Skin thickness after Facelift

Robert T. Buchanan, MD answers: Does a facelift result in less healthy skin over long run?

I read an interesting article that spoke of long term damage to skin that has been cut and pulled as part of a facelift. It states that skin will get thinner and will never regain or increase its thickness given that the skin is lifted away from underlying layers in order to tighten the underlying fascia and muscles. Especially so if more than one surgery. It makes common sense that skin may not re-attach itself to underlying tissues like it was before surgery.


Robert T. Buchanan, MD
17 days ago
By Robert T. Buchanan, MD - Highlands Plastic Surgeon

Since nothing is really done to the skin itself during a facelift, except redraping it smoothly, it does not get thinner as a result of the facelift. What does happen with some techniques is that the underlying fat layer is thinned. This causes the tissues to appear thinner. With newer techniques, the fat, and, thus, the appearance is maintained. The skin does, however, thin with aging and sun damage. For this reason, we recommend skin care to rejuvenate and thicken the skin in conjunction with a facelift. This assures that you do not end up with aged skin that has no folds or major wrinkles.
 

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