When To Schedule A Revision Facelift

While the benefits of cosmetic surgery last forever, anti-aging procedures cannot stop the aging process. We like to tell our patients that a facelift will turn back the clock on their facial aging by 5 to 10 years. So, with a facelift, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in jowling and neck laxity along with restoration of cheek volume and improvement of skin elasticity. After 5 to 10 years though, you’ll continue to age and may start to see some of these signs of aging creeping back again. Depending on your genetics, lifestyle, overall health, and the type of procedure performed, this may happen sooner or later, but, at some point, you may feel it’s time to schedule a revision facelift to keep your youthful appearance.

Revision facelifts come in many forms. It’s possible that some regions of your face will begin to see changes faster than others. So, depending on where the corrective surgery is required, you may not be in need of a complete makeover.

The best time for you to consider a revision facelift is something you can best determine for yourself. When you notice your skin is starting to lose its tone or your cheeks and jawline are appearing to sag once again, it may be time to visit your surgeon for a consultation. Timing for surgery is a very personal decision. Some patients prefer to consider surgery at the earliest onset of changes so they can prevent more significant signs of aging later on. Others prefer to wait until they feel the need is greater so that they can appreciate a more dramatic benefit from the surgery.

A revision facelift is also an option for patients who are unhappy with their previous facelift surgery. We see many patients who have opted for one of the various so-called mini facelifts because of concerns about cost, timing, or fears about recovery and potential healing problems. The problem is that mini lifts are ideally suited to those who are seeing the earliest signs of facial aging. They are not the best option for those who have more dramatic aging changes and, in those situations, will often fail to meet the desired result. This is not a shortcoming of the mini facelift; it is an issue of improper procedure selection. These patients would have done better with a more involved traditional lower face and neck lift approach. The truth is that, in the hands of experienced surgeons, facelifts and revision facelifts are safe procedures that do not carry a lengthy downtime and quickly return patients to the happy, healthy, youthful appearance they are seeking.

If you are in the unhappy position of having had a less than ideal facelift result, talk to an experienced facial plastic surgeon to review your options. It may be possible to intervene early, depending on the situation. On the other hand, if there are concerns attributable to swelling or inflammation that may potentially improve with time, your surgeon may advise you to wait up to a year or longer before having any further cosmetic surgeries.

The tissue area of the face and neck takes time to heal. Even though it may outwardly appear to be healed, upon closer inspection you will find that there are areas of soft tissue that have not yet recovered fully. Many times you will need a professional to examine your face to determine this.

The revision surgery is something which differs from person to person. There are major revisions and minor ones and it is important that you place yourself in the hands of a skilled, knowledgeable and reliable cosmetic surgeon to undertake this task.

Not all surgeons are experienced in performing revision facelifts because, in many ways, this surgery is more complicated than a surgery being performed for the first time. It is extremely important that you seek out someone who has performed revision facelifts in the past and can show you pictures from his/her previous clients to give you an idea of what to expect.

Always be sure to look for a surgeon who is skilled in the particular cosmetic procedure of interest. Many surgeons specialize in certain areas of the body and focus their knowledge on a specific set of procedures only. Use their specialties to your advantage.