Facelift / Mini Facelift in Denver, CO

When anti-aging products aren’t enough, a facelift or mini facelift can be just what the doctor ordered since this surgery produces a younger, more contoured face by recontouring fat and tightening facial muscles and skin. A facelift is an effective way to treat lines and wrinkles as well as droopy skin around the face and neck. If a patient doesn’t require a drastic change in appearance, South Denver facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Manish Shah, may suggest a mini facelift as an option. In either type, incisions are made in discreet places such as the hairline or the folds of the ears or face to reduce the effects of scarring. Most patients can expect to look between 5 and 10 years younger afterward. For patients in the Denver area and beyond, there isn't another surgeon with the experience in facelift surgery that Dr. Shah has. He has performed over 3000 face and neck lift procedures since 2005. He had trained with the world's best surgeons in both Deep Plane Facelift and High SMAS Facelift techniques like Dr. Tim Martens, Dr. Andrew Jacono, Dr. Mike Nayak, and Dr. Brian Mendelson. Another benefit of surgery with Dr. Shah is that he is a master of facelift surgery under local anesthesia, allowing patients to avoid the risks and recovery issues associated with general anesthesia.

For our South Denver patients who are tired of droopy, sagging skin making them appear more aged than they feel, facelifts and mini facelifts are fantastic options. These procedures at Shah Aesthetic Surgery, a Denver area specialist in advanced facial cosmetic surgery, offer our patients a wealth of benefits, including:

• Small, discreet points of entry
• Easily camouflaged scars
• Quickly noticeable anti-aging results
• Increased confidence in photos and encounters

Preservation Facelift surgery, aka Preservation Deep Plane Facelift surgery, is a more advanced type of facelift surgery that focuses most of the work of lifting on the deep structures of the face while minimize lifting, or delamination, of the skin. This allows for a very natural result that causes less damage to the skin and results in less dead space to heal under the skin. As a result the risk of skin injury and fluid/blood collections can be minimized and social recovery can be faster. Dr. Shah is one of few surgeons in the U.S. with experience and expertise in this type of aging face surgery.

Deep Plane Facelift

For those who have severe cases of drooping and skin folds that are normal with aging and extensive sun exposure, a deep plane lift may be the best approach. This is especially true for those whose facial profiles need extensive reshaping on areas that typically have the volume and tight contours. This involves a highly specialized skill set and the plastic surgeon must be carefully selected as the nature of procedure has a high chance of damage to the facial nerves. With a deep plane facelift, the deep structures (SMAS) are lifted in a block with the overlying skin. There is less skin undermining and a very natural redraping of the face. It is a very good procedure for managing heavy jowling and for softening the nasolabial fold.

Traditional Facelift (SMAS)

SMAS is the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system, which is a muscle complex that is primarily active when it comes to facial expression. With normal wear-and-tear due to age, gravity and personal habits, muscle tissue loses its form and becomes displaced significantly for those over 50. This particular facelift is considered the standard when it comes to this cosmetic procedure. With lengthy incisions on the side of the face, from the temple to the lower hairline behind the ear, the skin will be peeled and lifted to reshape contours. If there is excess fat and skin, these will also be removed.

Mini Facelift

Also called as a short-scar facelift because of the shorter incisions made, a mini lift is a quick treatment that corrects the middle and lower face. Many patients initially consider this technique, but this doesn’t correct any severe issues and usually renders short-term results. Patients who undergo this procedure are most likely to also stage a full facelift as a final step to fully rejuvenate and reshape the face to its youthful curves.

Skin-Only Facelift

Also referred to as the cutaneous facelift, this technique removes excess and loose skin to create a tightened look. The remaining skin is repositioned to lift sagging cheeks and jowls. It also improves the profile along the jaw line. With this facelift technique, the muscles or fat tissues are left untouched. As the treatment focuses on the skin only, recovery is quick. This is ideal for those who still have good tone muscle and distribution of fat, but find the skin losing elasticity in some areas.

Ultralift

In addition, Dr. Shah has revolutionized a procedure known as the Ultralift. Dr. Shah developed this procedure in 2011. It was designed to provide rapid recovery with less downtime but can still be performed as an outpatient surgery. A surgical ultrasound system is used to melt away fat as well as tighten the skin to reshape the face with more natural results. Even though it’s a true surgical facelift, the “wind tunnel” look of a traditional facelift is avoided, resulting in a softer, more youthful appearance.

All facelift procedures are performed in an accredited surgical facility with general anesthesia. Even though this is considered an outpatient procedure, there are some cases where the patient stays overnight for monitoring. It is normal to experience bruising and swelling after the surgery, and patients will feel as if their face is being pulled tight. This subsides within a couple of weeks.  Optimal results will be evident after several months. It is important that activities are limited to help create a safe and quick healing.

Following your procedure, we will monitor your health until you can be safely released to be taken home by a responsible adult. Prior to your procedure, Dr. Shah or someone on his team will schedule your follow-up visits and discuss tips to help you recover faster and more comfortably. You should expect to have bruising and swelling, some moderate soreness, and discomfort, which can be reduced by pain medication. You should feel and look normal after several weeks and will see a more youthful look with fewer lines, wrinkles, and sagging. In all, your face will appear lifted and rejuvenated.