Maybe you've noticed that your skin is starting to sag around your cheeks, chin, or neck area. Getting a face-lift could help tighten skin and eliminate harsh lines giving you an overall more youthful appearance. Face-lifts can be scary, especially if you've seen work that looks unnatural or too obvious. Electing to undergo this type of procedure is no small commitment, and there are many things to consider before making a decision.
Dr. Yaqub Baraki, M.D specializes in cosmetic surgery at Lansdowne Aesthetic Center located in Ashburn/Leesburg northern Virginia. He is experienced in delivering natural-looking results that you will remain satisfied with for years to come.
Before you consider a face-lift, you should make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. A face-lift will not make you look like a different person, but rather it should give you a more rejuvenated and renewed appearance. Being happy with the results of your face-lift begins with having realistic expectations around the procedure.
Face-lifts are great for addressing signs of aging, tightening excess skin, lifting the corners of your mouth, and removing deep creases. As you age, bone density decreases, leaving you thinning facial bones. Skin begins to droop on your face, leaving you with an aged appearance. Components of your skin like collagen and elastin also start to diminish, face-lifts work by reshaping the bottom half of the face and lifting the skin.
It is essential to be in good health when electing to undergo a face-lift. This type of surgery is not recommended for people with serious medical issues. Patients with high blood pressure or diabetes carry a higher risk of facing complications after surgery. Someone who is considering a face-lift should also consider avoiding tobacco products, aspirin, or blood thinners before surgery.
Genetics and the current state of your skin may also contribute to the outcome of your surgery. If you have relatively good skin and a good bone structure, you will see noticeable improvements after treatment. If you have skin that is affected by sun damage, has lost its elasticity, or if you have extra skin as a result of weight loss, the procedure may not be as successful.
Dr. Baraki combines state-of-the-art techniques with his surgical expertise to deliver results that you'll be proud to have. Using the minimally invasive short scar (S-lift) technique combined with a superficial muscular aponeurotic sheath (SMAS) lift, this type of face-lift will give you amazing, natural-looking results in about three to four hours.
Dr. Baraki will conduct a medical evaluation which will determine your skin's condition as well as whether you're healthy enough to undergo a face-lift. During this time, you should disclose any current medications to Dr. Baraki to avoid any complications with the surgery. You will also be required to stop smoking or taking anti-inflammatory drugs.
Preoperatively, Dr. Baraki will provide you with products with which you will need to prep your skin. The SMAS procedure lifts the layer of tissue under your skin and repositions it higher on the face. Dr. Baraki will begin by separating the SMAS layer from the skin. Once the SMAS layer has adequately been repositioned, the skin is draped back over the layer. Your skin will be able to regain lost support with this procedure, ultimately giving you volume, depth, and an overall uplifted appearance.
An S-lift procedure can resolve common issues like drooping necks that almost always need to be addressed alongside a face-lift. To begin, Dr. Baraki will tighten the muscles in the neck with a process called platysmaplasty, and he’ll remove excess fat under the chin using tumescent liposuction.
Dr. Baraki will lift, redrape, and trim away the excess skin on your neck. One of the more positive aspects of this procedure is that incision marks are nearly invisible and are hidden behind the crease of your ears or under your chin. If you'd like to eliminate scars leftover from an S-lift procedure, you can try microneedling or lasers on the area.
Face-lifts can be combined with laser rejuvenation to help your skin's production of collagen and elastin. Fillers may be recommended for patients who are looking to address issues of lost volume. To determine which procedure may be right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Baraki. His highly advanced methods are guaranteed to give you the refined and refreshed look you've been hoping to regain.
A face-lift requires some downtime. You should expect to take a couple of weeks off work to heal. You should be able to return to a moderate level of activity after this; however, complete healing from this procedure usually takes about three months. Discomfort, bruising, and painful swelling following the surgery can be mitigated through medication prescribed by Dr. Baraki. He may also place a bandage around your face to minimize the chances of bruising and excessive swelling. It is essential to keep these bandages dry and to adhere to the specific instructions Dr. Baraki gives you.
He will provide you with the knowledge you need to care for the surgical sites and drains as well as when it might be appropriate to schedule a follow-up appointment. A skin care program will be recommended to you to help keep your results for much longer. The average face-lift lasts about 10 years, but there are steps you can take to extend that time. You should minimize sun exposure, avoid smoking, and limit stress and alcohol intake. These habits will help you maintain the effects of face-lift surgery.
A face-lift is a surgical procedure, and with it, there may come some issues. Dr. Baraki is skilled in delivering optimal results with the face-lift procedure and will do everything he can to lessen the risk for side effects.
Though complications are infrequent, some risks of face-lift surgery can include:
Patients whose symptoms become severe or persistent beyond a few days should seek immediate medical attention.
If you're hoping to regain lost youth or build self-confidence through a face-lift procedure, call our office, or book an appointment online today.
