Facelift
The facelift procedure both improves wrinkling caused by loose skin, and also lifts and tightens the face and neck tissues, which tend to sag increasingly with advancing years.
As medical advances, better nutrition, and exercise increase the life span, many aging women and men find that they look older than they feel. The popularity of the facelift stems from its ability to turn back the clock on jowls and wrinkles.
The amount of improvement from surgery depends on the degree of wrinkling. If wrinkling is significant, results may be dramatic. If sagging is just starting and the operation is performed to keep the patient looking young, the improvement may be more subtle, causing friends to remark that the patient "just looks better".
A commonly asked question is: "how long will my facelift last?" The answer is that there will always be some positive effect: the patient should always look better than he or she would have at any given age. The facelift sets the clock back, but the clock continues to run. Another great benefit of the facelift - one that often justifies it being done as early as the patient's 40s as part of a preventive maintenance program is that the patient can maintain a youthful appearance for the rest of his or her life, simply by having periodic "tuck-ups" every few years. These relatively minor procedures are usually followed by very little swelling and discoloration, and downtime.
The facelift operation is usually performed under sedation (not general anesthesia!) in our office Operating room. Patients usually go home on the same day with our nurse who has been extensively trained in taking care of Dr. Godin's patients. It is a great comfort for the patient to have an experienced expert on hand to maintain comfort during the initial recovery.
In some people, fat gradually develops below the chin to make a "double-chin." The mound of fat obliterates the ideal chin-neck line and contributes to the appearance of aging. Other people have a "turkey-gobbler" deformity, consisting of several vertical bands which run from the chin to the base of the neck. Both problems can be addressed during the facelift procedure.
The patient is able to wear makeup one week after the procedure and by two weeks is usually presentable enough to go to any occasion. Sutures are removed during the first week after surgery. In a short time, the scars, most of which are hidden in the hair and behind the ears, become inconspicuous except upon close scrutiny.
The Micro-Mini Lift™
Through years of work, I have developed a modification of the facelift, which I call the Micro-Mini Lift™. This is most appropriate for patients with a small amount of excess skin in the jaw line and/or minor looseness of the neck. The incisions are small and recovery time is usually a week or less. I perform this lift mainly for patients in their forties and early fifties who are beginning to see some loosening of the tissues but are not ready for a larger lift. I believe it is crucial to do the right procedure at the right time for my patients and so the Micro-Mini Lift™ is a great addition to my face and neck lift line up.
A Conversation with Dr. Michael Godin
Q: What is the Micro-Mini Lift™?
A: A small-incision procedure to firm the jawline and improve drooping in the neck.
Q: Who can benefit from it?
A: Patients with early jowling and looseness in the neck. Generally, they are in their 40's or early 50's.
Q: Why is it called the Micro-Mini Lift™?
A: Because the incisions are smaller than a standard facelift or even a facial or neck tuck-up, it is a mini-lift. "Micro" describes the surgeon's mindset – an almost microscopic attention to detail.
Q: Can the Micro-Mini Lift™ be customized?
A: Yes, it is individualized in every case. For example, the deeper layer (SMAS) may simply be tightened or partially removed and repositioned, depending on tissue looseness and thickness.
Q: If I have a Micro-Mini Lift™ now, can I have a more traditional lift when I'm older?
A: Yes, this procedure complements having a more extensive lift later in life. In fact, by creating a firm layer of healing, it can be used to enhance future results.
