Short-scar facelift is one of the most recent developments in facial aesthetic surgery, invented and popularized by Dr Daniel Baker - one of the leading New York City plastic surgeons. Short-scar facelift is a highly effective technique that brings amazing, and very positive aesthetic results with minimal scarring that is nearly invisible. It is also known by different names such as s-lift, mini-lift, baby boomer facelift or limited-incision facelift.

The operation involves the repositioning of the muscles and tissue under the skin to bring about the facelift. In this procedure the skin is separated from the underlying SMAS, thus allowing customization for every patient according to their skin quality and overall facial laxity. When compared to a traditional facelift, the short-scar facelift involves lesser bruising and swelling.

The short-scar facelift is particularly suitable for younger patients in their forties and fifties. For older patients, this procedure works to correct the signs of aging, whereas for younger ones, this is an effective solution for maintaining a naturally youthful appearance. The procedure itself takes approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours and can be performed under local anesthesia. Recovery period for the short-scar facelift is anywhere between 10 days to two weeks.

Patients undergoing short-scar facelift surgery have advantages such as:

• Minimal scarring

• Minimal tissue trauma

• Natural results that last anywhere from 8 to 10 years

Though this procedure has many advantages, it is not free from disadvantages.

• A skilled and qualified plastic surgeon is required to carry out this procedure due to the limited approach and visibility

• Harder to perform when compared to the traditional surgery

• Similar complications as in traditional facelift including hematoma, infection, and poor wound healing (especially with smokers and diabetics) might occur

• Not a common solution for all patients, since these operations have to be custom-tailored to a particular patient’s requirements

The results of a short-scar facelift can be amazing, endowing patients with a more youthful appearance for many years to come.

More women than men undergo facelift procedures, men still make up about 15% to 20% of the facelift population. Men are almost exclusively bothered by a ‘neck waddle’ and usually consider a facelift at an older age than women when this waddle is more significant. One of the keys to facelifting in men is not too overdo it. I have see many men who have had a facelift and they look a little unnatural at best and some even look more effeminate. I am certain this is not what they were seeking from the procedure. A subtle improvement for men is much better than an overdone dramatic one. Men, understandably, are particularly skiddish about being known as having had a facelift.

From a planning and technical standpoint, the male facelift patient differs from the female in one significant way….hair. Both the amount and style of scalp hair and the presence of beard skin changes several aspects of the operation. The placement of the incisions and their eventual obscurity is of critical importance. Like all facelifts, the first and most important goal is to have scars that are difficult to find. No matter how great the neck and jowl result is, or how long the result may last, poor and visible scarring will make that all irrelevant. I have yet to find a patient who wants to advertise that they have had a facelift. (although some results that you have seen scream that they have!)

Men have beards which provide both an advantage and a disadvantage. The upward-disappearing sideburn that can occur in women with a facelift (the tuft of hair in front of the ear gets higher) is not an issue for most men. When their existing sideburn gets higher after surgery, they simply start shaving lower regaining the lost sideburn. Most men should even start before facelift surgery in growing longer sideburns so they will be at a normal level after surgery. The diadvantages are that the incision in front of the ear must stay…in front of the ear. It can not be placed partially inside the ear as in women (known as retrotragal) because beard skin will drawn up into the ear which is both a nuisance and not natural looking. In addition, because of the direction of pull behind the ear in a facelift, some beard skin will end up behind the ear necessitating shaving this area. As long as men are advised of this possibility and after surgery requirement, I have not seen it to be a problem.

One final thought on male facelift results…..men do not usually get a particularly dramatic result. Their skin often stretches more than a woman’s making it difficult (and unnecessary) to create a super sharp neck angle. They are also prone to more settling or some ‘relapse’ after surgery due to their thicker heavier skin. As already mentioned, however, men are usually not interested in spectacular changes but prefer less obvious ones. This may be the most important key to the male facelift patient.

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids along with removing or repositioning excess fat. Most patients are interested in correcting puffiness of the eyelids and excess skin of both the upper and the lower eyelids.

Oftentimes patients complain that they appear more tired than they feel. Sometimes fat is repositioned from the lower eyelid into the deep tear troughs or the deep depressions that exist at the bottom of the lower eyelids. The incisions are easily hidden below the eyelashes of the lower eyelids and sometimes performed with no incision on the lower eyelid whatsoever, called a transconjunctival blepharoplasty.

The upper eyelid incision is hidden very well back within the deep crease that is seen when the eye is shut, but retracts back when the eyelid is open. Many times eyelid surgery is performed at the same time as a face lift or a brow lift.

Facelift is a surgical procedure that eases signs of aging by removing excess skin, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin over the face and neck. Most face lift patients are interested in improving the deep lines present on their cheeks, the excess skin along the jaw line known as jowls, and the excess skin and sagging of their neck. Often prospective facelift patients complain they look much more tired than they feel and are looking for a natural youthful appearance.

Most patients do not want to look overdone or pulled. The key to looking natural after surgery is to tighten the underlying muscles of the face without much tension on the skin. The best facelifts do not distort the hairline behind the ears or sideburn in front of the ear. The earlobes should also be left in place without being pulled forward. The surgical incisions should be difficult to detect.

The surgery will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone and discuss your goals for the surgery. The surgeon will check for medical problem such as high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive sears.

You will be asked to stop smoking for few weeks before and after the surgery as it inhibits blood flow to skin and healing process. You will be asked to stop talking aspirins it effects clotting. It your hair is to short, you can let it grow long before surgery, so that it is long enough to hide the sears while they heal.

A face lift is usually done on an out patient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize the patient for a day when using general anesthesia. Most face lifts are performed under local anesthesia combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain.

Surgery:

A face lift surgery usually takes several hours. Every surgeon performs the procedure in his or her own way. Some complete one side of the face at a time and other move back and forth between the sides. The incisions are started above the hair line at the temples, extend in the natural line in front of the ear, and continue behind the ear lobe to the lower scalp. A small incision is made under the chin, if the neck needs work.

The surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat is either trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve contour. Then the underlying muscle and membrane is tightened the skin is pulled back and excess skin is removed.

Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions. Metal clips may be used on the scalp. After the surgery a drain tube is placed under the skin behind the ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The head may be loosely wrapped in bandages to minimize bruising ans swelling.

Post operative procedure:

Is there is any discomfort it can be minimized with pain medication. Numbness of the skin is quite normal and will disappear in a month. To keep the swelling down head should be kept elevated and still for a couple of days. Drain tube and bandages will be removed after one to five days.

Your face may appear bruised and puffy but in a few weeks you will look normal. Stitches will be removed after five days. Scalp will take longer to heal. Patients are back to work at about ten days after surgery. But the third week you will look and feel much better.