Facelift Houston

Dr. Rappaport Answers Questions about Facelifts

If I have sagging skin around my eyes, will a facelift correct them?

Depending on the degree of sagging around your eyes, I may recommend that we combine a facelift with a brow lift and/or eyelid surgery procedure. These are very complementary procedures.

Will a facelift help correct sagging in my jawline and neck?

A facelift will help correct jowling. If you have bands under your neck, I can also make an incision under the chin to tighten the muscle causing the bands. I may also use liposuction to remove excess fat in the neck. A chin implant or chin advancement can sometimes help improve the angle of the jawline. In younger patients, liposuction alone may be sufficient to correct the neck.

Do you also perform facelifts on men?
Yes. Although 90% of my patients are women, more men are now requesting this procedure. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, face lifts are one of the most popular surgical procedures for men today, with more than 12,000 men seeking the procedure in 2013.

Where is the actual lifting done in a facelift?

A facelift is not a matter of simply tightening the skin. The ‘lifting’ is done by manipulating the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS—an anatomical layer below the skin, but above the functional structures of your face. This strong layer of tissue adds support to your facial features.

Are there different techniques of working with the SMAS?

Yes. Depending on the amount of lifting your face needs, I may use one of three techniques:

• Imbrication – In this technique, the SMAS is lifted and imbricated, or overlapped like a soft pleat, and secured by stitches.
• Flap development – In this technique, we’re creating a flap of tissue in the SMAS that I can then rotate and/or advance to contour your facial structures.
• “SMASectomy” – This technique involves removing a portion of the SMAS from the jawbone to the cheekbone, and produces a tightening effect in the middle of the cheek.”

Which technique do you prefer for mid-facelifts?

I often use a new device called an Endotine®TM to perform a minimally invasive mid-face lift to elevate facial tissue back up on the cheekbones. I place the Endotine®, a bio-absorbable implanted device with five tiny fork-like tines, at a 45-degree angle on the cheekbone, and lift the tissue onto it. In the six to 12 months it takes for the Endotine® to dissolve, the tissue has time to re-attach to the cheekbone. This secures the tissues and enables them to maintain their new, lifted position.

Where are the incisions for an Endotine® facelift?

An Endotine® face lift is done through a small incision in the hairline and another small incision in the mouth or through the lower eyelid.

How does an Endotine® lift compare with a mini-facelift?

There are a number of ‘brand-name’ face lifts being advertised in the media — but the hardest thing in plastic surgery is to compare one procedure to another. A lot has to do with the individual surgeon. However, there are some office-based face lift techniques that don’t last as long simply because they don’t address the primary anatomical problem.

Does having a facelift mean I won’t need facial fillers?

No. Once you have corrected the effects of gravity with a facelift, facial fillers can help you maintain youthful volume—a very important component in a younger-looking face. BOTOX® can also help by relaxing the muscles that cause frown lines. I also use BOTOX® to lift the corners of the mouth and to create a subtle brow lift.

How can I maintain the results of my facelift?

Clinical skin care — both at home and in our office — can help you maximize the effects of your facelift by giving you a smooth, dewy complexion that radiates youthfulness.

Interested in learning more about your options in facelift surgery? Contact Houston Center for Plastic Surgery at 713-790-4500.