Facial ageing can happen at any age, as young as 30. Essentially it’s the result of gravity-induced descent of facial tissue as a result of collagen depletion. The result is wrinkling through to deep folds in the skin. The areas that suffer from these signs are the cheek folds, the jowl area and the lines from the corner of the mouth.
Thankfully, modern day plastic surgery can address even the most minor signs of ageing, often occurring in women in their 30’s through to more extensive facial surgery for older women.
The different types of surgery may range from barely noticeable incisions in the temple hairline (with no visible scars), to S-lift or MACS lift, which are usually appropriate for women in their 30s and 40s. Going further to correct more extensive tissue drooping, and in particular, to correct loose neck skin, it may be necessary to extend the incisions behind the ear. Any incisions can be easily hidden with hair and make up.
There are so many nuances to facelifting procedures that it is possible to design an individual treatment to suit any individual and any facial concern. I have had patients as young as 33 interested in facelift surgery however young women are not suitable for the traditional facelift. They may however be good candidates for midface or mini-facelift that can be performed through minimal incisions and that have much shorter downtime. At the other end of the spectrum, severe facial ageing can be reversed by a more traditional ‘face lift’, often combined with other rejuvenation procedures including eyelid surgery, browlift and facial implants.
The ultimate effect is a more youthful configuration, where the cheek folds are smoothed out, the jowls lifted and ultimately a smooth jaw line is achieved and a taught neck achieved. It’s not a matter of ‘how young is too young’- each case is assessed and treated individually. In some cases, surgery is not the answer.
More and more I am treating men, who make up up to 20% of my patients. The average age of men and women who are having face lifts in my practice is 51.
Any of the following conditions may make you a good candidate for facelift surgery. They include; deep lines or folds running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth, jowls or loss of well-defined jawline, deep wrinkles in cheeks and sagging of the cheekbones and loose skin and wrinkles, vertical folds and excess fatty tissue in the neck. Recovery will vary amongst patients, but expect several weeks before the puffiness, bruising and scars are reduced. For the minifacelift procedures, around 1 week may be sufficient. Most people I talk to are concerned about looking “Pulled” or “tight”.
I can assure you that facial surgery in 2012 does not produce the sort of results that Jocelyn Wildenstein has become infamous for. You may be surprised to find that most people won’t even notice that you’ve had facial surgery except to say: “gee, you look good!”
Facelift fees start from $8,000 for the minifacelift to around $18,000 for a full rejuvenating procedure involving eyelid correction and browlift.
The best way to know if a facelift is right for you is to consult with a Plastic Surgeon. To discuss your suitability with Dr. Kohout, call 1300 551 151 or email info@drmarkkohout.com.au. More info can be found at www.drmarkkohout.com.au.
