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Can Long Term Results Be Expected from Multiple Facial Surgeries?

asked 2 years ago by atf in huntsville, al
Latest answer by William Portuese, MD
Question viewed 888 times
Tags: age 45-54, eyebrows, eyelids, face, co2 laser, fat, results

I am scheduled for a facelift, brow lift, eyelid lift, CO2 laser, fat injections. I am 49 years old and very scared of the surgery itself. How long will the results last? Will I always look about 10 years younger? Or will I waste my money and assume the risk for something lasting only a couple of years and needs augmentation with fillers, Botox etc? Can anyone please help? I am in a panic and running out of time.

22 answers to Can Long Term Results Be Expected from Multiple Facial Surgeries?

Longevity of a facelift

Typically, facelift patients can expect to look younger after their facelift. How much younger depends on many factors, including on how many procedures they have. Generally, facelift patients are always "ahead of the game" by that many years, although time does pass, fat disappears from the face, tissue sags, etc. The success after rejuvenation surgery depends also heavily on the surgeon. With respect to the facelift itself, every surgeon has his or her own style with respect to... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Good facelifts last longer than poorly performed facelifts

You should have long term results that last forever if done by an experienced facelift surgeon. The excess skin that is removed during surgery is gone forever--but you do still continue to age. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon to lessen your anxiety.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Facelift surgery can give long lasting results

Surgical procedures make permanent changes to the face and aging will not continue in the same way as it would have if you had not had surgery. However, we are not setting the new face in stone, the aging process does continue as age and gravity continue to have their effects. I prefer to think that facial surgery sets the clock back, for instance to make you look more like you did 10 years ago. Then the clock starts ticking again, but the time point has been reset. For example, if you are... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

Long term effects of facial surgery

If your skin isn't too sun damaged, if you haven't had bad acne scars, and if you don't have wide weight swings, you should get a nice result from the procedures you describe IF you have chosen the best plastic surgeon in your area. The results of the same surgery by two different surgeons will be very different. You will start aging after the surgery but will always look better having done it than not.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Full facial rejuvenation can produce a balanced, long lasting result

The combination of procedures you've described is a full facial rejuvenation. For patients who have aging changes that affect the entire face, a full facial rejuvenation can produce a beautiful, balanced, long lasting result, improving all aspects of facial aging. Done properly, combination facial procedures should be safe. How long will the improvement last? Well, the aging clock ticks on, but, having had the procedure, you will always look better than you would have otherwise. Most... more

Michael D. Yates, MD
Huntsville Plastic Surgeon

Anxiety, not panic, is normal before multiple facial surgeries

That's a lot of surgeries you are considering. Some anxiety is normal before facial surgeries but if you are in a panic mode. something is not right. Either you are not sure about the surgeries or the surgeon. I would recommend you spend some time with your surgeon, ask him/her a lot of questions. Consider doing it in stages, start with something simple like the upper blepharoplasty. Then do the browlift. Do the CO2 laser last. In general surgery will turn back the clock but will not stop... more

Peter T. Truong, MD
Fresno Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.facialsurgerydr.com

Long-lasting facelift results and comfort with your decision

Dear Atf: Most patients that consult me have been carefully considering facial cosmetic surgery for some time, and doing their research. Selection of an experienced facelift, etc. surgeon is very important. The surgeon and their office staff should have provided you with plenty of information; first, in order to decide on surgeon and procedures, and second, to reduce your fears by helping you understand the recovery and care you'll get. Your face, brow & eyelids will typically be... more

Sutton Graham II, MD
Greenville Plastic Surgeon

Facelift panic

One other thought. Although it is normal to be nervous before surgery you should not be in a panic. Perhaps you are trying to get too much done with all these procedures. You need to talk to your surgeon and perhaps you should pick one or two things to do instead of trying to do everything. You can see how you do and then come back and do more procedures once you see how things go.

Janet M. Neigel, MD
West Orange Oculoplastic Surgeon

Fear Before Surgery???

If you have any doubts about your upcoming surgery you must address them with your surgeon. Ask yourself what are you afraid of? anesthesia, complications, pain, poor results? Once you ask yourself and get an honest answer then bring this up with your surgeon. If he/she can calm your fears, great proceed with surgery otherwise cancel it. In terms of all the abov procedures, you should look good and for about 10 years younger. However, it is important to maintain the looks with any needed... more

Tanveer Janjua, MD
Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

It's normal to be nervous before cosmetic facial plastic surgery

If you weren't nervous you wouldn't be normal. As long as you have chosen a quality surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation, most patients get very good results. It is difficult to predict how long the results will last. The first answer I give to my patients is that facelifts last for the rest of your life. What I mean is that if you have a twin sister and she doesn't get a facelift, in 10 years you will still look 10 to 15 years younger. What surgery does is turn the clock back, not... more

Steven J. Pearlman, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Genetics cannot be surgically altered, maintainence is unavoidable

Hello Atf, You have received excellent advice here. Just one more take away thought: The duration of surgical results is very dependant on your inherent anatomy and genetics. So while Patient A and Patient B may have the same exact procedures done one may find that their results last longer simply because they have better genes going in. Also it is important to "maintain" your results -- avoid sun exposure, smoking, and live a healthy lifestyle. This may also mean that down the... more

Kamran Jafri, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Pre Facelift Jitters

I want to reassure you that anxiety is entirely normal before a procedure. In fact, I tell my patients that I fully expect them to be nervous because they are embarking on a new experience; it is a large leap of faith. You probably haven't done this before, but I assure you that your surgeon has. This is why it is so crucial to see a surgeon with a great local reputation, who can show you a wide range of results and provide references. I suggest that you sit down again with your surgeon... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

Longevity of results from facial rejuvenation surgery

As long as the facelift and browlift and blepharoplasty surgeries are done appropriately the body will continue to age after the surgery is done. Surgeries tend to last approximately ten years, but sometimes a little longer and sometimes a little shorter depending upon the skin characteristics. It is important to find the surgeon who gives a very natural result so as not to have the look of being overdone. These procedures tend to last many, many years, and patients are generally very... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Expectations after Facial Rejuvenation

If facial rejevenation is done well, you will always look better, but remember you will continue to age. Results are influenced by many factors, including your present appearance. your health and lifestyle, and exactly what procedures will be done. Speak frankly with your surgeon to relieve your anxiety or don't have the surgery. This should be a positive experience.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Up to you to maintain results from procedures you mentioned

It is okay to be a bit nervous about a surgical procedure. In medicine and surgery there are no guarantees about how long things last. The aging process continues in spite of surgical procedures. The procedures you listed will improve your appearance and following the procedure it is up to you to help maintain your new look by maintaining good skin care. Enjoy the new you.

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Results from cosmetic surgery

Hello. It is important to communicate well with your surgeon and talk about the predicted outcome. It is very difficult for me to determine how much younger you will look. The best thing for you to do is talk with your surgeon and speak about all of your concerns, as this may put you more at ease. Thank you, and best of luck.

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

How long do facial rejuvenation results last?

The purpose of facial rejuvenation is to make the patient look the best they can at the age they are. It's not about making them look younger. So in a sense you're starting the aging clock from a new time. You'll continue to age from this new point and if you take good care of yourself you will continue to look great. The point is that you won't stay at the same point for 10 years you'll continue to age.

Christopher L. Hess, MD
Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

Long term results from facelift surgery

I think that it is entirely normal to have some anxiety prior to embarking upon a facelift, blepharoplasty, browlift and laser skin resurfacing. Not only is the idea of surgery anxiety provoking but, having plastic surgery of the face brings that level up a notch or two. You are essentially putting your faith in the hands of your surgeon. Remember how you felt about your surgeon when you chose them to perform your procedure. Remember how confident they were in describing your particular... more

Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD
Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facelifts that last

It's normal to be anxious before surgery...any surgery. Facial surgery has a particularly specialized connotation to it since it is what everybody will see. It is what you present to the world. Hopefully you selected your plastic surgeon (assuming it is actually a plastic surgeon and not a wannabe of some sort) by his credentials and his reputation. Think back on this selection process. Was it because he was the cheapest or because you really trusted his bedside manner and your friend... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Long term results from multiple facial surgeries

What is interesting to me from the other expert posters is 'these questions should be addressed by the staff and the operating surgeon'. Not over the net. These are preoperative questions that we always review with the patient in detail prior to her surgery. It is called informed consent. If you are so unsure as indicated by your tone. "Can anyone please help. I'm in a panic..." indicates to me you need another preoperative visit with YOUR surgeon. This will allow you to have ALL... more

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

How long will a face lift last?

Generally, your results should last 10 years given typical outcomes and skin care. However, we have an old saying that goes: "we are turning back the hands of time but we can't stop the clock from ticking".