A facelift is a major, life-changing decision to make: This procedure is one of the most thorough and effective when it comes to reducing the visible signs of aging. It can easily take years—or even a full decade—off your appearance. That said, it’s a substantial investment, both financially and in terms of total healing time, so you’ll want to make the most of it. Most surgeons recommend that you choose one or more of the following complementary procedures in order to maximize the rejuvenating impact of your facelift:
The “Full Suite” of Lifts
In addition to having a facelift, you may wish to have neck lift, a brow lift (also known as a forehead lift), and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) performed. Doing so will provide you with a flawlessly uniform improvement in your skin’s tightness. Remember that facelifts primarily tighten the lower face, so at the very least, a complementary forehead lift should also be performed in most cases.
BOTOX® Injections
BOTOX® injections can dramatically reduce the amount of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, all without significantly adding to your healing time. BOTOX® injections are minimally invasive while also being immediately effective.
Facial Peels and/or Dermabrasion
While facelifts greatly improve the tightness of the skin, they don’t affect its surface appearance. For this reason, it’s advised that you also opt for an abrasive or chemical procedure that will renew your skin overall. Chemical peels make the skin exfoliate and eventually peel, removing damaged cells and causing a smoother, healthier, younger-looking layer of skin to form. Abrasive treatments can remove age spots, signs of sun damage, small scars, and fine lines.
Dermal Fillers or Fat Transfer
Dermal fillers and fat transfers (fat grafting) offer more intensive, penetrating, and long-lasting rejuvenation to the skin. They add volume to the skin (which is typically lost during the aging process), leading to a fuller, more youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are the most convenient option, but they are typically temporary (lasting, on average, a few years after they are injected), whereas fat grafting is a semi-permanent solution.
Choosing to perform a number of complementary procedures in close succession has several important benefits: You’ll reduce total healing time, all of your surgeries will heal at the same rate (resulting in an even, natural look), and most importantly, you’ll significantly increase your chances of getting the youthful, vital appearance that you want. Before you get a facelift, talk to your surgeon about which complementary surgeries may be right for you; they will be able to guide you in the right direction. To find out which procedure you should pair with a facelift, contact Dr. Ben Lee, now, for a consultation.
