Face and Neck Lift
"When I perform a face lift in Houston, my goal is to take years off your appearance, not make you look radically different," explains Dr. Camille Cash. According to the board-certified plastic surgeon, while facial rejuvenation surgery has been performed for decades, techniques have improved markedly in recent times. "With a qualified surgeon, patients don't have to worry that they'll end up with that fake, windswept look."
Dr. Cash offers both the traditional face lift and mini facelift, sometimes called a short scar facelift, in Houston. Facelift options today can be confusing, which can make it hard for a patient to determine the right fit. The best way to understand all the options and choose the one that suits your needs is to request a consultation with Dr. Cash and visit her plastic surgery practice.
If you would like to learn more about face lift surgery, request a consultation with Dr. Camille Cash, or call her office at 713-571-0600 to schedule an appointment.
Houston Face and Neck Lift with Dr. Cash
When planning a face lift, Dr. Cash determines whether a mini facelift will suffice or whether the full procedure is needed to deliver the desired results. The short scar facelift involves an incision in front of and just behind the ear. If the patient's facial and neck skin is very droopy, a full procedure involving incisions around the ear and into the hairline may be recommended.
Candidates for Face and Neck Lift
Dr. Cash performs mini face lifts for patients with relatively early signs of aging. Candidates may complain of saggy skin on the lower part of their face, but they usually don't have excessively loose neck skin. Full face lifts achieve best results for patients who are generally a little older, have experienced significant environmental damage to their skin, or have had a significant loss of weight.
In either case, the main goal is to reposition fullness into the cheeks and away from the jowls and neck. Dr. Cash works with patients who have realistic expectations. She explains she can't make a 60 year old look 20 again, but she can make them look younger than they have in years.
Face and Neck Lift Surgery and Recovery
Face lifts are typically performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Cash makes incisions around the ear area and raises and removes excess skin. In the traditional face lift, she tightens both skin and muscle and may even remove fatty tissue.
Mini face lifts usually take one to two hours while a full face lift will take longer.
You'll be happy to know that most patients experience just mild discomfort after facial rejuvenation surgery. You can expect several days of mild to moderate swelling and bruising, and you'll need to take care to keep your head elevated and engage only in light activities for two to three weeks. Most people feel pretty good about going out in public in a week to ten days.
Common Questions
Will I look natural?
Facial rejuvenation surgery yields natural looking results when performed by an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon. Fortunately, the days of scary wind tunnel faces or permanently surprised eyes are largely behind us. Ask to see before and after patient photos during your consultation and your fears will be eased.
The procedures are confusing, how can I tell which is right for me?
Dr. Cash will help you understand all your options and decide which procedure or combination is the best choice for reaching your goals. She is not interested in convincing you to have more surgery than you need.
Some scars are inevitable, right?
All surgery results in scarring. In the case of facial plastic surgery, the scars are most often very well hidden. If you have a full facelift you may have scars extending behind your ears into your hairline. Depending on how you wear your hair, it's possible they may be visible at times. Dr. Cash will show you what to expect during your consultation.
I don't want to look like a monster for several days after surgery; will I?
If you have a mini or a full face lift, you will have a bandage to wear after surgery. The good news is you will only need it for a day or two. You will have some bruising and swelling; the extent varies from patient to patient and is difficult to predict. If you don't wear extremely short hair pulled away from your face, you may be surprised how easy it is to conceal much of the impact of surgery, and makeup does wonders. Any stitches you have will be removed in about a week, and most patients stop worrying about bruising and swelling in about a week or perhaps ten days.
What if I am not ready to have surgery?
Dr. Cash offers very effective non-surgical options to combat the effects of aging. BOTOX® Cosmetic can smooth the horizontal "worry lines" on your forehead and the vertical lines between your brows. Injections of a wrinkle filler such as JUVÉDERM® or RADIESSE® can help smooth the "parentheses," or nasolabial lines, between your nose and mouth and restore fullness in cheeks that look sunken. These wrinkle fillers can also be used to treat dark circles or hollowness beneath the eyes. Or these techniques can be combined to address multiple areas of the face in one setting; this is referred to as a liquid face lift.
Dr. Cash invites you to request a consultation for a personal, private plastic surgery appointment. Or, you can call 713-571-0600 to schedule a visit with us.
