Facelift Myths Unmasked

Well, let’s face facts. Some of us older boomers have looked in the mirror and thought, “Facelift.” Maybe some of you younger ones have too. BoomerCafé does not endorse medical thoughts proposed here, but we like to tell you what others have to say. In this case, it’s Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon Brian Maloney, M.D., who suggests that before you reject the idea of a facelift because of concerns about huge scars or long recoveries, you ought to know about what he calls Facelift Myths Revealed …

MYTH: Band-Aid, Feather Lift, Mini-lift, Deep Plane, S-lift- All varieties of facelifts are good for every patient.
FACT: Most of the time, facelift names are nothing more than that— just a marketing name to entice patients to a surgeon’s office. Every patient’s face, structure, and desired result is different, so every facelift needs to be a customized procedure for that particular patient. No two facelifts are the same and not every type of facelift is good for every patient.

MYTH: There are great risks associated with having a facelift.
FACT: This is one of the biggest myths unfairly associated with the facelift procedure. Statistics show that when performed by a Board Certified physician in a fully licensed and accredited surgery facility, one literally has a better chance of being hit by lightning TWICE in the same place than of having anything catastrophic go wrong during a facelift!

MYTH: All facelifts leave ugly, visible scars.
FACT: In the past, facelift surgery incisions were always placed in front of the ear and into the hairline, leaving patients with scars that sometimes even caused hair loss. Now, incisions are smaller, and placed carefully behind the ear, where they are hidden. After a good facelift surgery, patients should have no problem wearing their hair off their face or behind their ears because no scars should show!

MYTH: Facelifts are only for people over the age of 60.
FACT: Patients younger than 60 more likely have great facial tissue, which results in faster healing time and longer lasting results. The best part is that these patients already look great, so after their facelift they look well rested and no one knows they had anything “done.”

MYTH: Men are not good candidates for a facelift procedure.
FACT: According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the number of men seeking facelifts has increased dramatically over the past 5 years. Although men don’t normally consider surgery until about 10 years later than women because they tend to age a bit slower, it doesn’t stop them from visiting their local plastic surgeon’s office. Also, because men have thicker skin on their face, they heal quicker and with less bruising and swelling than women.

MYTH: A Facelift only removes excess, sagging skin.
FACT: Skin is very elastic and facelifts do address this problem. However, removing excess skin is only a short term fix. To obtain long term results, the underlying muscles and skin should be tightened which normally includes mini-liposuction under the jaw line to help restore a more youthful contour to the face.

MYTH: Once I have one facelift, I will need to have another several years later.
FACT: Although a facelift does not actually stop the aging process, the truth is that patients will always look better than their age, and better than if they didn’t have facelift surgery at all. Having a second facelift is a personal decision made by each patient.

MYTH: Facial paralysis is a common side effect of a facelift.
FACT: Complications across the board are unusual during or after a facelift and facial paralysis is no exception.

MYTH: General anesthesia is dangerous but the only option during facelift surgery.
FACT: Nowadays, facelift surgery can be performed under local or even twilight anesthesia. General anesthesia is still most surgeons’ preferred method because unlike the “old” general anesthesia, which dissolved into the fat and took weeks to disappear, the “new” general anesthesia takes less medicine, and does not dissolve into the fat, which helps it to wear off faster, allowing patients to recover in a safer and more comfortable fashion.

MYTH: Facelift surgery takes 6-8 hours to perform and leaves patients bruised and swollen for months.
FACT: A facelift when performed by an experienced facial plastic surgeon can sometimes take only 45 minutes to perform, and in most cases, bruising tends to be minimal if at all. The majority of swelling and bruising is gone within two weeks. Although the healing process is specific to each individual patient, most are back to full activities within 10 days.