Facial Cosmetic Surgery Against Aging

Most Requested Interventions for Facial Rejuvenation

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is one of the most requested facial cosmetic surgery procedures. It involves removing excess fat and skin from the eyelids to rejuvenate the eyes and eliminate sagging skin in this area of the face.

Blepharoplasty can be complete (affecting both upper and lower eyelids), or it can be performed on the upper eyelids only or the lower eyelids only. This choice should be made by the patient with the cosmetic surgeon. Along with the type of procedure, the patient will also discuss with the surgeon their preference in anesthesia, which can be local or general. Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure with approximately 3 weeks of recovery.

Facelift: The Solution to the Passage of Time

Facial skin loses its elasticity and firmness over time, and a facelift is the ideal operation to remove excess skin from the face and neck, generally in the areas around the corners of the mouth, around the eyes, and the double chin. A facelift doesn't stretch the skin but repositions it; the scars are not visible, and it is one of the most complicated operations for the plastic surgeon, but it has virtually no side effects.

The facelift can be partial, performed in the upper or lower third of the face. In these cases, it aims to rejuvenate only the areas where a small accumulation of skin and fat begins to appear, such as the neck, or to restore the shape of the facial oval by removing sagging in the chin area. In the upper part of the face, it is performed to eliminate wrinkles on the forehead and between the eyebrows and to reposition sagging eyebrows.

It is also possible to perform a mini-lift, in which less tissue is removed and the scars are smaller. This procedure is generally performed to eliminate sagging of the jawline and chin when the first signs of aging appear. Facelifts, mini-lifts, and blepharoplasty can be combined with other non-surgical facial treatments such as fillers or hyaluronic acid injections to enhance their effects because they hydrate and give more luminosity and smoothness to the facial skin.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

According to Ishii, a common misconception surrounding a facelift is recovery time. "Generally, people think recovery will be worse than it actually is," she says. "They expect recovery to take six weeks, when in reality, it only takes 10 to 14 days for most people."

During recovery, people can expect swelling and bruising while the incisions heal. Your surgeon will provide detailed post-operative care instructions and recommendations on pain relief to speed your recovery.

What are the benefits of a facelift?

Unsurprisingly, the main benefits of a facelift are increased satisfaction with your appearance and being seen by others as younger and more attractive. "People want what they feel inside to be reflected in the mirror," explains Ishii. "They also want to know that the people around them have positive thoughts about them."

Ishii's group conducted new research to measure the impact of facelifts from the perspective of a casual observer. This research involved showing before-and-after photos of facelift patients to a group of nearly 500 participants in an online survey.

Participants estimated the ages of the women in the photos and rated them on attractiveness, perceived success, and overall health. The survey results showed that casual observers perceived women who had undergone a high-quality facelift as younger, more attractive, more successful, and healthier.

EXPRESS QUOTE

Would you like more information?

Non-Surgical Facial Treatments

Non-surgical facial treatments, or aesthetic medicine procedures, are increasingly in demand as a complement to aesthetic surgical procedures such as facelifts to optimize and maintain the results of facial rejuvenation in the long term. Thanks to facial treatments in aesthetic medicine, you can not only rejuvenate your face but also enhance it by getting rid of bothersome wrinkles, restoring its radiance, and recovering its volume.

Here are the main procedures:

• Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a technique that stimulates collagen production and simultaneously eliminates damaged and sun-aged skin without damaging the epidermis. It involves using the energy of high-intensity light to act on the deepest layers of the skin and gradually improve skin tone and texture;
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP facial) is a widely used biostimulation treatment to combat aging. This substance contains numerous bioactive proteins that promote the repair and regeneration of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin that have been lost over time;
• Carboxytherapy is used to eliminate signs of aging such as wrinkles, fatigue, and dark circles under the eyes. That is to say, it stimulates circulation mainly in the eye contour area, based on carbon dioxide (CO2) and chemicals such as acids;
• Lifting threads have similar effects to a facelift, but without the need for surgery. This is a very effective facial rejuvenation technique that involves inserting very thin (barely detectable) threads into the dermis, composed of polydioxanone (PDO), a resorbable biological material that does not produce allergies or rejection and, furthermore, only requires medium-term maintenance;
• Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin, stimulates collagen production, and fills in grooves and wrinkles, giving volume to the face. In addition, it is also a preventive treatment against aging. Thanks to small infiltrations of this substance, your face will appear much younger, hydrated, and radiant, reducing wrinkles and sagging;

What Causes Facial Aging?

Facial aging is a natural process that occurs for various reasons. As some structures of the epidermis are destroyed and damaged, it will show signs of the passage of time, resulting in wrinkles, grooves, or spots.

One of the main causes of facial aging is UVA solar radiation, which causes the appearance of wrinkles and spots. Prolonged exposure to the sun without adequate protection leads to an early and, in some cases, permanent appearance of these signs.

However, collagen loss also leads to a loss of skin tone and gives it a flabby, less dense appearance.

Thus, in addition to solar radiation or lack of collagen, other reasons for resorting to facial rejuvenation treatments are smoking, stress, alcohol, and poor diet.

This is why it is important to take care of your skin to maintain a healthy and youthful face and delay natural wear and tear. Maintaining certain healthy habits is enough to gain an advantage. For example, using sunscreen, a healthy and balanced diet, and a cleansing routine will help you avoid premature aging. Similarly, hydrating the skin and using non-aggressive products will be very beneficial.