Dr. Bray's Plastic Surgery Blog

The medical term for the face lift procedure is rhytidectomy. The procedure involves repositioning the muscles and tissues of the face to create a refreshed and younger-looking appearance.

Today’s facelifts are a big improvement from yesterday’s procedures. Key differences exist:

• Modern face lifts do much more than pull skin tightly over facial features, creating that stretched look that we connect with facelifts of the past.
• Cosmetic surgery has advanced to provide a naturally enhanced appearance by raising droopy tissue, tightening worn muscles, and filling in furrowed regions
• New technology has made healing from a facelift a faster and less uncomfortable process

The first facelift involved simply tightening the skin to reduce wrinkles, but in the 70's surgeons began also to tighten the SMAS (sub muscular aponeurotic system), the thin layer of muscles and nerves below the skin. This would give better and longer-lasting wrinkle reduction. Unfortunately, many surgeons simply pulled the tissue tight.

Nowadays, surgical advances have allowed cosmetic surgeons to get better results with less stress on the skin and muscles. This has led to the creation of a number of mini facelifts that can give results comparable to full facelifts with a shorter procedure and recovery time.

But technology is not the only issue. With a facelift, it's important to pick a cosmetic surgeon with the skill and aesthetic sense to remedy sagging skin, muscle and tissue while maintaining (or even enhancing) the natural contours of your face.

If you would like to take advantage of the dramatic improvements in face lift technique, please schedule a Los Angeles facelift consultation at the Bray Plastic Surgery Medical Center at 310-534-8300 to schedule an appointment to learn more about your cosmetic surgery options.