Since the first facelift was performed in the early 1900s, the procedure has undergone quite a few “facelifts” itself. Some have been good, some have been bad, and others have been straight-up ugly, but none could have been described as an industry disruptor—that is, until today. In fact, thanks to some industry-disrupting technological advances, the procedure we’ve come to think of as granny’s worst-kept secret is now being billed as mommy’s little helper. With the advent of the deep plane facelift, patients as young as 40 can get ahead of the aging process in a natural, low-impact way that allows them to bypass that middle age “filler phase” completely.
“At some point in the aging process and with a certain degree of laxity and sagging, you will get diminishing returns on minimally-invasive procedures,” confirms New York board certified facial plastic surgeon Sherard A. Tatum, MD, President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “At this point, you could consider a deep plane facelift to get the desired effect.”
According to the most recent AAFPRS annual survey statistics, facelifts (performed by 86 percent of facial plastic surgeons) are the most requested procedure by a wide margin. The survey also noted a directional increase among patients ages 35-55, suggesting what we already knew: patients are coming in younger. “In the last few years, the average age of facelift patients has gone down,” says Patrick Byrne, MD, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Cleveland and president-elect of the AAFPRS. “Patients want to look their best now instead of later, and they don’t want to wait or have any upkeep.”
Today’s facelift, however, isn’t the one you’re thinking of. Gone are the telltale scars, the too-tight skin, the wonky eyes and the pixie ears. As opposed to older techniques that disrupt blood supply, this procedure relies on smaller, more precise incisions to access deeper attachments in the cheek, and lower face, and neck to lift, tighten, reposition loose jowls, and fully restore cheek volume.
“The public has become aware of the technical advances of the facelift, especially the deep plane facelift, and I would credit several pioneering surgeons who have collectively advanced our understanding of the optimal techniques to create a really good surgical outcome in recent years,” adds Dr. Byrne. “The extended deep plane facelift is different from several other "hyped" versions of facelifts, producing impressive, longer lasting and more natural results from skilled and experienced surgeons.”
Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon
And while this all sounds attractive, make no mistake—this is still a significant surgery that requires patients to do their due diligence. To make it likely you’ll get results you won’t regret, it’s important to select a physician based on qualifications, not cost. The AAFPRS reminds patients to always go to a board certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in surgery of the face, head, and neck. To locate a facial plastic surgeon in your area, visit www.facemd.org.