The Many Facetsof a Facelift

Facelifts have been around for decades, but medical innovations and technology mean that today, we have many types of facelifts available. Today’s facelifts range from non-surgical facelifts to minimally invasive, to full surgical options. Your priorities in terms of facelift scars, recovery time, and facelift results will help guide the decision for which type of facelift may be best.

As we age, there are inevitable changes to our faces. And while we can help keep a youthful appearance by eating well and taking care of our skin, there is no way to stop some of the telltale signs of aging like sagging skin, wrinkles, or a loss of definition in the face. The good news is that even though we cannot prevent these visible effects of aging, we can reverse them and give a more youthful, firm, bright look to the face.

The many types of facelifts available allow a wide variety of people to find a treatment that will help them achieve the look they want. Today’s technology, and Dr. Torkian’s expertise, also allow us to perform these procedures so that facelift incisions are smaller, facelift scars are less noticeable, and facelift scar healing is faster. Whether you’re looking for a small touch up on trouble spots, or a more extensive correction of your issues, Dr. Torkian can teach you about the best option for your goals. Here are some of the types of facelifts available:

Non-surgical facelift

For many years, there was no such thing as a non-surgical facelift. Everyone who wanted a facelift got offered one option: a complete tightening of the skin of the face. This approach was not ideal in many ways. Today, we have an extensive range of options, and at the least-invasive end of the spectrum is the non-surgical facelift. People who choose this option are looking for a refreshed look but are not ready to undergo surgery, or do not need the more significant results of a surgical procedure.

A non-surgical facelift has no facelift scars, and no facelift incisions. This procedure is a combination of Ultherapy, BOTOX, and facial fillers. Dr. Torkian customizes a treatment for each patient that reduces wrinkles, crows’ feet, smile lines and also adds volume to select areas like cheeks and lips. Learn more about surgical vs non-surgical facelift and see which one is right for you.

Stem cell facelift

Stem cell facelifts are another type of non-surgical facelift. In this procedure, fat with stem cells is taken from another part of your body like the abdomen or thighs. This fat is processed and then injected into certain parts of your face. There is no cutting or scarring, because the fat is only placed with injections. A stem cell facelift allows you to improve the appearance of hollow or sunken parts of your face, while using no foreign materials. The fat and stem cells we inject, comes from your own body so there is not a risk of allergic reaction.

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Thread lift

A thread facelift is also sometimes called a feather facelift. The ‘thread’ in this procedure has tiny hooks on it, and these hooks help to give support to sagging skin. It is a less invasive procedure than a full facelift surgery, and the thread remains in place to keep your skin looking lifted. Most patients having a thread lift are able to remain awake, so that although they are numb and do not feel pain, they can see the results as the procedure is being performed. A facelift performed with the traditional thread technique is not a common option today because we have other minimally invasive ways we can give you even better results. There are several newer types of thread lifts available today, and are part of a range of options that may be good choices for people who want to avoid facelift scars or any facelift recovery time.

Focus on one region of the face

There are several types of facelifts that are specific to improving one area of the face. Those facelifts include:

Lower facelift with neck lift

Usually, patients of upper eyelid surgery only need to use a mild sedative and a local anaesthetic. The surgeon will make small incisions on the crease of your upper eyelid, around 1 cm above your lash line. Then, your skin will be separated from your underlying tissue, and the fatty tissues are repositioned and/or removed, while the muscles are tightened. Before stitching everything back together, your skin will be pulled and stretched to make sure the entire end result is wrinkle and line-free and as smooth as possible.

Mid facelift or cheek lift

Patients who choose to go with lower eyelid surgery are usually given general anaesthetic. The same goes for a combination of lower and upper eyelid surgery. In lower eyelid surgery, small incisions are made along your lower lash lines. Then, all the excess fat (which forms the eyebags) are removed by the surgeon, and your surrounding skin is stretched to tighten it and make sure the end result is as smooth as possible, making you look youthful and young like never before.

Upper facelift

An upper facelift is best for people who feel they want an improvement to their forehead, brow, and upper eye area. This facelift focuses on improving deep forehead wrinkles and sagging brow areas. It’s important to keep in mind that an upper facelift – like any facelift – is not designed to target fine lines or skin texture issues. Those concerns can be addressed with other treatments we offer, and can be combined into an enhancement plan that includes an upper facelift.

Complete facelift

The most comprehensive facelift is a complete facelift which is a combination of an upper, mid, and lower facelift. This procedure is best for people with notable aging throughout their face, who are interested in the substantial results. A combination facelift including all areas of the face generally brings substantial improvements and a more youthful appearance, so people sometimes worry the work will look unnatural. However, Dr. Torkian is an expert at performing these enhancements in a way that looks natural. Although our patients look and feel younger and refreshed, they do not look like they’ve had “work done”. The mark of an excellent facelift is not only the positive results, but also the fact that people cannot tell you’ve had a facelift.

Endoscopic facelift

An endoscopic facelift is a minimally invasive facelift that can be done through several small incisions. We are able to hide these incisions so that facelift scars will not be a concern. The endoscopic facelift involves the surgeon using a tiny camera and tiny tools that are inserted through these small incisions. One disadvantage of the endoscopic facelift technique is it can only be used on certain areas of the face. If you want a neck lift included in your facelift, for example, the endoscopic technique will likely not be the right fit.

Short scar facelift

A short scar facelift – or short scar lift – involves an emphasis on creating a smaller facelift incision that leaves less of a scar. In general, facelift scars are around the ear or hair line area, and Dr. Torkian has significant surgical skills which allow him to make these scars as hidden as possible. If having a shorter scar is a priority for you, ask about the short scar lift technique, and if it is possible with the goals you have for enhancements to your appearance.

SMAS lift

SMAS stands for Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System – and it relates to the system of muscles in your face that are often a cause of visible signs of aging. With time, gravity can cause these muscles to droop, especially since muscles are heavier than skin. The SMAS facelift addresses both the top layers of skin, as well as muscle deeper in your face. By addressing issues with the muscles and the skin, this allows for significant results with a natural appearance. The muscles in the face can be tightened in multiple directions during an SMAS facelift, allowing us to use a combination of art and science to customize a facelift that is right for your facial structure and your goals.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is generally considered the most comprehensive and long lasting type of facelift. This facelift involves the layer of muscles under your facial skin. These muscles are responsible for much of the drooping or sagging you may experience in your face as you age. We are able to release parts of the muscle system from their attachments, and then reposition the muscles. This gives a lifted, smooth, tightened base for the facial skin to lie on. With this procedure, you are not just getting tightening of the skin in your face, but of the foundation of your face as well. This is why a deep plane facelift often has such long-lasting results.

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If you have signs of aging in your face, and are interested in learning more about a wide range of facelift options, please contact us. We have completely non-surgical options with almost no recovery time and no facelift scars, and the most advanced surgical options that involve restructuring the facial muscles as well as the skin. We’re happy to help you understand our treatments from the facelift recovery process to types of facelift scars and facelift incisions – and most importantly – the results you can expect to see from Dr. Torkian’s work, performing arguably the best facelift Los Angeles has to offer. Contact our rhinoplasty and facial plastic surgeon today.