I had jaw surgery (lefort osteotomy and bsso) and ever since the skin on the left side of my face sags a little bit. It isn’t too noticeable until I smile. When I smile my skin bunches up on the left side of my face. I have tried laser and radio frequency treatments to no avail. Is there anything I can do besides a facelift and anything I can do at home to help improve it until I can afford a procedure? Please help.
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Can a mini facelift be done under local anesthesia?
The short answer is "yes." In my practice, full facelift (cheek, jowls, and neck) is regularly performed under general anesthesia. Our mini facelift is designed to correct sagging in the cheek and jowl, and is commonly done under local anesthesia, usually with supplemental oral medications. Our patients are offered the choice of anesthesia and oral medications.
The consultation with your chosen surgeon is the time to discuss your concerns and desires, to have him or her evaluate your anatomy and suggest the most effective way to accomplish your goals. When a mini facelift is best, local anesthesia can be an excellent choice. Best Wishes.
Yes it can, but ultimately you will need a consultation to address your goals. Sometimes the term mini face lift is applied loosely and the patient will need a full facelift.
A mini face lift and even a brow lift, face and neck lift can be performed under local anesthesia and sedation, the ideal patient for this particular type of anesthesia, will be one, with a good health and a normal blood pressure.
Am I a candidate for a second mini-lift, the first one being nine years ago. I'm also looking into a first time neck lift. I am a 65 year old female in good health, nonsmoker, etc. Could the results be compromised or less than optimal because of the previous surgery? My friend had ripples on her cheeks after the above. She also had a previous facelift. She is one month out. Is that to be expected?
Excellent questions. After nine years, your anatomy changes will be what determines whether it is time for another facelift to maintain your appearance. It could certainly be time. If your first facelift was limited to the cheeks and jowls, and if neck sagging and looseness are now evident, your second facial procedure will likely be a standard facelift. The latter combines improvement of the cheeks, jowls, jawline and neck in one procedure. Since you are a non-smoker and in good health, the risks should be minor. The prior lift, if done well, will not compromise the results of a second procedure; however, you want to choose an experienced plastic surgeon since secondary surgery is not the same as a first facelift. Your surgeon can evaluate you during consultation, and discuss possible reasons for your friend's unfortunate rippling. Best Wishes
Of course, any answer to your question has to be tempered by the fact that I am not able to examine you. Typically, secondary facelifts can be one of the few operations that are both safer and more rewarding than the primary, or original, facelift. A lot of that depends on the existing physical findings, who did the original procedure, and what type of facelift was performed the first time around. Don't be afraid to have a second facelift, just be smart about it. Do your homework. Make sure you are going to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that has performed many facelifts. Good luck.
Thank you for asking. A secondary facelift is not an uncommon procedure and can generate excellent results. A customized analysis and procedure is important for generating the best results. An experienced facelift surgeon can discuss your specific issues to avoid the rippling. Previous surgery alone is not usually an issue and frequently can make the new procedure easier for the patient. Best wishes!
Before answering a question like this I would need to know more about your previous surgery like why was it done, how long ago, were there any complications of that surgery, etc. Ideally, a personal exam would have to be performed before making any firm recommendations but even photos would be helpful. That being said there are some new technological advances that have been made in the arena of skin tightening ,such as Renuvion and FaceTite devices that may be helpful in your situation.