Can a Facelift Look Natural?

One of the biggest hang-ups that many people have about facelift surgery is that they worry the results will not look natural. This is certainly an understandable fear. It wouldn't take long on the internet to find lists and images of "plastic surgery fails." While there is no denying that some undesirable and unnatural results have come from plastic surgery procedures, those "fails" are the exception, and often the result of inexperienced surgeons who didn't pay attention to the underlying causes of the facial aging. When performed correctly by the hands of a skilled surgeon, facelift results can be some of the most natural looking of any cosmetic procedure and can leave you with a rejuvenated and more youthful facial appearance.

Your skin produces less collagen each year as you age.

To ensure that the results you achieve match the level that you imagine, specific techniques must be followed. When they are, you will not only notice the improvement in your skin's tautness and overall quality, but you will look as though you're rested and refreshed. Those around you will notice your youthful glow but not be able to pinpoint how you managed to get there.

To Achieve Natural Results, It's Vital to . . .

Lift the Muscular Layer

Your skin produces less collagen each year as you age. And once you include external factors such as sun damage, smoking, poor diet, weather, and abrasive skin cleansers, collagen is lost much faster. Collagen is the protein in your tissues that is responsible for your skin's strength and structure, and without it, the skin becomes more loose and lax each day. This leads to an aged and tired appearance, and so it makes sense that the skin must be lifted and tightened to restore youthfulness. In a nutshell, this is a facelift; however, if your surgeon only focused on the loose skin, you would undoubtedly end up with lackluster results. The underlying facial muscles loosen and lower just as skin does, and tightening the skin over muscles that have drooped down from their proper location will not provide natural youthfulness. Instead, you will look as though something was not performed correctly. To ensure that this doesn't happen, the underlying facial muscles must be tightened and lifted in addition to the skin. This way they will return to their natural placement and elevation, and the redraped skin will lay precisely where it should.

Not Overstretch the Skin

While a facelift pulls the skin on the mid and lower face tight, it's essential not to go too far. Overcorrection in cosmetic surgery is far more noticeable and undesirable than undercorrection. Even the healthiest and most youthful facial skin has some give to it. Youthful skin moves with your facial expressions, it's supple and soft, and it covers the underlying facial fat and muscle without putting pressure on it. Overstretched skin will not follow these same rules, and so, this is another mistake that can negatively affect your results.

Find the Right Doctor for You

Before you can achieve a natural-looking facelift, you must first choose an experienced and skilled surgeon who will know better than to make the above mistakes. You should find a surgeon you not only feel comfortable with but one who has the record to prove they are there to help you on your facelift journey. Dr. Baker is a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon with years of experience performing natural facelifts in the safety of a fully accredited hospital-based outpatient surgical center.

To learn more about how to get started with your facelift process, contact. Dr. Baker by calling (305) 381-8837 to set up a consultation.