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Combining Other Plastic Surgeries with a Facelift

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As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who has been specializing primarily in facial rejuvenation for over twenty years, I have developed both a comprehensive understanding of the aging process and a keen eye for how to address each patient’s unique concerns. Thanks to genetics, lifestyle habits, and other factors, everyone ages in their own way, which means that despite the common misconception, facelifts aren’t a one-size-fits-all way to turn back the clock. For many patients, getting the best results means combining either a face lift or my minimally invasive Band Aid Mini Facelift with other procedures, like eyelid surgery, facial liposuction, or a brow lift. In the case of my Band Aid Facelift, even a combination of surgeries may be able to be performed in-office using gentle numbing. My video below offers a more detailed explanation of these options.

The technique of performing multiple plastic surgeries in one operation is sometimes misunderstood as being less safe. But the truth is that as long as you’re under the care of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, you’ve completed all of the necessary health screenings and other pre-surgical preparations, and you’re committed to your post-surgical care, these procedures can be an effective and manageable way to maximize your cosmetic surgery results. To discuss how I can help you be your most confident and beautiful self, schedule a pre-surgical consultation. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and helpful information, follow me, Dr. John L. L.eRoy, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Am I Ready for a Facelift?

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Aging happens to all of us. It may progress more slowly in some than in others thanks to genetic and environmental factors, but it catches up with all of us eventually. If you’re someone who wants to maintain a more youthful and energetic look, you may have already decided that you want to get a facelift when the time comes—but how do you know when it’s time? As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation (especially the face lift and the minimally invasive Band Aid Mini Facelift I developed), I’ve compiled a few tips to help you decide if you’re ready for a facelift.

  • Am I Ready for a FaceliftWhat signs of aging do you have? Aging typically starts with fine lines and wrinkles, but it progresses into lax facial skin, a loss of volume in the face, and other “symptoms.” The occasional wrinkle or crease is usually best addressed with non-surgical “spot treatments” like cosmetic facial injections (think Botox®, Dysport®, or Restylane®) or laser procedures such as my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing. But it’s probably time for a facelift if you’re noticing sagging skin (like jowls) or a more gaunt-looking facial structure, because both of these issues are reduced with a face lift or a Band Aid Facelift.
  • What area of your face are you most concerned about? A facelift really focuses on the lower area of the face—the cheeks through the jawline and underside of the chin. If it’s primarily your forehead, eyes, or neck that makes you uncomfortable, you may be a better candidate for a brow lift, eyelid surgery, or neck lift (or their minimally invasive Band Aid counterparts). Keep in mind that each of these surgeries can often be combined with a facelift or Band Aid Mini Facelift too, for those who want to address several areas of the face at once.
  • How long do you want your results to last? Technically, there are no “permanent” solutions to aging, because there is no way to stop the aging process entirely. But the more extensive of an improvement you reach for, the longer it generally lasts before your new signs of aging have progressed far enough to make you look the way you did pre-surgically. Non-surgical skin treatments typically last several months (for injectables) to a few years (for skin tightening or laser procedures), but a face lift often lasts as long as ten to twelve years, depending on the patient’s unique aging process.
  • How stable is your weight? Although natural aging is the primary cause of facial skin laxity, losing significant amounts of weight can play a role in this as well. In order to achieve results that will last as long as possible, it’s best to reach your ideal, stable weight before surgery.
  • Are you considering a facelift because of your physical aging or because you’ve reached an age when many people get face lifts? Every person ages at their own pace, due to heredity, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and more. That’s why there’s no specific age when it’s time for a facelift or a Band Aid Mini Face Lift—one patient may be ready for the surgery at 45 while another doesn’t find it necessary until 60.
  • Are you prepared for a recovery period? Though it may be cosmetic, a face lift is still a surgery, so make sure you can accept some downtime in order to give your body the chance to heal. The recovery time varies based on the extensiveness of your surgery as well as your body’s unique healing process, but if you want to minimize your downtime, ask me whether you may be a candidate for my minimally invasive Band Aid Face Lift instead.
  • Do you have realistic expectations for your results? Facelifts can make a powerful difference in your appearance, but it’s important to recognize their limitations, too. They won’t erase every fine line and wrinkle you have (in fact, if they did, the results would look unnatural and less attractive), and they won’t take you from looking 60 to looking 20. Review some facelift before and after pictures to get an idea of what the results typically look like.

At the end of the day, the decision to have a face lift or mini face lift is about you feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin. So ask yourself if this is the case for you, but be sure to also seek the expert advice of a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation. If you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and the latest cosmetic surgery news, follow John L. LeRoy, MD, FACS on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Should I Choose a Neck Lift or Band Aid Liposuction

Should I Choose a Neck Lift or Band Aid Liposuction?

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Every patient is understandably nervous before plastic surgery. It is, after all, a medical surgery, and they’re anxious to see if they’ll be happy with their results. But in fact, most of what’s necessary to achieve the best and safest possible results is done before you step foot into an operating room (or an in-office procedure room, in the case of minimally invasive procedures like my Band Aid Facelift). One such precaution is ensuring that you’re truly receiving the ideal procedure for your needs, and sometimes the answer is not as obvious as you might expect—this is why honest communication is so important during your consultation. Take the neck for example – many patients who want a more shapely neck and chin area aren’t sure whether they should be looking for liposuction or a neck lift, so let’s take a closer look.

Should I Choose a Neck Lift or Band Aid LiposuctionThere are a number of different reasons the underside of your chin or your neck may look larger or less toned than you would like it to: excess fat, skin laxity, and loose muscles. This is what determines what procedure will give you the results you want.

If you have excess fat under the chin but have significant skin elasticity (which is most often the case for younger patients as well as those whose skin has simply aged slowly), your best bet will more than likely be Band Aid Liposuction. I developed this procedure to be a minimally invasive version of liposuction, so it can be performed in-office with gentle numbing, leading to a milder and much shorter recovery period. In fact, many patients are back to work or their other daily activities in 1-3 days.

For patients whose neck muscles have become lax, a neck lift can produce the most successful result. In addition to using sutures to tighten and revitalize the neck muscles, this surgery also involves re-firming the skin throughout the neck and jowl area to minimize the wrinkles and sagging which happen with age.

However, it’s important to determine whether it’s actually your neck that you want to rejuvenate or if your true focus is on the jowls. In this case, the procedure best suited to your needs is likely my Band Aid Mini Facelift. Much like Band Aid Liposuction, this surgery is performed in-office with gentle numbing for minimized healing time, and it can target the specific facial area where you want to see improvement by reducing excess skin and lifting the underlying facial tissue for a more youthful contour.

But what if you find that you’re bothered by more than one of these aesthetic issues? This is the case for many of my plastic surgery patients, and fortunately, each of your concerns can often be addressed in one procedure by combining Band Aid Liposuction with your neck lift or Band Aid Mini Face Lift.

To the average eye, it can be difficult to determine the specific culprit behind your cosmetic frustrations. While educating yourself about the options is a great first step, don’t underestimate the importance of a consultation and honest communication with a board-certified plastic surgeon. After specializing in cosmetic surgery for the facial area for over twenty years, I’ve developed the expertise to design the ideal solution for each patient’s needs. To get started, contact our office to schedule your appointment. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and helpful information, follow Dr. John L. LeRoy on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

About John L. LeRoy, M.D., F.A.C.S.:  Dr. John LeRoy is an Atlanta-based plastic surgeon devoted to providing exceptional aesthetic care for over 20 years. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. LeRoy is best known for his Band Aid procedures: the innovative line of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures he has developed and perfected since 1997, including his Band Aid Facelift, which he has performed for over 5,000 patients. He studied cosmetic surgery at the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in New York and is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons.

What You Need to Know About Dysport® and Botox®

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There’s nothing quite like looking in the mirror one day and seeing your first wrinkles, especially because it often happens earlier than you expect. In many cases, the first signs of aging appear around the eyes as crow’s feet, frown lines, or forehead creases, and fortunately, there is a highly successful and convenient treatment available: Dysport® and Botox®, both of which have been FDA-approved as safe and effective. These wrinkle reduction injections are so popular among men and women in their 20s through 70s that Botox® has become a household name, and more and more people are finding out about Dysport®, which is a highly similar formula with a different brand name. We’ve compiled some helpful facts to give you a crash course in these terrific injections you may want to add to your cosmetic roster.

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As popular and minimally invasive as Botox® and Dysport® are, it’s important to remember that they require a true medical procedure which can have serious complications if done incorrectly, so you should only trust your health to a qualified medical professional—in this case, a board-certified plastic surgeon. To learn whether you’re a candidate for Dysport® or Botox® injections, schedule a consultation with me. Or, for more helpful plastic surgery tips, follow me, Dr. John L. LeRoy, on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

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