14 Mar Signs of a Great Facelift
New Beauty reached out to plastic surgery experts to find out what the signs of a great facelift are—but at Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center, we know the real sign of a great facelift is that you can’t tell anything was “done” at all. Of course, a full facelift can help you look 10+ years younger, so you can count on phenomenal results when working with leading experts. Many people are still wary of facelifts after seeing how their parents or grandparents looked after undergoing these surgeries in the 80s and 90s. During this era, it was mostly the skin that was addressed (and severely stretched), which is what led to that windblown look. Today, good facelifts also address underlying tissue while re-draping the skin for an organic outcome.
So, how else can you tell a facelift was done well? According to the New Beauty list, a deformity-free neck is a must (and we couldn’t agree more!). A full facelift is actually a surgery for the lower half of the face and the neck. Few people are good candidates for “just” a necklift, but it does happen. Keep an eye on a surgeon’s before and after gallery and pay close attention to the neck. “Cobra neck deformity” can occur if a facelift/necklift is not done correctly.
Going All Natural
Another must-have according to researchers is “normal looking ears.” Since the ears are one of the best places to hide the tiny incisions of a facelift, they can become collateral damage in the wrong hands. You don’t want to see any unnatural changes to the shape of ear cartilage, and that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re working with a leading facial plastic surgeon. There’s something known as “pixie ear deformity” that can change the earlobe in a negative way, and a great surgeon can avoid that.
Of course, you’re going to look younger if you go with a full facelift. However, that’s going to require more than just skin tightening. A great facelift is going to youth-ify the face and ensure it also looks full in a good way (since hollowness is also a sign of aging). Skin should also look healthy after a facelift. In some cases, this might require a combination of surgery and non-surgical treatments, such as laser skin rejuvenation or dermal fillers to achieve optimal results.
Just Like You (But Younger)
Again, there’s much more to a facelift (and a mini lift) than skin tightening. Your surgeon should be making sure the angle of the lift is symmetrical. If you have an unnatural angle or an asymmetrical one, it’s going to lead to looking like you have had obvious work done. The human face is naturally asymmetrical, and while total symmetry might not be the goal, there’s a kind of odd-looking angle that can occur with a subpar facelift.
After healing, you should also have a natural-looking smile. Ultimately, your smile should stay about the same. A facelift is designed to improve your face—not your smile (even though your smile is a big part of your face!). You should still be able to have the same control over the smiling muscles, so that shouldn’t change.
Beautiful Facelift Results
Since once of the goals of a facelift is a youthful jawline and neckline, that’s going to require paying close attention to the little details that reveal your age. This includes the platysmal bands, which are formed by two muscles that you can see vertically on both sides of the neck. The appearance of these bands becomes more pronounced with age, but a successful facelift will minimize their appearance. They may not go away entirely (after all, the muscles are still there), but there should be a marked improvement.
Finally, a facelift you’ll love isn’t going to have any visible scars. This requires an artful touch. Most patients will have their scars hidden in the crevices of their ears, but some patients may need to have incisions tucked well into the hairline. Both will lead to a “ponytail facelift” that will ensure you can pull back your hair with confidence.
Are you ready to see what a full facelift or mini lift can do for you? Connect with Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center to schedule your consultation by calling the office or simply complete the online contact form for the quickest response.