Whether it is a Zoom or Teams call, or simply staring at yourself in the mirror to start your day, there are some moments when you wonder who is staring back at you? We all have things we see that we wish would look better: lifting up the brow, cheek or neck makes us look more like we feel and seems so easy! Surgery? Why not!?
4 common facial aging signs
In some cases, it may involve more than a single area of the face and be more “global”. As patients start to explore their options for a more youthful appearance, there is always a balance between outcomes, expectations and downtime. This is very important as one starts to consider facial plastic surgery procedures for rejuvenation.
There is a balance when combining surgeries.
I am often asked about splitting procedures up to help diminish downtime as opposed to combining facial procedures into a one operation to achieve the desired outcome. Because the vast majority of our patients are healthy with few medical issues, this certainly is an option and is safe to do. Additionally, there may be added benefits to combining facial rejuvenation procedures.
In this blog post, I will share with you a few reasons to consider combining facial plastic surgery procedures for an ideal experience and outcome.
Aging impacts more than one area of the face at a time
Like it or not, aging affects us from head to toe. In many ways the face tells more of the story than other body parts. It is virtually always exposed to the environment and elements. The face is where we often first notice weight gain or loss. It also seems to be the most difficult to hide!
Here are some common things we may see during facial aging:
Skin changes: This includes pigmentation, redness, small blood vessels, skin lesions, and lines.
Hair loss: As we age, one can experience receding hairline or balding.
Loose skin: This may impact our brows, eyelids, central face, jawline, and neck.
Loss of facial volume (fat): Aging can cause loss of fat in the cheek and jawline and folds can exaggerate loose skin.
Aging affects the whole face
Some patients come in and accept aging in most areas, but are most troubled most by one isolated area. The most common area I see patients unhappy with is the neck. I have done many isolated procedures on the neck where the patients are happy with their change. Not everyone is a candidate for this approach as in some, it may create disharmony of the face and its appearance.
real patient case #328
real patient case #328
real patient case #328
real patient case #270
real patient case #270
real patient case #270
real patient case #261
real patient case #261
real patient case #261
Combining procedures result in less cumulative downtime:
When procedures are done together, there is one downtime. In some cases, it may be a bit longer but in almost all circumstances combining procedures saves you recovery time (days to weeks), compared to having procedures done separately. In addition to longer cumulative downtime, your final results are delayed when procedures are staged.
Cost savings:
Combining procedures helps you save money on anesthesia and facility fees, and in some cases even the physician fees. While your decision should never be monetarily driven, it is something to consider when you are interested in treating multiple areas in facial rejuvenation.
Combining facial procedures is something to consider but is not for everyone. Additionally, one should never feel pushed to doing more. I always tell my patients that committing to surgery, particularly facial surgery is hard and can be anxiety producing. If it makes you feel that way, the timing is not right, and you should not proceed. The same thing with combining procedures. After weighing the options, it either makes sense for you and your lifestyle or it doesn’t. There is no right way to do things. Every decision should be tailored to your goals, expectations, and any limitations you may particularly on your recovery.
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