Union Square, San Francisco
(415) 780-1515

Online consultations click here

  • Face Lift The best solution to wrinkles depends greatly on where they are located, the severity of the wrinkles, and if there is skin laxity or sagging that accompanies the wrinkles.

    It is possible to temporarily treat fine lines with topical skin care creams.  These add moisture to the skin and create a ‘plumping’ effect which reduces the appearance of fine lines.

    Botox and Dysport are very effective when treating wrinkles on the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes.  Fillers such as Juvederm can work well to eliminate wrinkles that appear under the eyes and for the small lines around the mouth (whisper lines).   Your surgeon may even use a variety of fillers or techniques, depending upon your particular situation.

    For the deeper lines that can appear from the nose to the mouth, or the mouth to the chin, long lasting or permanent fillers such as Radiesse or Artefill can be great options.

    There are also surgical options like Brow lift, Eyelid Surgery, and Face lifts that are very effective in ridding someone of the appearance of wrinkles.  These options will typically be the most permanent solutions you can choose.

    As you can see there are a multitude of options available depending on what you are experiencing.  The best course of action is to schedule a consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and discuss your options based on your unique situation.

    And don’t forget that an ounce of prevention goes a long way.  Avoid known wrinkle triggers such as smoking and too much sun and that will keep your skin looking smooth and youthful for a much longer time.

  • Mid-Face Lift A Mid Face Lift, also called a Partial Face Lift or “Cheek Lift,” focuses on improving the cheeks when the neck is not an issue. The incision is usually mainly in front of the ears and well hidden within the folds in that area.  It does not address the lower two thirds of the face like a traditional Face Lift will. There are of course other techniques used, and every surgeon will have their own preferences on preferred techniques.

    Many people mistake this procedure as an alternative to a traditional Face Lift, but it isn’t.  A Mid Face Lift is newer procedure meant to decrease hollowness and make the Mid Face and lower eyelid areas have a more pleasing appearance.  They will typically not address the neck and may do little for the nasolabial folds, which is what a regular Face Lift will address.

    It is important to choose a very experience Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for a procedure such as this, as the lower eyelid area is very delicate.  Extreme care must be exercised when operating in this area, and some say it is one of the more challenging areas to perform surgery on.

  • Facelift These procedures differ in respect to the result that they achieve. A Face Lift targets jowling, sagging skin and muscle laxity of the lower part of the face and neck, and restores a firm and youthful appearance.  Not only are you tightening the skin, you are also tightening the fat and muscle below it.  Given that, recovery time can take longer than with a Mini or Mid Face Lift.

    The Mini Face Lift, sometimes called a Partial Face Lift, utilizes shorter incisions and works mostly in the cheek area. It’s important to note that surgeons use the term Mini Face Lift very liberally and the procedure can range from being a regular Mid Face Lift to being just a small incision and a few tightening stitches. This procedure usually works best on people in their 30’s or 40’s with very early aging signs.

    A Mid Face Lift works to pull up your cheek so that your nasolabial folds are improved and your cheek is lifted. This can improve the way your lower eyelids appear in relation to your cheek, and also may help out with the dark circles and bags under the eye some people suffer from.

    There are many variations on the Face Lift procedures, so the best practice is to talk to your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and have he or she help you to decide on the best procedure that is right for you.

  • Facelift The number of stitches required for a facelift is largely unimportant. More important is having a discussion with your surgeon to discuss where the incision areas will be and what you can expect in terms of healing and long term results. For instance do you use sutures or staples that will need to be removed, and what is the estimated removal time, or do you use stitches that dissolve on their own? As to the actual number, most doctors will just tell you as many as it takes to do the job properly, with minimal scarring.

    Keep in mind, incisions for facelifts generally hide along the hairline or behind the ears and do not show anyway. I also use mostly absorbable stitches which dissolve on their own so my patients do not need to have stitches removed during their healing process. This increases your overall comfort.

  • One-Hour Facelift I am not a proponent of the “quick lift” or “thread lift” facelift methods for my patients. Usually there is simply more that needs to be done than can be rushed through in an hour, and if your surgeon doesn’t do the full procedure, then you certainly don’t get the full result. Also the long terms results are not as beneficial as the modern day, or SMAS  facelift.

    Patients deserve the very best for themselves, and making the decision to undergo a surgical procedure is not an easy one. Once a patient has decided to pursue a procedure, it is important to make sure you are getting the most you can in the way of long term and natural looking results, as well as a board certified surgeon who is highly experienced in the facelift procedure. When looked at this way, the “shortcut” of doing something like a one hour facelift is not recommended.

  • Facelift Alternative A facelift, like any decision to have surgery, is a big decision. But it can be very beneficial a procedure to restore the appearance of youth to your face, and tighten skin and underlying fatty tissue and muscles beneath the neck and face.  Typically, a face lift is a good option when you have sagging or excess skin along the jaw line and lower face.  A facelift can help to rejuvenate these areas and turn back the clock.

    But if you don’t wish to have surgery, there are at least some alternatives that can help.  If you are seeking a facelift simply to alleviate lines around the mouth, fill hollows, and create fullness where there is currently excess skin, filler options may work well for you.

    One popular filler is Juvederm, and there are also fillers like Restylane, Perlane, Sculptra, ArteFill and others.  Another option is a combination of Botox and a facial filler.  Obviously the type of filler you choose will depend on your unique issues, as each filler is not a fix all for everything.  It’s also important for you to take care of the A,B,C’s of proper skin care.  That includes hydration, sunscreen, proper eating and exercise, and hygiene as well.

  • Facelift Looking in a mirror one day and saying to oneself, “My face looks so much older than I feel. How can I do something about it?” triggers a process of self analysis, investigation of (many) surgical and non-surgical options, and several difficult decisions. Not the least of these is deciding how best to spend your resources to best effect. It’s important to determine which of your facial features currently draw the most attention to your face and how those features could be improved.

    Ask yourself:

    • Were your eyes once your most attractive feature but now they appear tired or drawn?
    • Were your cheeks once firm and rosy but now sag and appear hollow?
    • When once your smile lifted at the corners, does it now struggle against folds of skin at each side of your mouth?
    • Does your once smooth and defined jawline appear soft and droopy?

    Pull out the family albums and examine photographs of your face over the past ten years (or more) to help you decide what you can gracefully accept in the aging process and what bothers you the most.

    Set Goals and Find a Partner
    Whether you decide it’s your facial lines and wrinkles, forehead and brow, eyes, nose, jaw or chin, set some priorities or goals before you schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.That will enable you to target your questions and make the best use of the information your surgeon will give you.Take your photographs with you.

    Be prepared to learn about an amazing array of surgical and non-surgical procedures and products to choose from.Make your surgeon your partner in deciding what would best achieve your objectives.