Facial rejuvenation is a term used for many different procedures used to rejuvenate the face. The goal is to have a more attractive, natural, and youthful face. It is extremely important to understand that there are different options available to the person who wants to look younger. Many of these options will be reviewed here, but more detailed information on a specific procedure can be found in the appropriate section of the menu or in the educational writings.
It is important to learn about the different choices that can rejuvenate the face. Your options to look younger, healthier, and prettier are discussed now.
What should I do? Should I do a peel or lasers? What about Botox, Dysport, fillers, or a facelift? I need help with my choices? Facial rejuvenation can be described as having different options or levels from easier to more complex. The easiest are Level 1. The intermediate procedures are called Level 2. Finally, the strongest and often the best procedures (which usually mean surgery) are Level 3 procedures. Please see the before and after photos of these procedures linked here.
Level 1: The easiest rejuvenation options — Non-invasive choices
These options are designed to help with skin sun damage, blemishes, age spots, and fine wrinkles. This level does not involve surgery with cutting, sewing, and stitches. The treatments tend to be easy and have next to no pain. Treatments include peels, lasers, facials, and microdermabrasion. These treatments help with fine wrinkles, weathered skin, age spots and marks, and the texture and tone of the skin. Programs are available that have a goal of making the skin more youthful, healthy, and radiant.
The best treatment programs are comprehensive. This means multiple modalities are used to give an enhanced result. The different treatments work synergistically to give a better result than any one treatment alone. The doctor and office nurses will figure out the best program for you.
It is important to understand what these treatments achieve, but it is also important to understand that they do not “lift” the face. They don’t give you a facelift or get rid of bags and circles. This is achieved by level 3- or surgical options.
Level 2: Intermediate treatment options—Minimally Invasive procedures
Level 2 options include less invasive options than surgery. This usually means a tiny needle might be involved. Classic treatment options are Dysport, Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, and other fillers. These treatments work to help with forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and nasal-labial folds or puppet lines. Fillers are modern day products to “fill up” the wrinkles. They work fantastically and do not require surgery. Bruising and recovery is usually easy.
Some more involved treatments in Level 2 might include fat transfer to the face and a more deep peel or laser. This treatment can give even more rejuvenation than the other easier options. It can make the face more youthful, young, and pretty. Fat transfer and peels can give fantastic results and take years off of one’s appearance.
Again, it is important to understand limitations. These treatments are not a neck lift, eye tuck, or facelift. Most wrinkles, jowls, and bags need surgery or Level 3 treatments for the best result or the most dramatic changes.
Level 3: Surgical options
These are the operations that achieve the most rejuvenation and are the best to improve skin excess, jowls, bags, turkey neck, and other signs of facial aging. This level includes facelift, neck lift, eyelid tucks, forehead lifts, and mini facelift procedures. Dr. Saunders does the latest techniques of these operations. This includes tightening the deeper muscle layers called the SMAS and the Platysma muscle. Also, advanced techniques of multi-directional lifting that give a natural and youthful facelift, without the fake or “windswept” look. Additionally, fat transfer can often be added to enhance the cheek area, folds, and overall youthful appearance.
These Level 3 treatments do require actual operations. Pain is typically minimal. Most people are surprised at how minimal pain is and how quickly they get back to activities. Bruising and swelling do take time to go away and appropriate time off to recover is important.
Most people have high satisfaction with their cosmetic facial surgery and are extremely glad they proceeded with the operation. These operations have high success rate and have the greatest chances of achieving the desired facial rejuvenation.
It is important to come in for a consultation so Dr. Saunders can review your desires and goals. The consultation will be thorough and complete. It will review facial rejuvenation options and costs. Dr. Saunders practices exclusively cosmetic surgery and has won numerous awards. He also has published two books on the topic of cosmetic surgery.
