Benefits of Pairing Facelift with Laser Treatments

Imagine waking up one day to find that you look 10 years younger! Luckily, a type of plastic surgery called a rhytidectomy, which is more commonly known as a “facelift,” makes that dream a reality. A facelift is a popular procedure that removes excess skin from the lower face to give it a tighter and firmer appearance. A facelift is used to lift and tighten sagging skin around the jawline, under the chin, and around the mouth. It's an effective way to get a more youthful appearance on its own, but it can also be paired with a complementary procedure called laser resurfacing, or laser treatment, to give your skin an even more youthful and firmed look. Laser treatments eliminate wrinkles and skin blemishes, which contributes to a fresher, more vibrant face. Either treatment alone produces impressive results, but the combination of the two makes you say “wow” when you look in the mirror!


How Can A Facelift Change Your Appearance?
A facelift is a popular procedure to combat the effects of aging. It's one of three types of facial rejuvenation procedures. The facelift addresses the lower third of the face, while eyelid surgery corrects aging around the eyes and mid-face, and a brow lift rejuvenates the upper part of your face. Sometimes, you might find that one area of your face is more bothersome than another, which means you'll benefit from just one of the three procedures. However, it's not uncommon to find that two, or even all three, of the procedures provide the best anti-aging results.

Of the age-erasing choices in plastic surgery, a facelift is one of the most established and effective procedures. As you get older, your skin gradually starts to head south with the effects of gravity. The facial fat that once gave volume and lift to your cheeks starts to gravitate to the lower part of your face, which can cause sagging or loose skin in the jowls. Deep folds may also start to form around your nose and mouth, and the skin under your eyes might also start to thin out, giving your eyes a hollow and tired appearance. While this is a normal part of aging and nothing to worry about from a medical perspective, it certainly doesn't look attractive!

Fortunately, with procedures like a facelift, it's possible to correct the parts of your aging face that are bothering you. If you're bothered by a tired-looking face, the next step is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon. He or she will listen to your concerns and explain how a facelift can correct the problem. Once you've discussed the changes that you want to see, your physician will schedule a time for facelift surgery. The procedure typically lasts anywhere from 2-5 hours. You may be given either local sedatives or general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the procedure (which in turn affects how long it will last) and your personal comfort level. Typically, a facelift is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means that you can go home after it's done.

What Is The Benefit Of A Laser Treatment?
Although facelifts are typically geared towards the older population, laser treatments may be performed on people who are younger, too. Laser treatments are designed to get rid of aesthetic skin concerns, including blemishes from acne scars. Laser treatments are also used to reduce wrinkles, which makes them a popular companion procedure to a facelift. While a facelift requires your surgeon to correct problem areas by going underneath the skin, laser treatments correct problem areas using a high-intensity laser light that's directed at the area to be fixed. Laser treatments are a quick and effective way to reduce imperfections on the skin's surface, as they can permeate several layers of skin. Some conditions that laser treatments, or laser resurfacing, are designed to fix include wrinkles around the nose and mouth, fine lines on the forehead, and scars from acne. Laser treatments may also be used after a facelift to rejuvenate the skin on the surface. While laser treatments are effective at treating certain conditions, they should be avoided if you have certain problems. Acne and stretch marks are two issues that laser resurfacing won't fix, and people with those problems should avoid laser treatments in areas of skin affected by those conditions.

Like a facelift, a laser treatment is generally done on an outpatient basis, which means you probably won't have to stay in recovery overnight. The procedure time can last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on whether you're getting treatment for a small part of your face or your entire face. If the doctor is treating a small area, you'll most likely get a local anesthetic. If you are having a larger area treated, or if you prefer to not feel anything, you'll have the option to get general anesthesia instead.

After the procedure, your doctor will bandage the area that was treated. Starting the day after the treatment, you'll have to clean the affected area several times each day and apply an ointment to prevent scars and scabs from forming. As with any cosmetic procedure, you will probably have some swelling after the laser treatment. Ice packs and keeping your head elevated will make the swelling disappear more quickly. If you have swelling around your eyes, your doctor may give you oral medication to reduce the swelling. Once the swelling subsides, you'll be able to see the end results. This should take anywhere from about 10 days to three weeks. After the skin heals, it will be sensitive to light and drier than it was before. Therefore, it's important to wear sunscreen and avoid prolonged sun exposure. You should also take care to keep your skin adequately moisturized, as that can expedite healing and hasten your recovery.

Where Can You Go For The Procedures?


If you're bothered by aging, tired-looking, and sagging skin around the lower part of your face and neckline, your next step should be to contact a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. One surgeon who you can consult for both a facelift and laser treatments in Beverly Hills, CA is Dr. Andrew Frankel. With his extensive knowledge, experience in performing both procedures, and compassionate demeanor, and being board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT), you'll understand why Dr. Frankel is one of the most sought after surgeons around.

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