Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery - Q&A » Facelift Surgery http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:01:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Can you explain how the threadlift works? Are actual threads used to lift the face? http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/12-13-2011/can-you-explain-how-the-threadlift-works-are-actual-threads-used-to-lift-the-face.html http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/12-13-2011/can-you-explain-how-the-threadlift-works-are-actual-threads-used-to-lift-the-face.html#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:10:49 +0000 admin http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/?p=1272 Question:
Can you explain how the threadlift works? Are actual threads used to lift the face?

Answer:
Threadlifts purport to work by placing barbed suture in to the face and lifting the skin with the thread.  A very good study has been performed to determine the effectiveness of threadlifts. After 3 months in 100% of the patients no result could be seen.  We do not perform threadlifts. There are much more effective minimally invasive procedures.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

]]> http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/12-13-2011/can-you-explain-how-the-threadlift-works-are-actual-threads-used-to-lift-the-face.html/feed 0 Facelifts options depending on the patient’s needs http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-23-2011/facelifts-options-depending-on-the-patients-needs.html http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-23-2011/facelifts-options-depending-on-the-patients-needs.html#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 15:13:01 +0000 admin http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/?p=1024 Question:
What are the different options that you provide for facelifts? I had always thought that there was one type of facelift and now there seem to be other options.

Answer:
We provide a range of facelifts options depending on the patient’s needs and desires.  If a patient does not have excess fat in the neck, does not have platysmal banding and does not have significant neck laxity then we will offer a limited incision approach, which involves incisions around the ear only, is done in the office with oral sedation and local and has minimal recovery. 

For patients with more significant aging we will offer a lower facelift that involves making a small incision under the chin and performing liposuction and a muscle tightening procedure.  Again depending on the degree of aging we will then adjust the amount of dissection we perform on the SMAS to match the patient’s needs.  When the anterior neck is opened it adds a small amount of recovery time, but most patients may return to social activities by 7-10 days. 

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

]]> http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-23-2011/facelifts-options-depending-on-the-patients-needs.html/feed 0 A pixie ear deformity from a previous facelift? http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-05-2011/a-pixie-ear-deformity-from-a-previous-facelift.html http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-05-2011/a-pixie-ear-deformity-from-a-previous-facelift.html#comments Thu, 05 May 2011 22:24:07 +0000 admin http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/?p=1010 Question:
I have a pixie ear and would like to know if and how this can be fixed. Only one ear is affected so could it be made to match my normal ear or would that ear need to be operated on too?

Answer:
I assume that you have a pixie ear deformity from a previous facelift? The term is usually used to describe an earlobe that has been pulled down from a facelift in which the surgeon trimmed too much skin from under the earlobe and the relaxation causes the earlobe to pull down. This can be fixed rather easily by detaching the earlobe from the cheek and advancing the skin to the normal desired height. It can be done in the office under local anesthesia. It does result in a small scar, which usually heals well, under the earlobe.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

]]> http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-05-2011/a-pixie-ear-deformity-from-a-previous-facelift.html/feed 0 What a midface lift is and what it treats? http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-02-2011/what-a-midface-lift-is-and-what-it-treats.html http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-02-2011/what-a-midface-lift-is-and-what-it-treats.html#comments Mon, 02 May 2011 14:15:02 +0000 admin http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/?p=996 Question:
Can you explain what a midface lift is and what it treats?

Answer:
A midface lift is a lift that elevates the cheek region. We performed this lift for years using an endoscopic technique. The results were good, but did not last as long as we would have liked, didn’t provide benefit to the medial tear trough, and caused a fair bit of recovery time. Over the last 6-7 years we have phased out of performing this procedure very often and have become firm believers and educators in the philosophy of facial volume loss as the main contributor to cheek and midfacial aging. Therefore, we aim to restore this region of the face using volume restoration techniques. If a patient is interested in long-lasting correction we recommend fat grafting. For temporary, but still nice results a variety of fillers can be used. More information is available on our site regarding these procedures.

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

]]> http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-02-2011/what-a-midface-lift-is-and-what-it-treats.html/feed 0 Different facelift techniques: the deep plane lift, the S lift, the SMAS lift, etc. http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-01-2011/different-facelift-techniques-the-deep-plane-lift-the-s-lift-the-smas-lift-etc.html http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/05-01-2011/different-facelift-techniques-the-deep-plane-lift-the-s-lift-the-smas-lift-etc.html#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 20:45:43 +0000 admin http://www.buckinghamfacialplastics.com/blog/?p=994 Question:
There seem to be many different facelift techniques: the deep plane lift, the S lift, the SMAS lift, etc. Can you describe the main differences between these many different techniques and which are considered best?

Answer:
The main difference in the facelift technique is the length of incision, incision placement and the degree to which the SMAS is undermined and pulled.  Adding to the confusion is that many of the same procedures are called by different names.  Eg. Minilift and S-lift. 

In our practice, we use a graduated approach to our face lifting technique.  In patients with a thin neck that doesn’t need liposuction, lacks significant platysmal banding and does not sag to a severe degree, we will discuss a limited incision (S-lift, mini lift) approach.  The limited incision approach involves making an incision around the ear, lifting the skin, then incising the SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system), undermining the SMAS for a short distance and suspending it, and then removing the redundant skin and closing.  This procedure is done in the office with oral sedation and local and has about 5-7 days of recovery. 

For patients with heavier necks, significant platysmal banding or a desire to have the tightest neck possible, we will offer a facelift that involves making a small incision under the chin and performing liposuction and platysmaplasty where the muscles of the neck are anchored together in the midline.  We will then open the skin around the ear and address the SMAS as above, however in patients that require it, we will dissect the SMAS for a much greater distance allowing for a greater lift. 

The best technique is one that is tailored to the patients anatomy and expectations. 

Posted by Dr. Buckingham

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