Project Description
As some of the most accomplished Pittsburgh face lift surgeon, Aestique Plastic Surgical Associates Dr. Theodore Lazzaro has helped numerous men and women achieve a fresher, more youthful appearance. We offer a variety of facelift urgeries to best suit your needs, including traditional full facelifts, refresh facelifts and a mini-lifts.
What is a facelift?
Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, counters the effects of aging, gravity, stress, and sun exposure through surgical techniques that smooth facial creases, tighten sagging skin and remove underlying structures, while contouring excess fat. A facelift can help you look and feel better about yourself.
Who is a good candidate for facelift surgery?
Patients come to Aestique® Plastic Surgical Associates for facelift surgery from all over the Greater Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. They are continuing to look for facial refreshing earlier. The average age for a facelift 15 years ago was 58-60 years old; now the average patient is in his or her mid to late 40s. Adults with well-defined bone structure and elastic, but sagging, skin make ideal candidates for facelift surgery. Even people in their 70s and 80s have benefited from this procedure. Not only has the average age changed over time, but techniques and protocols have evolved as well. We offer customized facelifts, which allow us to meet each patient individually and evaluate their concerns. We then develop a treatment that addresses their specific concerns. Offering a variety of techniques allows us to correct the patient’s concerns without extensive or invasive surgery. In years past, plastic surgeons would take aged skin and tighten it. We now rejuvenate the skin through a prescribed skin care regimen and then tighten it, allowing for optimum results and more longevity.
Are there any risks involved?
Typically the facelift procedures are performed at Aestique® Surgical Center. With the professional care offered at Aestique® Surgical Center, complications during or after facelift surgery are rare and, if they do occur, are usually minor. It is possible that blood may collect under the skin, forming a hematoma, which must be removed by a surgeon. It is also possible for facelift surgery to leave nerves damaged, usually temporarily. Patients can also experience infection and allergic reactions to anesthesia. While these complications are rare, it is important to be with an experienced plastic surgeon displaying the ASPS and ASAPS logos to further reduce these chances.
How do I plan for a facelift?
When meeting at Aestique® for your initial consultation, you should make certain that you share with Dr. Lazzaro your expectations for the surgery. You should also tell us about any medical conditions, especially if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or a tendency to scar excessively. You should also mention whether or not you are a smoker and if you take any medications.
During your consultation your surgeon will perform an evaluation of your skin and face, including your bone structure. Oftentimes, the surgeons will prescribe a skin care regimen prior to surgery to maximize your results. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the procedure, costs, and insurance. We are here to make you comfortable by giving you the best information and care during every step of the process.
You will be fully informed about surgery preparations, including the details of eating, drinking, smoking, and the taking or avoidance of certain vitamins and medicines. Smokers should refrain from smoking for a week or two before and after the procedure to assist healing. When you schedule, you will receive a surgical package that will outline all the frequently asked questions and answers that will help you through the process.
In most cases, you will spend the night after your facelift surgery in a private suite offsite, attended by one of our highly trained private nurses. To help ensure satisfactory results, you will have the chance to have all of your postoperative questions answered during this time. Dr. Theodore Lazzaro will see you first thing the next morning to discuss your discharge instructions.
Types of Facelifts
The traditional facelift procedure generally involves extensive skin elevation in front of and behind the ear as well as under the chin area through a short incision, and the removal and/or the surgical suspension of the deep tissue of the face (the SMAS) to elevate the face in an upward and backward direction. This procedure will correct the often talked about “turkey neck.” The procedure takes about four hours, is often performed under general anesthetic and can take about 10-15 years off your face. The main difference in a traditional facelift and a refresh facelift is that this procedure addresses full laxity in the cheek and jowl area, as well as severe neck laxity.
The refresh facelift procedure generally involves skin elevation in front of and behind the ear through a short incision, and the surgical suspension of the deep tissue of the face (the SMAS) to elevate the face and neck in an upward and slightly backward direction. The procedure takes about two to three hours, and is often performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. It can take about seven years off the appearance of your face. The main difference in a refresh facelift and a mini facelift is this procedure addresses laxity in the cheek and jowl area, as well as early neck laxity.
The mini facelift procedure generally involves a relatively small amount of skin elevation in front of the ear, and suture suspension of the deep tissue of the face (the SMAS) to elevate the face in an upward and slightly backward direction. The procedure takes about one to two hours, does not require an overnight stay, is often performed under local anesthesia with sedation, and can take about five years off your face! The main difference in a mini facelift and a standard facelift is this procedure would be appropriate for someone in the beginning stages of laxity in the cheek and jowl area. It can also be used as a refresher after a previous facelift.
Before and After
This 66 year old complained of a tired look around her face, laxity of skin of the upper eyelids, deflation of midface, wrinkles around her mouth, jowling and laxity of the neck.. Dr Lazzaro performed a facelift, and upper eyelid lift, used fat from her abdomen and placed it in her midface, lower lids, and perioral as well as phenol peel to the lower lids and around her mouth to give her a total rejuvenating look.
AGE 66 HEIGHT 5’ 5” WEIGHT 135
PROCEDURES Facelift, Fat transfer, Chemical Peel, Upper lid Blepharoplasty
This 61 year old displeased with the appearance of her cheek folds, jowls, and neck and also complains of a tired look around her eyes. She had a previous facelift and eyelid surgery years before but was unhappy with the results. Dr Lazzaro used fat from her abdomen and did a fat transfer to lower lids, midface and did a phenol peel around her mouth as well as a full facelift.
AGE 61 HEIGHT 5’ 6” WEIGHT 132
PROCEDURES Fat transfer to lower lids, midface, Facelift, Phenol Peel perioral
This 63 year old complained of deepening of her nasolabial folds, prominent jowls, and laxity of the neck.. Dr Lazzaro performed a facelift with liposculpture under her chin area to give her the jawline she wanted as well as doing a phenol peel to her lower eyelids and around her mouth.
AGE 63 HEIGHT 5’ 2” WEIGHT 230
PROCEDURES Facelift, Submental liposculpture, phenol peel lower lids, perioral
This 66 year old complained a tired look of face and is especially concerned with her neck of wrinkles around her mouth and lower eyelids and redundant skin of her upper eyelids. Dr Lazzaro performed a facelift with an upper eyelid lift and a fat transfer to her nasolavial folds, mouth area and lips.
AGE 66 HEIGHT 5’ 5” WEIGHT 164
PROCEDURES Facelift, Upper lid blepharoplasty, fat transfer nasolabial, perioral and lips