When looking into cosmetic procedures to give you a more youthful appearance, it may be hard to know which one is right for you, especially when they are so similar. This is very true with facelifts and neck lifts. Although these procedures do have a few similarities, they also have noticeable differences. In this article, we will go into detail about each rejuvenating treatment and which one may be right for you. Keep reading to learn more.
About Facelifts
What Is a Facelift?
Facelifts have become more and more popular over the past few years, due to the improving techniques and quicker recovery period. A facelift can give you a more youthful appearance by tightening the skin on the face, neck, and jawline while removing excess fat from the chin area, and strengthening muscles. The wrinkles and fine lines on the face are smoothed as the skin is tightened and loose skin is reduced.
Candidates for Facelifts
The best candidates for facelifts are patients in good health, with well contoured bone structure, and healthy skin elasticity. It is also important for individuals considering undergoing a facelift to maintain realistic expectations of the final results.
Types of Facelifts
With the many techniques being offered being offered, there are various types of facelifts that can be performed to give you a more youthful appearance. After a consultation with your doctor, where they can assess your face and discuss your desired results, they can decide which type of facelift would be the best for you. Some of these facelift techniques include a short scar lift, a mid-face lift, a lower face lift, a deep plane lift, and an endoscopic facelift. This gives you a lot of options when considering having a facelift, depending on your preferred results, although each are meant to help give you a more youthful and rejuvenating appearance.
Potential Risks and Complications
Each type of facelift has its own associated risks and complications. Some general potential risks and complications following a facelift include scarring, swelling, bruising, numbness, discomfort, hyperpigmentation, and possible heart and lung complications.
About Neck Lifts
What is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that can help contour the jawline and neck to give a more youthful appearance. This procedure can reduce excess fat under the chin, strengthen the surrounding muscles, and remove jowls and loose skin in the neck area. A neck lift is sometimes preferred by patients who do not feel that they need a full facelift, but still want to restore the youthful contours of their neck and chin.
Candidates for a Neck Lift
Healthy patients who wish to remove loose skin, excess fat, and jowls under the chin are ideal candidates for a neck lift. Patients with realistic expectations also make the best candidates for this procedure. It is also important for their skin to be healthy and elastic enough to be able to handle the strain of the procedure.
How Does a Neck Lift Work?
During a typical neck lift procedure, you will put under anesthesia to ensure that you are comfortable and experience no pain while undergoing surgery. Your desired results, will decide what techniques are used during the procedure. Some patients may only need liposuction. For more dramatic results, excess skin may need to be removed or tightened along with tightening the underlying muscles.
Typically, a small incision will be made under the chin and behind the ears during a neck lift procedure. It is through these areas that the fat is removed. This can be done through liposuction or other techniques. Next the loose muscles and tissue can be tightened. The excess skin will then be removed and the remaining skin can be pulled back. Once this is completed the incisions closed, leaving you with a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
Possible Risks and Complications
Although neck lifts are considered safe procedures there are potential side effects and risks. Common side effects that can occur after a neck lift include scarring, swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Possible risks that can occur include bleeding, persistent pain, skin loss, poor wound healing, and potential deep vein thrombosis.
The Similarities
Both procedures are able to accomplish similar results by giving patients a more youthful appearance. Facelifts and neck lifts are both able to improve sagging skin and weakened muscles in the treatment areas. In a 2012 study it was found that patients looked an average of 6-8 years younger following a face lift procedure. While a neck lift can reduce the appearance of aging up to 15 years.
Facelifts and neck lifts are both invasive surgical procedures, that have similar recovery processes. They have comparable risks and complications during and after treatment. Both surgeries offer long lasting and rejuvenating results. Each procedure also has had advancements in their techniques over the past few years, improving these lasting results.
What is Best for You?
The areas that you wish to treat and the results you want to achieve will determine what procedure you will benefit from the most. Scheduling a consultation with a qualified and experienced surgeon may be the best way to decide whether a facelift or neck lift is the right choice for you. During a consultation, your doctor will be able to assess your face shape, skin type, discuss your desired results, and other variables that will affect which procedure you will benefit from most.
If you would like to do an at home test to get an idea of what you may look like, there is a technique that may mimic the results of each procedure. To get an idea of how you may look following a facelift, place a few fingers on the top of your cheekbones and pull your skin back and upward. To see how you may look after a neck lift, put your forefinger below your jawline outside of the jaw and push back and upward.
If you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss which procedure may be right for you, give our office a call today.
