Choose from a Variety of Cosmetic Surgery Options
The gamut of surgical and non-surgical facelift and neck lift options for facial rejuvenation has never been greater. Now, more than ever, plastic surgeons need to thoroughly evaluate their patients’ goals and needs, in order to determine the ideal individualized treatment plan for each patient. Using one treatment method is now outmoded; contemporary treatment of the face will combine medical grade skin care, non-surgical facelift options like Botox™ and injectable fillers, and surgical procedures tailored to each patient’s goals and needs. Many Cleveland facelift patients may benefit from non-surgical therapies or procedures related to the facelift, like brow lifts, eyelid lifts, or fat injection. These topics are discussed in the other sections and pages of this Website. Below, we’ll elaborate on various permutations of the Cleveland facelift and neck lift.
What is a cosmetic facelift?
The term facelift refers to any procedure that lifts and tightens the skin and/or deeper tissues of the face. Older cosmetic facelifts surgery techniques just lifted skin off of the underlying tissues. The surgeon then pulled, tightened, and removed the skin. These so-called skin-only facelifts were more likely to cause an unnatural wind-swept look to the face. Most contemporary cosmetic facelift surgery techniques combine lifting and gentle tightening of the facial skin with tightening and re-draping of the SMAS layer, which is a layer of connective tissue that lies under the skin and on top of the facial muscles. Dr. Goldman predominantly uses these so-called two-layer or deep-plane cosmetic facelift surgery techniques. The exact technique used depends on the individual facial characteristics of the patient. A patient with a full, round face will not have exactly the same procedure as the patient with a thin face, for instance.
What is a neck lift?
Like the facelift, a neck lift elevates and redrapes the skin of the neck and tightens the underlying muscle (the platysma muscle). Excess fat is generally removed as well. Some patients may be candidates for a neck lift alone; some may even be candidates for liposuction alone to the neck. However, most patients who have enough droop or laxity (looseness) to require a Cleveland neck lift also require a facelift to tighten the tissues of the neck at the sides, creating a hammock effect to most effectively lift, smooth, and tighten the neck.
Where are the incisions?
Most commonly, the incisions are concealed around the ear and hairline behind the ear, and sometimes in the hairline at the temple. A neck lift involves an incision just under the chin as well.
What are the risks?
Bleeding, infections, and anesthesia complications can occur with any facelift surgery. These complications are rare but real. Specific complication for the facelift include a hematoma, which is from excess bleeding under the skin, and skin necrosis (in which patches of skin may become discolored, die in small areas, and ultimately scar. Nerve injury can also occur, leading to areas of numbness or weakness; the latter can lead to permanent facial asymmetry and paralysis.
One-hour” lifts, mini-lifts, “lifestyle lifts”, and “quick-lifts.”
Beware of any facelift technique that has been trademarked; you’ll see a “TM” or “SM” next to the name of the lift. This means an individual surgeon or company has their own technique that they use on all their patients or clients. Most busy facial plastic surgeons will utilize more than one technique and will use procedures that are well know and proven to be safe and effective. Dr. Goldman uses a spectrum of both time-honored and new but well-established techniques to tailor his surgical plan to each patient’s individual goals and needs.
Dr. Goldman also feels that there is a role for mini-facelifts in appropriate patients. A mini-facelift in Cleveland can offer less cost and down-time than more aggressive procedures, but the result will not be as dramatic. Dr. Goldman’s philosophy is that plastic surgeons must understand the various mini-lift procedures and be able to discuss them with prospective patients. Mini-facelifts in Cleveland can achieve excellent results in appropriate patients who don’t want or require more extensive procedures. For instance, Dr. Goldman performs a well-studied and established procedure called the MACS (minimal access cranial suspension) lift, which involves less dissection than a traditional Cleveland facelift and uses an innovative suturing technique to tighten the SMAS (skin muscle aponeurotic system) layer under the skin. This procedure achieves more than a one-hour lift but is not as involved as a full facelift and is therefore appropriate for patients who do not need a full Cleveland face lift.
If a patient is considering facial plastic surgery, they need to be aware of how well a doctor who performs these surgeries is trained. Why would a patient trust their face to a doctor who is not a board certified plastic surgeon, or a doctor who works for a national company run somewhat like a surgical factory? If a limited facelift is appropriate, why not trust a plastic surgeon who has a special interest in facelifts and who is appropriately and highly trained and experienced with facelifts? Furthermore, if a mini-lift costs $5000 or $6000, is that money better spent on a full facelift or on other procedures like Botox, injectable fillers, fat injection, Fraxel Repair CO2 laser resurfacing?
Related procedures.
Facelifts are often combined with browlifts, eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty), fat injection,Botox™, fillers, and laser resurfacing. Treatment is tailored to the specific needs and goals of the patient.
Why choose Dr. Goldman?
Dr. Goldman is board certified both in plastic surgery and otolaryngology/head and neck surgery (ear, nose, and throat surgery). He trained at some of the nation’s top institutions in their respective fields. He has a special interest in facial plastic surgery; this is reflected by his membership in societies such as the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Goldman offers the full spectrum of surgical and non-surgical options through his practice and medical spa, so the ideal treatment or combination of treatments isavailable to all of his patients. Finally, Dr. Goldman truly enjoys Cleveland facelifts and facial rejuvenation. His artistry and passion are visible in his results.
In summary, a Cleveland facelift remains the gold standard for lifting and reshaping drooping tissues of the face. Contemporary techniques strive to produce dramatic results without causing an artificial appearance; this generally requires combining various procedures (like a facelift, neck lift, and brow lift) with other therapies, such as Botox and laser treatments, which can compliment the facelift and occasionally obviate the need for the traditional full lift. In select patients, mini-lifts may also be appropriate. Patients should therefore find a surgeon who is familiar with the new modalities as well as the traditional ones.
Please look at our Photo Gallery for real before and after pictures of our patients.