Not so long ago, invasive plastic surgery was required if you wanted to take years off the appearance of your face. With today’s technology, many of the youth-enhancing results you seek can be accomplished in the time it takes to sit down for a sandwich with a “lunchtime lift”.
The Lunchtime “Facelift”
Traditional facelift surgery involves making an incision typically at the hairline, around the ear and into the lower scalp. There may also be a second incision under the chin to allow access to the neck. For a more limited procedure, the length and locations of the incisions may be adjusted. As with any surgery that uses general anesthesia, facelift surgery carries risks.
By contrast, the so-called “lunchtime lift” requires no general anesthesia. It involves a series of small procedures that may include laser, dermal filler or Botox injections or laser skin resurfacing. This procedure is particularly effective for the early signs of aging that show up in your mid-thirties and forties. It can be performed with local anesthesia with or without oral medication. Another option is using radio frequency energy. Small electrodes that go into the skin provide energy below the skin surface that allows for neo-collagenisis. The skin is pink for a few hours and there is some swelling. The results are impressive.
For deep wrinkle lines, extra skin and disfigurement, traditional facelift surgery is still recommended. The results you get from the lunchtime facelift will include tighter skin and a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Although there may be some redness and swelling, recovery time is minimal compared to traditional facelifts.
Forehead Furrow
Get rid of those annoying crow’s feet and the forehead furrow. How does one reduce the unwanted “11’s” between the eyebrows? This procedure uses injections of Botox or similar agents to paralyze some of your forehead and peri-orbital muscles. As a result, the lines you have are less noticeable and new ones are less likely to form. Down time is nonexistent other than some occasional bruising, with results appearing in a few days. Typically, a touch-up injection is desired in a few months.
Ditch the Under-Eye Bags and Dark Circles
The dark circles in the lower eyelid region can be due to the “shadow” created by the fat in the lower eyelid. In this procedure, a filler made from a naturally occurring agent called hyaluronic acid is injected into the affected area. It stimulates an additional production of collagen, the protein fibers that help your skin to remain elastic and strong. By elevating the skin, the dark circle, shadow is improved. After some minor swelling and bruising that lasts a few days, the dark circle-eliminating results can be visible for up to nine months.
Erase Smile and Marionette Lines
Hyaluronic fillers are injected near your cheekbones or temples or along the jawline. This procedure lifts and tightens your entire face, particularly the lines around your nose and mouth. Redness and bruising will only last a few days, with a touch-up due in about nine months.
Minimize Age Spots
If you want to say goodbye to your age spots, you will only need one or two laser treatments. For palpable results without the laser, you can choose a combination of a chemical peel and microdermabrasion. This duo will slough off dead skin cells by buffing and smoothing skin with tiny crystals and through the application of a gentle chemical treatment.
Another option is to have intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments. This technology uses light energy to target undesirable brown spots and redness due to unwanted blood vessels. The recovery time is very short with this IPL technology as compared to laser treatments.
Peels often need to be performed several times over a number of weeks while microdermabrasion often only needs to occur once. Recovery time varies from virtually none to a week or two if the peel is extremely strong.
Obtaining the youthful, line-free look you want has never been faster or easier. What’s more, the cost may be lower than you think. Dr. Kulick and his staff would be happy to answer all of your questions to help you get exactly the look you want.
Dr. Michael Kulick, MD is a leading board certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco, California. During an initial consultation, he’ll examine your individual anatomy, discuss all your options, and create a unique treatment plan along with any other necessary procedures. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of plastic surgery and are looking for a qualified cosmetic surgeon, use this online form to request a consultation with Dr. Kulick or call 415-956-2550.
