We don’t like to admit it, but aging is part of life. While we can use all the neurotoxins, fillers and lasers possible to slow the signs of aging, these line smoothers and volume boosters may not turn back time as quickly as we’d like. While signs of aging include fine lines and wrinkles, one very telling sign of aging – which few topical treatments can help – is sagging skin.
As we age, skin slackens from slowed collagen production, leading to dropping cheeks, sagging jawlines, and the dreaded turkey neck. For those with these unwanted features, a facelift becomes an appealing option.
If you’re considering a facelift, it’s important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in order to truly understand if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic surgery. Fortunately, Dr. Burke Robinson is a Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who is the perfect expert to answer your questions.
You’re a good candidate for a facelift if:
1. You have sagging jowls
Loose, sagging skin around the neck and on the sides of the face is one of the key indicators of candidates who are a good fit for a facelift.
2. Your “neck bands” become prominent
If these thick bands running along your neck – called the platysma muscle – appear loose, are clearly visible, and hang drastically, surgery may be right for you. Seeing these muscles as one or two discrete bands along your neck as well as a loss in the sharpness between your jaw and the neck is also a sign that a facelift may be recommended.
3. Your skin can be smoothed by simply pulling it
This is actually a helpful way to determine if you’re a good candidate for a facelift because pulling skin can reveal a more youthful look. Be mindful that a facelift doesn’t improve your actual complexion and it’s important that the skin itself is in good condition before getting a facelift. A facelift will not improve sun damage or pigmentation issues. It only improves the looseness of skin.
4. You constantly need filler to maintain the look you’re going for
Injectables can only work for so long. When you feel like they aren’t meeting the youthful look you’re going for, it’s time to up your anti-aging routine. By this time, you’ve hit a point in which minimally invasive or non-invasive options are no longer producing adequate rejuvenation.
5. You pass the “ligament look-down test”
Ligaments stretch and droop as we get older, and you can test how dramatically they’ve stretched by the “look-down test.” First, take a photo of yourself looking down in your lap and compare it to a picture taken from above. When comparing the two photos, a facelift is recommended if looking upward significantly changes your facial shape compared to when you look down. A facelift will tighten the appearance of the ligaments.
You’re NOT a good candidate for a facelift if:
- Your main concern is aging around the eye area
While the eye area is one of the first places to show signs of aging, a facelift is not the answer to correcting it. Laser or blepharoplasty can improve the sagging skin around the upper and lower eyelids, but an overall facelift will not have as dramatic of an effect.
2. The quality of your skin bothers you more than the sagging skin
Facelift don’t treat tone or texture, but they do address skin laxity.
If you’ve been thinking about a facelift, or have questions about where to start, contact us for a complimentary consultation.
