Less is Sometimes More!

It’s important to understand your choices when deciding on a facelift or a neck lift. There are options and more than one operation to make us look younger and refreshed. It’s not a cookbook approach to rejuvenation. I specialize in the latest methods of face lifting techniques. I have written many educational writing on my deep plane, composite LAVVNDR Facelift. But some patients want less surgery and still want great results. The answer is my FEATHER LIFT. It’s extremely rejuvenating, reliable, safe, and cost effective. This educational writing was written at the request of a patient from Philadelphia, Pa.

Options:

I always strive to give an extensive and thorough consultation with a complete discussion of your options. It’s interesting to me how many plastic surgeons forget this critical topic – which is options. What are my choices? What are the differences? You learn these facts from ME, so you can intelligently decide what’s best for YOU. When you are concerned about neck excess, jowls, bags, and extra facial skin, you will learn that your best option is some type of lifting procedure. This means some type of facelift or neck lift. I have reviewed other methods of facial rejuvenation, like lasers and peels, in another educational writings. You can link there now for a review of these choices. But once we know we need surgery, we need to decide what type.

Many patients and cosmetic surgeons will talk about cheek lifts or mid face lifts or neck lifts. This can be thought of as a “vertical plane classification.” Vertical means up and down. The cheeks being “up or above” and the neck being “down or below..” This is a vertical classification. But it’s better to think of facial rejuvenation in a horizontal plane or “outside to inside” approach. This is much better, helpful, and informative. It essentially means how far deep or inside do you operate and rejuvenate. For example, mini lifts go less horizontal and full lifts go all the way, as far as possible.

The facelift can be broken down into 3 main types. These are the full, mini, and extra mini facelift. The full facelift is where all methods are used to get the maximal results. The horizontal dissection is maximized. This is the composite and deep plane lift that I have written about. It’s my LAVVNDR LIFT. The mini lift is smaller and the extra mini lift is the smallest. The FEATHER FACELIFT is the extra mini lift. My LAVVNDR FACELIFT is the biggest lift. It’s deep plane, extensive, and often involves fat transfer. The FEATHER FACELIFT is the extra mini lift. The dissection is less and extra procedures to rejuvenate are NOT done. The mini lift is in between.

The FEATHER FACELIFT : How is it done?

The FEATHER LIFT is an extra mini facelift. Incisions are used around the ears. They start in the temple hairline and then move down. They are placed behind the tragus of the ear to be more hidden and imperceptible. They then go underneath the earlobe and then behind the ear. The skin is lifted and elevated in the surgical plane above the SMAS muscles. The skin flaps are meticulously re-draped in a superior and posterior position. This means elevated and moved in an extremely natural and normal location. Fake results essentially NEVER happen. The excess tissue is trimmed. No deep plane or muscle work is done with the FEATHER LIFT. The skin is closed with delicate plastic surgery stitches. A comfortable bandage is applied. No drains are used.

The operation takes about an hour and a half. It is done with sedation. It’s like a long colonoscopy, also called twilight anesthesia. You do not need to be put asleep. The full facelift and the mini lift take longer in the operating room. This is because muscles are tightened and fat transfer might be done. These take time and add to the length of time on the operating room table.

Why choose the FEATHER LIFT? :  Less is sometimes more!

Not everyone wants the biggest or largest facelift. Many patients are happy with the smaller, shorter, and easier FEATHER LIFT. It’s less expensive and quicker to heal. It’s extremely natural, and it will never be fake. It still gives an amazing amount of rejuvenation. Like the old saying goes, less is sometimes more.

Results:

Patients can expect significant rejuvenation from the cheeks to the jowls and including the neck. The improvement includes higher and more natural cheeks. The jawline is refreshed. Nasolabial folds and puppet lines are significantly lessened. The neck is more chiseled and younger looking. The improvements are from the eyes down to the bottom of the neck.

Results are extremely natural and refreshing, giving a completely normal and youthful appearance.

This operation does not improve eyelid aging, hooding, or eye bags. These are improved by eye tucks, eyelid lifts, or a blepharoplasty. It’s important to have realistic expectations about all cosmetic surgery. They don’t turn you into a movie star or a model. The operation improves you. It makes you younger looking. It doesn’t make you something you never were. Aging is improved and not eliminated. You will be younger looking and extremely natural. You will NOT BE FAKE. You will be a “younger you.” For those interested in eye tucks, you can link now to an excellent educational writing on this topic

Full facelifts and mini lifts will give more rejuvenation and will take more time in the operating room. Additional procedures are part of these longer and more expensive operations. They give more rejuvenation and improvement.

Medical studies with procedures similar to my FEATHER LIFT have shown excellent results and high satisfaction. Substantial improvement in jowls, excess skin, turkey neck, and neck laxity can be expected. It is an extremely safe, reliable, and effective operation to look younger and remain natural.

Recovery:

The recovery is overall similar to more extensive facelift operations. But because less dissection is done, there is often less bruising and swelling. This leads to a quicker recovery. Fat transfer and muscle tightening that occur in bigger lifts will obviously lead to more recovery time. The smaller and quicker recovery is a distinct advantage of this cosmetic operation.

As with all operations, the recovery from the FEATHER FACELIFT takes time. It is important to allow for resolution of bruising and swelling during this period. A “hibernation” period is required to heal. Most people are surprised at how quickly they can get back to normal activities. It’s critical to follow all instructions after surgery to minimize risks and any problems.

Risks:

As with all cosmetic operations, the Feather Lift has risks that are discussed in detail during your consultation. It is paramount to understand the concept of REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. Cosmetic surgery doesn’t turn you into a movie star, Instagram model, or something you never were. Surgery improves us. It makes us look younger and healthier. It does not “get rid of” every wrinkle or “get rid of” all signs of aging. You will be noticeably younger and completely nature.

Other bigger facelifts could give more rejuvenation than the Feather Lift. Other operations like my LAVVNDR LIFT which include deep plane, composite muscle tightening or fat transfer can give more improvement. It’s why these operations have these components added to the operation. The added time adds expense and recovery to the operation. Fortunately, if a patient chooses the Feather Lift and doesn’t get all the rejuvenation they hope for, they can always do more in the future. Nothing has been lost by doing the smaller facelift.

Summary:

The FEATHER LIFT is a wonderful cosmetic operation that rejuvenates your face and neck. It provides a younger and more natural look to the cheeks, jaw line, jowls, and neck. It’s an extra mini lift that delivers essential rejuvenation in a extremely natural way. The operation is less expensive amd has a quicker recovery than more extensive and longer ones. For the patient who is desiring to look better with the most simple and most straightforward way, the FEATHER LIFT might be the answer. My consultations review all options in detail to help you choose the best procedure for you.