You look in the mirror and you’re not sure who the person is who’s looking back at you. Your face is starting to show signs of aging. Your chin is soft and sagging and you have what’s commonly known as a turkey neck. You’re not happy about your appearance and you want to do something about it.

 

You have options. Facial plastic surgery can help to minimize sagging skin and smooth deep creases in the skin. The type of surgery that’s right for you depends on where you’re seeing the signs of aging. If most of your concerns are located in the lower portion of the face and in the neck, a facelift or neck lift might be your best option. In some cases, combining the two surgeries might be your best bet.

 

Learn more about what a facelift and neck lift can do and see if combining the two procedures will help you reach your anti-aging goals.

 

What Does a Facelift Do?

The word “facelift” can be a bit confusing to people. It’s common for people to assume that a facelift focuses on the entire facial area. In reality, the surgery helps reduce the signs of aging in the lower portion of the face, from the cheeks to the chin, jawline and upper part of the neck.

 

During a facelift, a surgeon rejuvenates your appearance by tightening the skin around your neck and jawline. A deep plane facelift also targets the area around the cheeks, to reduce drooping and the appearance of deep creases and folds.

 

What Does a Neck Lift Do?

While a facelift focuses on the area between the cheeks and upper neck, a neck lift focuses on rejuvenating the entire neck area. Some people develop signs of aging such as sagging jowls or fatty deposits in the upper neck area that creates a double chin. Others develop signs of aging that take the form of neckbands, horizontal wrinkles that stretch across the neck. 

 

The platysma muscle, which is located in the front of the neck, can start to separate as you get older. In some people, a loose, separated the platysma muscle can create what’s called a “turkey neck.” The muscle and skin become droopy so that it looks as if you have something similar to a turkey’s wattle.

 

A neck lift can tighten the platysma muscle and the surrounding skin, significantly reduce the “turkey neck” look. The surgery can also remove fatty deposits from the area, minimizing the appearance of a double chin.

 

Why Combine a Facelift and Neck Lift?

Everyone’s face ages somewhat differently. Some might only notice signs of aging in the upper part of the face, others in the lower part or in the neck. Some might have signs of aging all over. In that case, combining facial plastic surgeries, such as a facelift and neck lift, might be the best option.

 

There are a few benefits to scheduling a facelift and neck lift at the same time.

 

More Dramatic Results

If you have deep creases by the mouth, drooping cheeks, and chin and a turkey neck, having the two surgeries together just makes sense. A facelift will help to correct your concerns between the cheeks and upper neck while the neck lift will correct the issues you’re experiencing on your neck. 

 

Think of it this way. If you go to the hair salon and asked for a haircut, it’d be strange if the stylist only cut half of your hair. The new style on one side of your head would look neat, but the longer, unkempt hair on the other half would look out of place.

 

It’s the same if you have signs of aging in various areas of your face, but only correct some of them. Getting a more youthful contoured jawline might be a good idea, but if you still have a turkey neck afterward, you might look and feel unbalanced.

 

Shorter Recovery Time

You might consider scheduling a facelift one month, then scheduling a neck lift for a few months in the future. If you schedule separate surgeries, you’ll need to allow for double the recovery time. You’ll need at least one week to recover after your facelift and another week to recover after your neck lift.

 

But if you have a facelift and neck lift performed at the same time, you can fold the recovery times together. Recovering from a double procedure might take a little bit longer compared to recovering from just one procedure. Recovering from two procedures performed simultaneously will definitely take less time than if you had the surgeries separately.

 

Reduced Cost

While you won’t get two surgeries for the price of one when you combine a neck lift and facelift, you will enjoy some cost savings. If you schedule to separate procedures, you’ll have to pay for everything separately. 

 

Since you only need one round of anesthesia and one surgical suite when you have two surgeries at once, the price tag will be lower. 

 

When Should You Combine a Facelift and Neck Lift?

If you have signs of aging in your neck and the lower third of your face, a combination facelift and neck lift might be just right for you. There are a few things to consider before moving forward with the surgeries, such as:

 

• Your overall goals
• Your health
• Your lifestyle habits
• Your schedule

The best way to see if you’ll benefit from a facelift and neck lift together is to speak with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Robert Glasgold of the Glasgold Group is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation with natural results. To learn more about the benefits of a combined facelift and neck lift, call 732-846-6540 or contact us today.

Halloween is coming, and you’ve just had a facelift—-is this going to derail your plans for a fun and frivolous evening? How are you going to dress the part if you can’t put anything on your face?

 

Taking care of your skin after a facelift or any cosmetic procedure is essential to avoid infection and further complications. According to Anurag Agarwal, facelift expert of Naples, FL, you must go through your healing period with integrity, taking great care to promote healing as a return to health. In this article, we’ll explore how to care for your post-surgery face, as well as what you can and can’t wear on this dark and stormy night. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a fun and festive Halloween without risk of post-surgical complications.

 

Post-Surgery Tip #1–Cleanse And Moisturize

You are likely to have some pain and tenderness around the incision sites after surgery, but this doesn’t mean you can neglect your care regime. Bacteria can quickly build up in these places, increasing the risk of infection and swelling. Gently wash your skin with an antibacterial cleanser twice daily and pat dry, using a moisturizer afterward that contains natural ingredients to promote skin healing.

 

Post-Surgery Tip #2–Minimize Swelling And Bruising

Your face endures trauma during a facelift; swelling and bruising are common after procedures like this, with peak discomfort occurring a few days after surgery. Do what you can to elevate your head during rest periods by using several pillows for support. Use cold compresses to reduce swelling, and adding a mild anti-inflammatory to the mix will help you to feel more comfortable.

 

Post-Surgery Tip #3–Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is important for skin health and elasticity, and it also helps to reduce nausea and vomiting. It can help you feel better and heal faster. Aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fresh, pure water daily for optimal health and healing.

 

Post Surgery Tip #4–Avoid makeup for a short time

While it is advised not to put anything on your face for up to a week after surgery, there are those people who simply cannot go out of the house without their favorite mascara or lipstick. If you must apply foundation, aim for one that has a mineral base and soothing ingredients that nourish the skin. And speaking of makeup…

 

How Do I Deal With Halloween?

Halloween is the season for over-the-top makeup and costumes that creates a fantasy world…if only for one night. Those of us who pay homage to our dressed up ancestors don’t want to hear what our limitations are, but the reality is that healing is more important than temporary glamor and glitz. Here are some things to avoid putting on your face this Halloween:

 

1. Heavy makeup

Most Halloween makeup is heavy, laden with harsh chemicals and oils that have the potential to clog surgical sites, and they are difficult to wash off without scrubbing your face. All of this is a recipe for disaster when you consider needing to keep your face clean and irritant-free for optimal healing. It’s best to go heavy-makeup free this Halloween—if you simply must wear something, dust something over your eyes, or put on some blood-red lipstick to crown your costume. 

 

2. Latex pieces

People use this night as the perfect excuse for putting on prosthetics and transform themselves into something grotesque and glorious. It may look great, but it is not kind to your skin when putting it on or taking it off. Avoid the use of prosthetics and lay low this season; there will be other Halloween celebrations in the future that you will be able to fully enjoy when you have healed your skin.

 

3. Art deco adhesive materials

Many costumes come complete with art deco jewels that are self-adhesive; while they add pizzazz to otherwise ordinary costumes, they are not the best additive for you when you are healing from surgery. Infections can quickly develop if the adhesive is left on the skin, and little pieces could get caught in surgical sites and cause irritation and other complications. If you must decorate for this holiday season, consider using an all-natural eyeliner or face crayon made from mineral oil. It should be hypo-allergenic and easy to wash off.

 

4. Piercings and jewelry

You may have piercings and jewelry that you wear on your face regularly, but you need to wait until you have healed completely to start sporting these items again. Reactions to metal can occur as a result of pain medications that you may be taking; talk to your doctor about when it is safe to start wearing facial jewelry and piercings post-surgery.

 

Taking care to heal yourself this season and enjoy some aspects of Halloween is essential for good health. Dress for healing success, enjoy the night as you can, and look forward to a new face and plenty of celebrating to come going forward! Happy Halloween!