It is not surprising that patients considering a facelift come to Brian D. Cohen, MD from all over Long Island and New York City. He is a gifted plastic surgeon, well-respected not only as a talented professional but as a compassionate person. His skills go beyond the mastery of a difficult craft for he is truly dedicated to improving the lives of those he treats.
He knows that revitalizing one’s facial appearance can increase both self-esteem and self-confidence. When a patient looks into the mirror and sees a younger, more attractive image, the experience can be transformative, positively impacting relationships, career momentum, and enjoyment of life.
What exactly is a facelift?
Descriptive as the term “facelift” is, the particulars of the procedure are unknown to the majority of the population. While it may be enough for most people to simply understand that a facelift makes you look younger and more attractive if you are contemplating this surgery you undoubtedly want to know about it in greater detail. Also called a rhytidectomy, a facelift is a restorative surgical process through which a plastic surgeon lifts and firms sagging facial tissue, removes excess skin, and provides the patient with a smooth, youthful appearance.
Why do people consider having a facelift?
For most people, their aging appearance is discouraging because [1] it reminds them that they are getting older, and [2] it reflects a person who looks much older and less vital than they feel.
Many patients focus on one part of the face more than another. Common troubling areas are:
- Wrinkled foreheads
- Bags under the eyes
- Gaunt cheeks
- Thin lips
- Jowls on the lower face
- Loose skin on the neck
Bothered by one or several of these areas of evident aging, patients may consider a facelift a good alternative. The major advantage of having a facelift is that a single procedure creates a complete facial revitalization, and requires only one period of recovery.
Because our face is the first part of us we show the world and the first part of us we typically use to convey emotions, it is likely to be the part of us others examine most closely. By looking at our face, others assess our intelligence, our enthusiasm, our mood, even our ability to open up to them.
It is for this reason that a facelift can affect our casual and close relationships, our job interviews and interactions, and our ability to connect and communicate with those we meet. Facelifts, by improving both our appearance and our sense of self-worth, often make us easier, more pleasant companions because we become more comfortable with ourselves.
How Dr. Cohen Will Help You Prepare for a Facelift
During your initial consultation, Dr. Cohen will discuss your personal concerns and decide which parts of your face need the most attention. He will examine you and take photographs of your face from various angles to assess your bone structure, the shape of your face, fat distribution under your skin, and the quality of your skin, especially its elasticity. This will help him to determine the best options for your facelift surgery.
Dr. Cohen will also take a comprehensive medical history. This is important because he has to be aware of any pre-existing conditions that may affect the procedure or your healing process. In rare cases, a pre-existing condition like one of the following may preclude a facelift altogether:
- Certain medications (e.g. blood-thinners, NSAIDs) and supplements (e.g. fish oil)
- Smoking
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- History of extreme weight fluctuations
- Blood-clotting problems
- Poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease
- Complications after previous surgeries
Each patient is unique and Dr. Cohen will carefully evaluate your specific situation to determine whether or not surgery is too risky in your particular case.
The Procedure Itself
Depending on the specifics of the surgical procedure Dr. Cohen will be performing, it may be performed under local or general anesthesia. He only performs surgery in excellent, state-of-the-art surgical outpatient facilities in Great Neck or Manhattan.
In order to rejuvenate your features, Dr. Cohen will elevate your skin and tighten the underlying tissues and muscles. Fatty tissue in the face and neck may be removed, redistributed, and/or sculpted. As you might imagine, great artistry is involved in this process. At the end of the procedure, Dr. Cohen will redrape the skin gently over the newly smoothed contours of the face, removing any residual excess, and stitch or tape the wound closed.
Dr. Cohen has a few options to choose from when it comes to where he will make incisions. One possibility is to begin at your temples near the hairline. Another is to make the first cut under your chin. In some cases, he may be able to use what is known as a “limited incision” that begins at your hairline just above the ear.
Generally, a facelift takes from 2 to 3 hours to complete, longer if a more varied or complicated procedure is performed. After the procedure, you may experience:
- Mild to moderate pain
- Drainage from the incisions
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Numbness
For several days to a week, you should rest with your head elevated, take pain medication as recommended, and apply cool packs to ease pain and reduce swelling. You will visit Dr. Cohen for several follow-up appointments during the 2 months after your facelift. It is worth noting that a facelift does not provide a permanent solution to aging. In most cases, however, the remarkable results of rejuvenation will last about 10 years.
Contact Us Today to Find Out How a Facelift Can Improve Your Life
If you feel that your aging face is holding you back from being your optimal self, you’re probably right. Why look older and more tired than you have to? Let Brian D. Cohen, MD explain the facelift procedure that will work best for you and take this opportunity to invest in your future and your happiness.