension sutures are great for elevating the corners of the mouth and jowls, making the MACS facelift a wonderful alternative to the lower facelift or necklift.

Thanks to the efficiency of the procedure and its minimal trauma to the tissue, the MACS facelift has an unprecedented one to two-week recovery period.

PRP for Facelift

Dr. Zeidler and Dr. Berkowitz utilize Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), the latest in regenerative technology, for all of their facial surgeries. PRP is a concentrated serum of your blood’s healing factors, and several studies have shown its efficacy in reducing recovery times and ability to decrease patient discomfort. By adding PRP to the facelift, we can jumpstart the healing process and reduce the severity of bleeding and bruising. Aesthetx only offers the most state-of-the-art facelift procedures available, and the PRP for the facelift is no exception.

Fat Transfer for facelift

In order to obtain the most natural-looking results possible, many of Aesthetx’s facial rejuvenation procedures will also include fat transfer to restore a youthful appearance. This includes focused fat transfer to the areas around the eyes, temples, and cheeks. Fat transfer can also be performed in the lips and nasolabial folds. By performing fat transfer with a facelift, Aesthetx can help patients achieve natural fullness as well as improve the quality of overlying skin.

Contact Aesthetx today at (408) 559-7177 to schedule your personal consultation for a facelift in San Jose.

Facelift – Frequently Asked Questions

Where Will My Facelift in San Jose Be Performed?

For ultimate privacy and comfort, Aesthetx has a fully accredited surgical facility onsite, which is where your facelift in San Jose will be performed. This surgical suite is equipped with the most cutting-edge technology, including voice-activated devices to help streamline your surgical experience. Likewise, the surgeons at Aesthetx only work with board-certified anesthesiologists, highly trained technicians, and registered nurses who specifically specialize in plastic surgery treatment and care. After your facelift surgery is complete, you will have the space and privacy to recover while receiving undivided medical attention.

How Long Will the Results of My Facelift Last?

Patients can expect the results of their facelift to last for years to come. The surgeons at Aesthetx lift the deeper tissues of the face during surgery, which produces longer-lasting results that also look more natural. You can help extend the life of your results by wearing sun protection and by living a healthy lifestyle. You can also regularly undergo non-invasive treatments like dermal fillers or BOTOX® injections to help maintain a youthful look.

Will My Facelift Give Me Scars?

During your facelift surgery, your incisions will be made in areas that are concealed, like the natural creases and contours of the face. In most cases, your incisions will heal beautifully and any resultant scar will be either minimal or virtually imperceptible.

What Is a Liquid Facelift?

A liquid facelift is a procedure that uses a combination of BOTOX® injections and dermal fillers to subtly lift and rejuvenate the face. While this procedure cannot replace a surgical facelift, many San Jose patients opt for injectables when they only have mild signs of aging or if they feel they are not yet ready to undergo surgery.

What Is Recovery Like After a Facelift?

During your consultation, you and your Aesthetx surgeon will discuss a recovery plan for your facelift procedure. The surgery will only take a few hours to complete, depending on which combination of procedures is chosen and whether it requires general anesthesia.

While it can take a few months to see the final results (due to swelling), you will still see an immediate improvement after surgery. In terms of recovery, most patients can return to their regular activities within a couple weeks. But for best results, it’s essential that you abstain from strenuous activity during your initial recovery period.

Because bruising and soreness is a common part of recovery, using ice packs or pain medication can help ease any discomfort you might experience. For optimal comfort, Aesthetx also has special cooling masks for patients. During recovery, many patients follow up for ultrasound treatments to enhance tightening in the neck, and Aesthetx will provide you with other medical skin care options as the face continues to heal.

Aesthetx is renowned for extremely informative and in-depth consultations. To schedule your private consultation for the facelift or to learn more about the procedure, contact Aesthetx by visiting HERE or calling (408) 559-7177.

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