Patients are often dismayed to find that following a weight loss surgery or extensive weight loss, even with significant weight gone, they are still not completely satisfied with their appearance. A common area of concern is the face – when weight is lost, round, full cheeks can become hollow, and skin can sag around the jowls and under the eyes as the underlying fat melts away.
A facelift is a surgical option for individuals who are unhappy with the wrinkles and sagging, droopy skin present on different areas of the face, and is performed by creating a small incision that is used to tighten the skin. The scar from the incision can typically be hidden effectively in the natural folds of the skin. Other non-surgical options are also available, such as dermal fillers and injectable treatments, but these may not be as long lasting as a surgical facelift. Depending on your specific circumstances and aesthetic goals, when the time comes for a facelift, your surgeon may also be able to integrate other nonsurgical interventions for optimal results.
What A Facelift Can Do For You
Before you walk into any cosmetic procedure, especially a surgery, it is important to have a detailed, comprehensive understanding of what you can realistically expect in terms of results. Specifics can only be discussed with a qualified physician familiar with your case, but in general, a facelift can be expected to reduce or eliminate the appearance of:
Deep Creases in the Skin
As we age, the presence of fat and collagen in the skin of the face is greatly reduced, resulting in a loss of structure that, in addition to sagging skin, can cause the formation of deep creases below the lower eyelids and/or extending from the bottom of the nose to the corners of the mouth.
Sagging Skin
Skin that sags can be caused both by the natural aging process and by a period of significant weight loss. In both cases, the underlying structure beneath the skin significantly decreases, causing the skin itself to loosen and be pulled downward by gravity.
Loose Skin Under the Jaw and Chin
When the skin around the bottom of the face along the jaw begins to sag, you can develop unsightly jowls. Similarly, fatty deposits and hanging skin under the chin can cause the appearance of a double chin, even in someone of a healthy weight.
A facelift is a surgical procedure that can help mitigate the effects of aging and/or weight loss on the appearance of the face, but it is important that it cannot change one’s fundamental appearance, or entirely halt the aging process.
Achieving The Aesthetic Results You Seek
Whether the result of a long weight loss journey or simply the ravages of time, sagging skin and deep creases in the face leave many individuals feeling insecure about their appearance. These factors can also contribute to making a person look perpetually sad, tired, or even angry, when they may not be feeling that way at all. Countless individuals have found new confidence with a rejuvenating facelift, and we at NYBG Plastic Surgery are uniquely qualified to address both cosmetic concerns and those related to weight loss, which so often go hand in hand. Contact us to schedule your initial consultation.
Kevin Small Md Publications (Face Lift)

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