The aging face often has a tired, drawn-out appearance. Gravitational changes and the effects of deflation are accentuated, producing significant bulges and irregularities from the lid-cheek junction down to the jawline. During your extensive facelift consultation at his Pasadena plastic surgery practice near Los Angeles, Dr. Sasaki will explain the effects of aging on your face and your options for improving your appearance. He will then provide you with realistic surgical and nonsurgical options to address the signs of aging in your face. Together, you will achieve a natural, age-appropriate appearance that you can appreciate for many years to come.
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Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary
Full Facelift
Dr. Sasaki may recommend a complete facelift procedure for more mature patients who reveal drooping skin, cheek fat pad and platysma muscle. The incision begins with a short horizontal incision within the hair of the sideburn, follows the crease line in front of the upper ear, goes inside the well of the ear, and exits out along the crease line of the ear lobe. The deeper stable layer, named the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), is elevated and tightened to address the prominent marionette fold, extending from the corner of the mouth down to the mandible and the jowl. Suture suspension elevates the cheek fat pad back to its normal location over the cheek bone. He also may suggest the addition of fat grafting when there exist a deficient volume of the cheek pad upon elevation. Liposuction may be recommended above and below the jawline to provide a more contoured and sculptured look. Lastly, the freed skin is gently tailored and approximated to its opposite side in front of the ear to give you a natural and rejuvenated appearance.
Do You Perform Facelifts for Younger Patients?
A facelift technique in a younger patient is different from that of a more aged face. Although younger patients present with tighter and firmer skin, they rarely exhibit increased laxity of structures below the skin. In this case, if there exists a small amount of skin excess, you doctor may recommend a hidden short scar incision in front of the ear to elevate the drooping deeper structures and adjust the skin for your new, natural and age-appropriate refreshed look.
Do You Approach Male and Female Facelifts Differently?
Each facelift approach is tailored to the individual. When you meet with Dr. Sasaki to discuss your goals during a consultation, he will meticulously review his techniques with you to determine the approach that is best for your individual needs.
Dr. Gordon H. Sasaki
Triple Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Few plastic surgeons can match Dr. Sasaki's combination of expertise, compassion, and experience. He's a distinguished educator and a renowned innovator whose work and research have influenced a generation of plastic surgeons. Dr. Sasaki will work with you to make the improvements you desire.
The Dr. Sasaki Difference
Dr. Sasaki’s expertise in facelift procedures goes beyond creating excellent results at his private practice. He has contributed heavily to the field of aesthetic medicine through research, publishing, and innovation. He has served as a medical consultant to multiple skincare and technology companies. In addition to authoring chapters in textbooks and peer-reviewed reports in journals, he also offers professional education nationally and internationally to fellow surgeons, nurse injectors, and other practitioners. Learn more about Dr. Sasaki’s contributions.
Your Facelift Procedure
The complete facelift procedure takes about 3 to 5 hours to perform safely under general anesthesia in the hospital (especially with additional scheduled procedures) or under local anesthesia in our AAAASF-certified operating room located in our office. In addition to possessing extensive skills and experience in facelift procedures, Dr. Sasaki demonstrates an exemplary bedside manner that puts his patients at ease throughout the process.
How Long Is Facelift Recovery?
A minimal amount of swelling can be expected that resolves within 3 weeks. Since there are no dressings or drains, you may shower and wash your face daily after surgery. The few sutures in front of the ear are taken out within 10 days. One can resume normal activities within 6 weeks.
Are There Non-Invasive Facelift Alternatives?
Dr. Sasaki performs minimally invasive skin tightening with dermal fillers to create a lifted look by restoring lost volume and adding youthful plumpness and structure under the skin. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC is especially helpful for age-related volume loss in the mid-face, though the result is also shorter-lived than that of a surgical facelift.
In selected patients, Dr. Sasaki may suggest a nonsurgical tightening and elevation of the face and neck by Ultherapy® treatment. This FDA-cleared device precisely heats at the muscle and skin level to promote collagen and elastin fibers to shorten and elevate mild-to-moderate sagging tissue by 3 months. This procedure may also be indicated for patients not yet ready for a surgical procedure or in post-facelift patients who desire further tightening without another surgical intervention.
Are you ready to discover all the ways Sasaki Advanced Aesthetic Medical Center in Pasadena can enhance your appearance and confidence? Request a consultation using our online form or call (626) 219-2458 for an appointment.