Question:
Is it possible to get a facelift while Radiesse is still present in my face at the nasolabial folds?
Answer:
Absolutely. A facelift will not really do much to improve your nasolabial folds and so if these areas concern you, you are going to need fat or filler anyway. The Radiesse will not alter the surgical procedure or outcome of the Radiesse.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m 50, female, and I know that as we age, we lose fat in our faces. My chin and jowls have sagged somewhat, giving me a very grim appearance. I’m a very trim woman, so I don’t have any extra fat to graft to my face, and I don’t like the idea of injectable fillers. Could a chin implant be used as a substitute for facial fat grafting treatments?
Answer:
A chin implant can be used to augment the chin and pre-jowl, which is the area along the jaw bone in front of the jowl. This may provide the improvement needed, however often the jowls need to be lifted as well. This can be done with a variety of facelift procedures tailored to individual patients. If you are very thin, it is likely that you would benefit from fat grafting. It is rare that a fat deposit cannot be located to accomplish the goal.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am a 63-year-old female and I hate the creases I have developed all over my face. Would a facial fat transfer help fill in some of these lines, or would a facelift benefit me more?
Answer:
It is impossible to tell what exactly you need as a 63 year old, however in general, most 63 year olds exhibit both volume loss and descent of tissue and would therefore benefit from both a fat transfer and a facelift. These procedures are often combined and will result in a natural and significant improvement in most patient’s appearance. Our photo gallery will provide you with examples of post-operative results that you can compare your appearance to.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m 38 years old and have some hollowing or volume loss in my lower cheeks. Can this be fixed with a facelift or would fillers or fat grafting be a better option?
Answer:
Usually the cheek region is rejuvenated by adding volume. There are lifting procedures targeted to this area, but having performed nearly every combination of these procedures, I have decided that even the ones that do work do not have good longevity. With further study, I now believe that the cheek region ages primarily because of volume loss and not from volume descent. Therefore, we utilize facial fillers or fat transfer to improve this region. Facial fillers are performed in the office and have little down-time, but are temporary. Fat transfer is performed in the operating suite, has more down-time, but also has longevity of 10-20 years.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
Given all the less invasive alternatives to facelifts, like fillers and threadlifts, when is a traditional face lift the best option?
Answer:
A facelift is intended to improve the jawline and neck which is something that other therapies are not as successful at improving. Threadlifts are not useful. Fillers are useful and volume enhancement is a significant adjuvant to facial surgery whether it be in the form of fillers or fat transfer. Therefore, while fillers are excellent therapy when the jowling or neck laxity progresses to the point where it is bothersome a facelift may be the appropriate treatment.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
