Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
A specialist in natural looking facelift surgery Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Kaniff has helped hundreds of patients from throughout California and Nevada feel better and more confident about their appearance.
Specializing in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Kaniff is a Board Certified plastic surgeon of the face and neck. Facelift surgery is performed in the privacy and safety of Dr. Kaniff’s Sacramento plastic surgery clinic, Kaniff Cosmetic Medical Center.
Known by many different names including cheek/neck lift, lifestyle lift, mini-facelift, neck lift, cheek lift, etc., facelift surgery improves the appearance of the cheek, neck and jaw line. The procedure is customized to the individual’s needs. Some individuals need a smaller procedure to freshen the cheek, while some require rejuvenation of both the cheeks and neck.
The facelift has become one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures because, as medical advances and new technologies increase life span, many woman and men find that they look older than they feel physically and mentally.
The goal of the facelift is to lift and reposition the sagging skin and underlying muscles of the face, as well as, remove some excess skin and fat which tend to sag with advancing years or premature aging. The facelift operation may be thought of in three parts: the forehead or eyebrow lift (the upper one third), the cheek lift (the middle one third), and the neck lift (lower one third). Some people require all three components, but most can achieve improvement with attention to one or two of these areas. Dr. Kaniff will work with you to customize your rejuvenation procedure in order that you get the best possible result.
The incisions and techniques are varied to suit one’s individuals needs, but in all cases the incisions are placed along natural skin creases and generally imperceptible once they heal. The deeper tissues/muscles layers are repositioned to their more youthful position. Long term improvement is due to the deeper tissues healing in this more youthful repositioned location. Slowly dissolving sutures hold the deep tissues in place until the body can heal itself.
Your experience should be safe, as well as comfortable. We have the unique ability to offer patients two different anesthesia options. Smaller procedures may be performed by taking oral medications before the procedure along with local anesthesia. More extensive procedures or individuals who wish to remember less of the procedure choose “twilight” anesthesia – medication given intravenously along with local anesthesia. Most people are familiar with “twilight” anesthesia from having oral surgery or colonoscopy.
Most people comment that they are happy with the natural appearance of their results and that they look younger, rested and refreshed. Realistic expectations prior to surgery result in high levels of satisfaction after facelift surgery.
Facelift surgery does not correct problems in the upper and lower eyelids nor the wrinkles or creases in the lips. Procedures that compliment facelift surgery are often done at the same time include: eyelid surgery, forehead/brow surgery, chin implant and skin resurfacing. Dr. Kaniff will advise you in your particular situation.
Naturally, everyone contemplating the operation is interested in how much improvement they can expect and for what duration. The amount of improvement depends on the degree of wrinkling and sagging present; if it is excessive, the results may be dramatic; if sagging is premature and the operation is being done to attempt to keep the patient looking young, the improvement may be more subtle. Remarks may be made that the skin appears “less tired” and the face “looks more alive.
A facelift helps turn back the clock about ten years. It does not stop the ticking. The duration of improvement cannot always be accurately predicted. If wrinkling and/or sagging are severe it will obviously be a while before the condition becomes as bad as it was before surgery, usually several years. If the degenerative process in the skin is very rapid, the wrinkling and sagging will re-occur more rapidly.
Rejuvenation or prevention; the choice is yours. If you are tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a too-old face starting back, a facelift can remove most of the sags and wrinkles and give you a face that looks five to ten years younger. On the other hand, if you are just beginning to notice little lines and wrinkles and want to keep your youthful appearance, you may opt for a series of minor procedures to correct signs of aging as they appear. In this way, you can remain looking younger through the years and can look forward to hearing others remark that you do not seem to grow older.
No one procedure is right for everyone and some surgeons are more talented than others. Choose a facial plastic surgeon with a great track record. Do your homework – you only have one face. Refer to our Patient Reference Library for some valuable resources. Experience and attention to detail is what separates good surgeons from great surgeons. When choosing a surgeon to operate on your face make sure he has the experience and artistry you deserve. Ask to see actual patient results performed by that surgeon, not just pictures in the marketing materials. In the unlikely event you have a problem, be sure you surgeon had privileges at a local hospital.
