As we age, gravity takes its toll and the skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Jowls start to form at the jawline, and you may develop a “turkey neck” under the chin. These changes in the skin are surefire signs of age, and can happen more rapidly when you’ve been exposed to a lot of sun without proper protection.
Dr. Gregory Brucato performs face and neck lifts that look natural and beautiful, helping to tighten your skin and create a more youthful appearance without looking “stretched” or “overdone”. Call Brucato Plastic Surgery today at 203-431-7644 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We welcome patients from throughout Connecticut, including Ridgefield, Wilton, Danbury, and nearby areas.
A facelift is a popular procedure that tightens sagging skin in order to create a more youthful appearance. When done properly, you will look refreshed and natural, with smoother skin and a younger look. It’s important to visit a facelift surgeon with experience, skill, and artistry in order to obtain the best results.
A facelift concentrates on the lower face and jawline. If you also have sagging skin in the neck, you may want to opt for a facelift and neck lift. A neck lift can help to smooth a “turkey neck” and help to create a more appealing jaw and neckline.
Some patients also want to correct drooping skin around the eyes or sagging brows, in which case a combination facelift and eyelid surgery may be a good option.
A facelift has many benefits, including:
While there are non-surgical options for tightening and smoothing the skin on the face, a facelift is the best way to achieve dramatic, noticeable results. A facelift can take years off of the appearance while looking very natural; when you see people with obvious work done on the face, it’s the result of an overdone facelift or too many surgeries. Most plastic surgeons, including Dr. Brucato, pride themselves on their natural and beautiful results, avoiding the “windswept” or over-pulled look that was popular a decade or two ago.
Dr. Brucato is highly skilled in performing anterior cervicalplasties. This is a type of necklift where the incisions are made in the front of the neck, and the results are dramatic without requiring extensive downtime. A frontal neck lift is ideal for men and women who have a “turkey neck” but may not need a full facelift.
Benefits of an anterior cervicalplasty include:
This procedure is particularly popular among men who want to get rid of excess hanging skin under the chin and on the neck but who do not necessarily want to undergo a full facelift. There will be some visible scarring, as the incision is made from the front, but it is minor and barely noticeable. Most patients find that the results are well worth the tradeoff of having some scarring on the neck.
Many patients aren’t sure if what they need is a facelift, a necklift, or both. Since the lower face and the neck are so closely connected, it can be difficult to tell which is needed. Typically, you will benefit from a facelift if:
On the other hand, you may benefit more from a neck lift if you:
You may benefit from a combination of both procedures if your concerns involve both the neck and the lower face.
You may be a good candidate for a facelift or a neck lift if you are in good general health and you do not smoke. Smoking greatly increases the risk of complications from elective surgery, and you will need to be able to quit for at least a month in order to undergo a facelift or a neck lift.
There are actually many patients who take the opportunity of having elective surgery as a kick-start to quitting smoking for good. The motivation of being able to have plastic surgery is often strong enough to enable patients to quit temporarily, and that can be leveraged into quitting for good. We will be happy to point you in the direction of resources to help you quit so that you can safely have your face or neck lift.
Candidates for face and neck lift surgery:
Dr. Brucato will examine your skin and listen to your goals during your consultation, and will let you know what procedure he thinks will best help you look and feel your best.
If you do not have significant jowling or sagging skin, but you are still starting to feel the effects of gravity and age, then you might be a candidate for a mini facelift. A mini facelift is often performed on men and women in their 40s who are not quite candidates for a full facelift but who could use a refresher for their appearance.
A mini facelift uses smaller incisions and doesn’t tighten the fascia (the underlying layer of muscle in the face). Instead, it just tightens the skin, creating a smoother and more youthful appearance without the need for extensive or deep incisions.
Results from a mini facelift will be less profound and may last for a slightly shorter time than a regular facelift, but they are a good option if you are not quite at the stage where you need a full facelift but you’re past the point where non-surgical options will make a difference.
The results from a facelift and a neck lift are indefinite. Your skin will always look better than if you had not had the surgery, but unfortunately time and gravity stop for no one, and over the years your skin will start to sag again.
Most patients do not feel the need to undergo a second facelift or neck lift in their lifetime. However, if you had your first facelift at a young age, you may eventually want to have a second facelift in order to maintain your results. Having a second facelift is perfectly safe, so don’t worry about having a facelift “too young” if you genuinely want and need one.
Recovery after a facelift can take some time. Since it is your face, you will probably not want to go out in public until most of the swelling and bruising has gone down, which could take a few weeks. You will probably want to take time off of work and restrict your public appearances, even if you are feeling fine.
Your face may feel a little tight and uncomfortable for the first week or so, but this feeling will resolve after some time. You may also experience some numbness, but this is normal and you should regain feeling in time.
Take it easy after your facelift or neck lift surgery and make sure to stay hydrated and eat a nutritious diet. You can take medication for any pain or discomfort.
The cost of a facelift or neck lift depends on the extent and complexity of your surgery. If you are having both done at the same time, it may be slightly more expensive than if you just had one. Conversely, if you have a mini facelift, it may be slightly less expensive than a full facelift.
However, cost should not be what you focus on when deciding which procedure is right for you. If you are concerned about how much your facelift or neck lift will cost, we offer cosmetic surgery financing plans through CareCredit. These flexible plans will help you afford the procedure or procedures that will best help you achieve your goals.
If you are interested in a face or neck lift, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Brucato today at 203-431-7644 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We serve patients in Ridgefield, Wilton, Danbury, Connecticut, and other nearby areas.
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