Three Signs It’s Time To Consider Getting a Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Dr. Sumit Bapna · August 10, 2017

Posted In: Facelift

While a natural part of the aging process, the loss of a youthful appearance can have an impact on your self-confidence and the way you interact with the world.

The delicate and complex structure of the face, neck, and jawline are particularlysusceptible to the aging process. Factors such as sun exposure, stress, genetics, andgravity also contribute to the visible signs of aging.

As we age, our skin loses elasticity and begins to sag. Muscle and facial tissues losevolume and weaken over time. The facial contours shift and definition diminishes.Wrinkles, deep folds, and fat deposits begin to appear on the face and neck.

These and other effects of the aging process can create conspicuous changes to the appearance. But you don’t have to live with them. If you feel self-conscious about theway you look, you can do something about it.

A facelift can reverse the effects of aging and give you a more energized and healthy appearance.

Facelift surgery revitalizes the appearance by smoothing and firming the skin. The procedure can involve lifting and tightening muscles and facial tissue, removing excess, sagging skin from the face and neck, and removing any fat deposits in some cases.

If you want to regain a fresher, more youthful look that better reflects how you feel, a facelift might be your best option.

Here are 3 signs it might be time to consider a facelift:

Skin Laxity

As we age our skin looses its elasticity. A facelift is most often performed to lift and remove sagging skin and as a result, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin laxity is the result of the loss of both collagen and elastin in our skin. The breakdown of these skin binding and volumizing fibers causes laxity and progresses as we age. This process begins as early as our late 20s to early 30s.

Heavy, Sagging Jowls

“Jowls” is a term often used to describe fleshy pouches affecting the lower jaw and cheek area. If your lower cheek seems to hang along or below the jawline, you have what is commonly referred to as sagging jowls.

The breakdown of collagen and elastin as we age causes the skin to lose firmness and smoothness. Sagging jowls develop when the skin begins to loosen in the cheek and jaw and gravity draws the skin downward. Fat from the lower cheek can also migrate downward and play a role in forming jowls.

The development of sagging, heavy jowls is one of the most noticeable signs of aging and a major concern for many people. Facelift surgery can firm and tighten the areas along the jaw and cheeks and eliminate heavy jowls.

Neck Wrinkles

The profile has an unfortunate tendency to morph shape as a result of the aging process. If you have a sagging jawline or deep neck folds that make you feel self conscious, a facelift may be the solution.

A neck lift or lower rhytidectomy is the portion of the surgery that improves visible signs of aging in the jawline and neck. This portion of the surgery can treat excess fat and skin laxity of the lower face that creates jowls, remove excess fatty deposits under the chin and loose neck skin or "turkey waddle" and the vertical banding or horizontal creases along the neck.

There are a variety of facelift techniques and cosmetic procedures available that can help reverse the effects of aging and rejuvenate your appearance. At Ohio Facial Plastics, we can help you determine whether a facelift might be right for you.

Contact us for a consultation and to learn more about facelift and the other cosmetic procedures we offer to help you feel confident in your appearance.