The Role of the Limited Facelift in the Younger Patient
The last five years has seen the introduction and popularity of numerous non-surgical or minimally invasive techniques for facial rejuvenation. The list includes Botox, injectable fillers, skin tightening devices, and threadlifts. Each one of these techniques has carved out a niche amongst facial improvement methods, some far more effective than others.
From a simplistic standpoint, I like to think of early facial anti-aging procedures as central or lateral, in terms of the areas of the face where they are used. Botox and injectable fillers are widely used, effective and are essentally central facial treatment techniques. Both are used primarily around the eyes and mouth, central treatment areas. Skin tightening devices such as Thermage and threadlifts are used mainly in the neck, jowl, and brow areas, lateral treatment areas. Using this concept, clinical experience has shown that non-surgical methods work well centrally, but are less effective in lateral facial areas.
While I like the concepts of skin tightening and threadlifting, for many patients and their aging issues they don’t produce enough of an effect or last long enough to justify the effort. I have found that more limited types of facelifts, while it is surgery, produce much better results with really minimal recovery. Through limited incisions in the temporal hairline carried in front of and into the ear, the skin can be lifted and the underlying SMAS layer tightened. This produces a nice uplift of the jowl area and jawline and some tightening of the neck.
In the younger patient with early signs of jowling and a looser neck, a limited facelift is a much better value than any other lateral non-surgical procedure. It lasts longer and has a more visible and immediate effect. The costs may be higher, but dollar for dollar, it is usually a better investment of your cosmetic resources. The intermittent use of limited facelifts ove the years may eliminate, or at least put off, the need for a more complete and extensive full facelift.
In the central face, however, the use of Botox and injectable fillers is unmatched by any type of more invasive procedure.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana