Concerned About a Facelift?

Are you considering a Face Lift but feeling a little wary? Having surgery on your face can indeed be intimidating to some people. Others look forward to a Face Lift as they consider it an investment in their future quality of life. I want to talk to those of you who are a bit wary. Sometimes when patients are nervous about surgery, they can be seduced by advertisements of procedures that claim to be “non-surgical” or “minimally invasive.” There are good nonsurgical procedures that can hold off a Face Lift, or rhytidectomy, which is the technical name. Some of these are Thermage (a light therapy that tightens the skin) and Ulthera (an ultrasound procedure to tighten skin) for example. However, if you are looking for a non-surgical facelift; I’m afraid it does not exist.

You may see ads for what is called a Thread Lift. It is claimed this is a minimally invasive surgical facelift that achieves 30% to 50% of what a traditional SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) facelift achieves. Of course, what do you consider minimally invasive? A Thread Lift involves barbed sutures (often called “fine surgical threads”) being put into the face, “hooking” or “looping around” various parts of the cheeks, jowl, and neck that need to be lifted up vertically. Often fat in the face is targeted or other deep soft facial tissues. The thread is then pulled up, anchored and the excess thread is cut. As it turns out, although the FDA approved the Thread Lift in 2005, it has since revoked that approval because of the results of a long-term study of the results. Yet this procedure is still advertised and available! The point? There is no non-surgical or minimally invasive face lift that works. Many patients who had this procedure have experienced long term complications and pain, including the “threads” pushing out through the skin of the face. But read the article in Reuters for yourself. But this is just one of many flash-in-the-pan “miracle” procedures like the Lifestyle Lift, vampire lift, and stem cell lift. The Thread Lift, however, can be more than a waste of money.

Do not let fear be your guide when shopping for a Face Lift. Do your research! If you are not ready for a facelift, don’t have one yet. Have one of the truly non-surgical procedures I mentioned like Thermage or Ultherapy.

At Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center we offer my special Smartlift Face Lift that is a traditional SMAS resection and tightening lower face and neck lift. I am happy to demystify the procedure during your consultation. Also, please read about the SmartLift Face Lift. No gimmicks involved! Just a cute, descriptive name!

Dr. Branman

Call Melinda at the front desk to set up a consultation 501-227-0707 ­