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|  Facelift recipients have yet another reason to smile while looking younger thanks to a study finding that a person's second facelift is as safe as the original procedure. "With the increasing population of facelift recipients, the plastic surgery community has started to see not only older patients, but also patients coming back for a second facelift," says Alan Matarasso, MD, in practice in Manhattan and clinical associate professor of plastic surgery for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "...We found that secondary facelifts in older patients combined with added cosmetic procedures are safe. However, we also found there are special considerations with older patients such as medical conditions and surgical techniques." (Related article: Plastic surgery in luxurious, spa like setting)
A more extensive medical evaluation prior to surgery is the first step to ensure a safe procedure with older patients. Patients older than 60 often have medical conditions that could require alterations in the surgical plan - the most common condition being high blood pressure.
Another consideration for older patients is how surgical techniques differ from first-time facelift patients. Often, a second-time facelift patient's skin is thinner and the elasticity of the tissue has diminished as a natural progression of aging, according to Dr. Matarasso. Older patients also are more prone to lose hair and an incision within the hairline could generate hair loss (Facelift without anesthesia). In addition, he says less correction is needed with the deeper layers of the tissue because they were already rejuvenated in the first facelift (Injectable or facelift). " As the population of facelift recipients ages, it stands to reason that more patients will be not only seeking out their second facelift (Autologous fat transplant), but perhaps a third," said Dr. Matarasso. "Age, once perceived as a potential barrier to cosmetic surgery, no longer has to be. Patients of all ages now can feel confident having facelifts with board-certified plastic surgeons, allowing them to look and feel younger." (Related article: Lunch hour face lift)Alternative to second facelift Dr. Raul Rodriguez, a specialist in the field of mesotherapy, has developed a new solution to traditional facelifts so that no touch-ups are necessary. This new procedure, part of the so-called Facelift Preservation Plan, involves a combination of noninvasive cosmetic treatments, including non-burning and resurfacing lasers, cosmetic mesotherapy, neuro-muscular stimulation, and cosmetic fillers to smooth out deep lines and wrinkles. "Most people don't want an extreme makeover, they just want to look better," he says. "Cosmetic mesotherapy is a viable option for people who want to look and feel young, without having to have the invasive surgery, expense and downtime associated with a major facelift," Dr. Rodriguez adds. |
