I'm 68 yrs old & had a face lift 10 years ago. My face has drooped since then and I'd like to know what my options are? (photo)

You had some kind of face lift 10 years ago. You state it was called a quick lift. There is no academic equivalent for this procedure so it sounds more like a marketing tool. Because you are 10 years older since your last procedure, you have obviously continued to age and as a woman you have lost volume in your face and you have gravitational falling of facial soft tissues. In order to produce a natural looking facial rejuvenation,you need fillers to restore volume and possible surgical elevation of the fallen facial tissues.Don't over do it Be conservative.

Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. The LiteLift™ is an innovative facelift developed by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Larry Nichter and myself which benefits many male patients. The goal of the #LiteLift is to provide a less invasive natural looking option for both men and women desiring to refresh their appearance with less downtime and risks. The LiteLift® is a “real” facelift, which does address the underlying muscle, tissue and overlying skin.The technique requires limited incisions and takes a vertical lifting approach, in contrast to the traditional facelift, which requires extensive incisions and lifts or pulls the face towards the ears horizontally. The modern techniques used allow us to perform most LiteLift® procedures in the office under local anesthesia. Also, removing the risk of general anesthesia opens the door for more people to pursue facial surgery. All too often people do not move forward with undergoing the desires facelift surgery due to their overwhelming fear of the risks associated with general anesthesia.

This is a modified facelift that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are non-smoking patients 35-60 years old with stable skin elasticity, well-defined bone structure but showing early changes of the lower face and the neck. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™. All in all, Lite Lift™ surgery is individualized for each patient. 

You are clearly experiencing facial aging which may not be addressed
with the same procedure you had 10 years ago. The quick lift that you had is a
short scar facelift. It has a limited opening and it takes advantage of certain
physical aspects of the face and the soft tissues called the SMAS or
superficial musculoaponeurotic system that sags as we get older. In the neck area, the skin tends to hang more
as we age.



The procedure that I would probably recommend is some type of face and
neck lift. This will elevate the face and the neck more than a limited short
scar facelift can do. The incision involves going from the temple area and down
to the opening of the ear and behind the ear and then back to the hairline. This
will move the sagging skin and tissues, but you do need a physical examination
first. Whether it’s a deep plane facelift, a SMAS flap, a high SMAS or any
other variation, experienced cosmetic surgeons know that we have to customize
the procedure to the patient. The older one gets, the more skin there is. Doctors
have to tailor procedures according to the patient’s problem.



In our practice, we do all these procedures under local anesthesia with
LITE™ sedation. One of its big advantages, like the original appeal of the
short scar facelifts, was that there was no general
anesthesia. I have been doing full regular facelifts without general anesthesia
for close to 20 years. A quick lift type of procedure or anything in the same
class is usually a 1-1.5 hour procedure. A full face and neck lift is about 2.5-3
hour range. Like any good facelift, it can last up to 5 to 10 years. Longevity
of a facelift depends a lot on the individual’s unique skin texture and quality,
as well as tissue quality. Everyone gets lifted ,and looks toned and natural. Unfortunately,
there is also a certain amount of elasticity and regression. It is important to
define the things that matter most to you when you communicate to your doctor when
making this decision.



I suggest that you meet with several doctors who perform more extensive
lifts and not people who are limited to short scar lifts. A surgeon who can do
a more extensive procedure may decide to do a quick lift because it’s the right
choice for that patient. However, if someone doesn’t have that range, then
they’ll try to do the same procedure on everybody. This is one of the problems a
very well-known chain encountered when they tried to do seven of these
surgeries a day which was absolutely overwhelming for any doctor to try to
accomplish. This company had to go under and deal with several allegations.



I recommend that you find a doctor you trust who is committed to
quality and who would be there for you beyond the procedure. My personal bias
is I prefer local anesthesia with LITE™ sedation. It’s so much safer and it
allows for a quicker recovery. It also allows for a more extensive procedure
and is less likely to have complications. I hope that was helpful, I wish you
the best of luck, and thank you for your question.



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