3 Anti-Aging Procedures that Turn Back the Clock
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Is an older version of you staring back at you? If the answer is yes, there are ways you can turn back the clock and restore your youthful image. At the Cheng Plastic Surgery, we offer surgical anti-aging procedures that promise substantial results that can last for many years. Check out these three popular anti-aging options available at our office today.
Eyelid Surgery
The eyes are often one of the first areas of the face to begin looking tired and aged. It might start when you see your reflection and wonder if you got enough sleep the night before. When the haggard appearance persists, you may begin to think something more is going on besides insufficient shut-eye…and you are probably right! Signs of aging creep into the delicate skin around the eyes rather quickly, leading to the formation of fine lines, sagging lids, and puffiness and dark circles underneath the eyes.
Benefits of Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery is a way to reverse time in this area of the face. The procedure can be modified to meet your precise needs and will address any or all of the following concerns:
- Upper eyelids that droop over the eye may even interfere with vision
- Extra fat along the upper lid that makes it difficult to apply makeup
- Sagging lower lids that reveal the white under the iris and cause uncomfortable dryness
- Puffiness and dark circles underneath the eyes
- Fine lines encasing the eyes, particularly around the lower lid
Our board certified facial plastic surgeons will carefully evaluate your concerns, health status and desired outcome to determine whether eyelid surgery will be both safe and successful for you.
About the Procedure and Recovery
Eyelid surgery is usually performed using local anesthesia, which reduces your risks before and after your procedure and shortens your recovery time. Incisions are made in the upper lid in the natural crease of the eye, while lower lid incisions are located inside the lid or on the lash line. The primary goal is to provide access to the surgical site while minimizing visible scarring afterward.
Eyelid surgery is relatively quick, and you should be back home within a matter of hours. Recovery is usually one to two weeks, although we may recommend you avoid rigorous exercise a bit longer to ensure your eyes heal fully before placing additional strain on them. Results of your eyelid surgery should refresh your appearance for many years before aging symptoms start to creep in once again.
Facelift
When the signs of aging extend beyond the eyes to the mid and lower face, a facelift may be a good choice for you. This surgery is designed primarily to address signs of aging from the cheeks to the jawline, by removing loose skin and repositioning fat and tissue that have fallen over time. A facelift can take 10-15 years off of your appearance, with results that will also last for some time.
Benefits of a Facelift
You might consider a facelift if you have any of the following concerns:
- Loss of fullness and definition in the cheekbones
- Hollowing in the midface
- Skin laxity that is causing jowls to form along your jawline
We will assess your situation personally to determine whether a facelift is a right option for you.
About the Surgery and Recovery
We perform facelifts under local or general anesthesia, and they are done on an outpatient basis. Incisions are placed around the ear in the natural creases of the skin and inside the hairline to minimize visible scarring afterward. The surgeons use these incisions to reposition and tighten the underlying facial structure before smoothing the skin back over the face and trimming away the excess. This step ensures a natural outcome of your facelift, rather than the windblown effect of facelifts past.
Recovery from a facelift takes about two weeks. During this time, you can expect to have some bruising and swelling around the incisions, but this will subside in the days and weeks following surgery. Your results will last anywhere from five to 10 years, depending on how well you care for your skin after your procedure.
Neck Lift
While facelift benefits typically stop at the jawline, you can extend your anti-aging results with a neck lift. This procedure focuses on the area from the jaw to the chest, smoothing away horizontal banding and eliminating the dreaded double chin and turkey neck. This surgery will create a more youthful contour by getting rid of loose skin and tightening up the underlying muscle that leads to the banding effect.
Benefits of a Neck Lift
A neck lift is a right choice if you have any or all of these issues:
- Loose skin that has created a “turkey neck” appearance
- Formation of submental fat under the jawline that creates a double chin
- Horizontal banding around the neck
We will analyze your face and neck and discuss your current state of health to decide if a neck lift will give you the results you want and expect.
About the Procedure and Recovery
A neck lift is performed on an outpatient basis using local or general anesthesia. Incisions are usually restricted to underneath the chin or within the lower hairline to minimize noticeable scarring. Through the incision, we will remove excess, loose skin, while tightening the neck muscle to create a smoother, firmer look.
Recovery from a neck lift is generally about one to two weeks. Like the other procedures, the results will be long-lasting. You can extend your results somewhat by using sun protection and medical-grade skin care to replenish nutrients and hydration to the delicate skin in this area.
You can have any of these procedures alone or choose a combination to address all of your aging concerns at one time. At the Cheng Plastic Surgery, we strive to customize your solution to your precise needs, giving you just the results you want. To learn more about any of these procedures, contact our office today at 408-255-3223.