Making yourself look as good as you feel has become a viable option for many women and men. A great number of people are taking off excess weight by eating right and exercising. They have stopped smoking, and use age-defying sun block ointments on their skin to block harmful rays from the sun. These are all ways to live a better, more healthful lifestyle. However, after the excess weight comes off, what about the sagging skin? Or the facial wrinkles and permanent frown lines? Facelift surgery is a great option to give an individual a more natural and younger looking appearance.
Is facelift surgery right for you?
Facelift surgery is no longer just for the rich and famous, and over the past decade, the number of men having plastic surgery has increased dramatically. Women will generally begin having cosmetic surgery in their late 30’s and early 40’s, whereas men start in their mid to late 40’s. Historically, women worked harder at maintaining their youthful appearance, through exercise, healthy eating, having one or two smaller procedures done earlier rather than waiting until their late fifties and sixties for a full facelift, brow-lift and eyelid lifts.
Men’s roles have changed recently, as they have become more aware of their own health and well being, and appearance. A highly competitive workplace, where youth and vitality are rewarded, has changed men’s minds about plastic surgery. It is no longer considered vanity, but a legitimate means of showing the world that you want to look as good as you feel.
So, is plastic surgery the best option for you? There is only one sure-fire way to find out and that is from a board certified cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD, FACS. During a consultation with Dr. Slupchynskyj, he will discuss his various plastic surgery procedures that may be right for you.
Here are three popular plastic surgery techniques Dr. Oleh Slupchynskyj has performed: Rhytidectomy, Brow lift and Blepharoplasty.
Rhytidectomy
Rhytidectomy simply means improving your face by removing skin. As we age, we lose some of our muscle tone throughout our body, including the face. Loss of that muscle tone in the lower face creates sagging skin, or jowls. The fatty deposits that used to be in our cheeks eventually settle under our chin and jaw, giving an appearance of a double chin, even on a thin person. Plastic surgery removes or repositions facial fatty deposits, tightens facial muscles and removes excess skin.
The surgery usually takes anywhere from one to three hours, all depending upon the degree of aging for that specific patient. If you would like additional changes made to improve your appearance, discuss these with your surgeon during your initial consultation. Improvements such as jaw and cheek augmentations, fat grafting and lip augmentation may all be done at the same time as your rhytidectomy. The time in surgery will be longer, of course, but if you have been considering having your chin or cheekbones augmented, it makes sense to have it done at the same time as your face-lift.
Brow lift
A brow lift or forehead lift is a way of minimizing frown lines, forehead creases and sagging eyebrows through surgery. The old style method is called a coronal brow lift that requires an incision in the hairline from ear to ear and may not be suitable for men with receding, or thin hairlines. The newest technique uses an endoscope and instruments placed within small incisions in the hairline to reposition, or alter the tissue and muscle causing the wrinkles and furrows.
Blepharoplasty
If your upper eyelids are sagging down over your eyes, or you have puffy bags under your eyes making you look old and tired, even if you aren’t, then blepharoplasty may be for you. This eyelid surgery removes excess fatty deposits and skin from your upper and lower eyelids. This surgery alone can take years off your appearance. It is becoming very popular among middle-aged and older men.
Consult with your surgeon about all precautions that you need to take prior to surgery, and any possible side effects and recovery times after surgery.
Benefits of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery offers both physical and emotional benefits. You will feel more youthful and your self-esteem will catapult. In most cases, many patients experience a more confident and outgoing lifestyle. They find themselves less self-conscious about their facial flaws. Facial plastic surgery allows men and women to worry less about their appearance and allows them to focus on other important aspects of their lives.
Consider the following prior to any cosmetic surgery:
Plastic Surgery Expectations – It is important to note that cosmetic surgery is meant for improvement or enhancement and not perfection. In other words, don’t expect cosmetic surgery to turn you into a super model.
Plastic Surgery Risks – With any kind of medical procedure there are risks involved. It is important that you understand the risk factors involved with the type of surgery you are anticipating to have done.
Plastic Surgery Expenses – The overall cost of having cosmetic surgery all depends on the surgeon’s level of training, surgical skill and experience and the type of procedure you are having. It is also important to ask if there are any additional costs for corrective procedures or follow-up care that may be needed.
Recovery Period – It is important that you are aware of the physical effects you may experience after surgery. Following cosmetic surgery, it may take a few days, or weeks to recover.
Make sure Dr. Slupchynskyj is fully aware of all details regarding your previous surgeries and medical history. If you are currently on any medications or if you are experiencing any medical problems, it is important to inform the doctor. This will help him make a more comprehensive assessment and help you get the best results from your procedure.
The Right Plastic Surgeon – This point cannot be overstated. Your choice of surgeon will be the difference between the results you desire and those you don’t. For any facial surgery, it is critical to consult with and select an experienced Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon whose results are proven.
