A GUIDE TO COSMETIC FACIAL SURGERY

As the years go by, along with the stresses of life, we can’t help but notice the not-so-welcome signs of aging. For many, this begins with looking a little less fresh or a bit more tired than we actually feel. Early on, various non-surgical therapies such as Botox, fillers, peels, light, and mild laser treatments can help.

In time though, we simply develop slack and sagging skin, first in the upper eyelids, then in the neck and jowls. If you’ve looked at yourself in the mirror recently and pulled on different areas of your face or seen some not-so-great selfie or other photo of yourself, you know what I’m talking about. It happens to everyone, sooner or later. We age, and most of us don’t like it (“hate it”) and we want to put up a fight.

Well, beyond the simple (or not), but important things, like getting more sleep, eating smarter, avoiding/reducing ‘vices’, exercising more/again and reducing your stress (never easy, especially this year), what else can you do?

The three, and most impactful, surgical things to do are: trimming away excess upper eyelid skin, ‘getting rid’ of sagging jowls and ‘cleaning up’ the neck. This ‘opens’ the eyes, restores a refreshed appearance to the mid-face (cheeks) and re-defines the all-important youthful neck and jawline. Think of it as age-related ‘maintenance work’ - all accomplished in one outpatient procedure with a Lower Face/Neck Lift and Upper Eyelid Surgery, along with a 1 to 2-week downtime.

Not everyone needs to have lower eyelids ‘done’ or their brows lifted, only those with significant ‘bags’ under their eyes or noticeably droopy brows, especially on the sides. If the outer brows do deserve to be lifted, then this is accomplished with a ‘Lateral Brow Lift’, a much easier procedure and more natural looking than the full brow lift of the past.

Less is more in facial cosmetic surgery today, and doing too much, takes you away from your natural looking self, which, to me at least, is not desirable. You want to continue to look like yourself- but a fresher version! Trying to look 25 again, sadly, is a fantasy and only makes you look, let’s just say, ‘desperate’.

After surgery, you maintain the result with the occasional Botox treatment (always helpful around the eyes and forehead) plus targeted and conservative use of fillers for cheek volume and lines around the mouth, as well as other cosmetic treatments. Of course, dermatological skin care is important with at least a good cleanser and a daily sunblock.

Naturally, aging is highly variable, and to decide what to do for the individual patient, requires a careful discussion and physical assessment. Patients in their forties typically don’t need facial surgery except for possibly their upper eyelids. But in their fifties, and beyond, facial cosmetic surgery becomes increasingly pertinent and certainly helpful.

Thresholds for undergoing facial cosmetic surgery differ with the sexes. However, both have in common that they want to ‘look good and like themselves’ and not like they had ‘something’ done. That natural look is the ‘art’ part of cosmetic facial surgery which requires an aesthetic eye and much experience. So, as always, research and reflect carefully before proceeding.