With facelift surgery, the goal is to look refreshed and youthful without that telltale “overdone” appearance. The key to achieving this lies in understanding the art and science behind modern facelift techniques as well as choosing the right combination of procedures to enhance your natural beauty. At Ridenour Plastic Surgery in St. Louis, Dr. Brock Ridenour employs advanced methods to create subtle yet transformative results that honor your unique facial structure.
Understanding the Modern Facelift
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to lift and tighten sagging skin, muscles and tissues on the face and neck. But the modern facelift is far more than a skin-tightening operation. It’s an intricate procedure that involves releasing ligaments, repositioning underlying tissues, removing excess skin and sometimes, incorporating additional treatments to ensure your features remain harmonious and natural-looking.
Types of Facelift Surgeries
At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, three distinct types of facelifts are offered to suit different needs:
- Traditional full facelift: This comprehensive procedure addresses significant sagging and wrinkles by lifting the skin and tightening deeper layers of tissue across most of the face, from the temples down to the jawline and neck. The result is smoother, rejuvenated facial skin and contours that can take years off your appearance.
- Mid-facelift or Anterior Facelift: Focusing on the central part of the face, the mid-facelift targets the cheeks, jowls and lower eyelids. This option is ideal if you’re looking to enhance the contours of your cheeks and reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, the lines that run from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth.
- Lower Face and Neck Lift: Concentrating on the jowl, jawline and neck, the lower facelift addresses jowls, nasolabial folds, platysma bands and a double chin. This technique is perfect for refining the lower third of the face, giving you a more defined and youthful profile.
Each of these procedures can be customized to meet your aesthetic goals. Dr. Ridenour’s approach to facelift surgery preserves natural facial expressions, avoiding the “windblown” look that can sometimes result from overly aggressive techniques.
The Importance of Facial Harmony
Achieving a natural look with facelift surgery is not just about lifting sagging skin. It’s about creating a balance between all of your facial features so everything looks proportionate and harmonious. This concept of facial harmony is critical when planning a facelift, as an imbalance can lead to results that appear unnatural or incomplete.
Balancing Proportions
Facial harmony is achieved when the different parts of your face work together to create a cohesive, attractive appearance. For example, lifting the lower face without addressing sagging in the neck can create a disconnect between your face and neck, making the results look less natural. Similarly, ignoring volume loss in the cheeks while lifting the skin can result in a gaunt or hollow appearance.
Customizing the Facelift
At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, the process begins with a thorough consultation, during which Dr. Ridenour carefully evaluates your facial structure, skin quality and aesthetic goals. This personalized approach allows him to tailor the procedure to your specific needs, whether that means focusing on a traditional facelift, mid-facelift or lower facelift — or combining techniques for a more comprehensive result.
Combining Procedures for Optimal Results
While a facelift can significantly improve your appearance, combining it with other procedures when needed can enhance the overall outcome, creating a more balanced and youthful look. Here are some of the most effective complementary treatments offered at Ridenour Plastic Surgery:
Neck Lift Surgery
Sometimes, a neck lift is performed independent of a facelift to address sagging skin and muscle banding in the neck area. This procedure tightens the platysma muscle, removes excess skin and redefines the jawline to create a smoother transition between the face and neck. Most patients benefit from the combination of face and neck lift, however, many younger patients can achieve a stunning jawline with neck lift alone.
Cheek and Chin Augmentation With Implants or Fillers
Volume loss in the cheeks and chin are common signs of aging, and some patients may naturally have recessed contours in these areas. Dr. Ridenour may recommend facial implants or “fat” injections to add volume and restore youthful features. Chin augmentation using implants can provide long-lasting, natural results, enhancing the overall balance of your face. Alternatively, fat injections, enhanced with your own body’s stem cells, offers a long-term, natural option to restore volume and improve facial symmetry.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
The eyes are often the first area to show signs of aging. Sagging eyelids, puffiness and bags under the eyes can make you look tired and older than you feel. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can be performed alongside a facelift to rejuvenate the eye area, creating a more alert and refreshed appearance. This combination enhances the overall results of the facelift, making the face appear more naturally youthful.
Dermal Fillers
For patients with mild to moderate signs of aging, dermal fillers can be used to enhance facelift results. These injectable fillers smooth fine lines, restore lost volume and add subtle definition to areas like the cheeks and lips. When used strategically, dermal fillers can help maintain the results of your facelift over time for a consistently youthful appearance.
Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon
The outcome of your facelift largely depends on the skill and experience of your surgeon. Choosing a highly qualified plastic surgeon who understands the complexities of facial anatomy is crucial for achieving natural-looking results.
The Importance of Experience and Expertise
Dr. Brock Ridenour is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facial plastic surgery. His deep understanding of facial anatomy and his artistic eye allow him to create results that enhance your natural beauty without any obvious signs of plastic surgery. His approach focuses on subtle yet effective changes that leave you looking like a more youthful version of yourself rather than someone who has had surgery.
Dr. Ridenour’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his careful planning and precise execution of each procedure. No matter which type of facelift or combination of procedures you want, you can trust that Dr. Ridenour will customize his approach to fit your unique facial structure and aesthetic goals.
Facelift Before and After Photos
One of the best ways to assess a surgeon’s skill is by reviewing before and after photos of previous patients. These images provide insight into the surgeon’s ability to deliver natural-looking results and can help you set realistic expectations for your own surgery. Our gallery of facelift before and after photos showcases a range of patients who have undergone facelift surgery at our practice, demonstrating the subtle yet transformative effects of Dr. Ridenour’s techniques.
Post-Operative Care for Natural Results
The success of your facelift doesn’t end with the surgery. Proper post-operative care is essential for achieving the best possible outcome and maintaining your results for years to come.
Recovery Tips
Following your surgery, it’s important to adhere to Dr. Ridenour’s post-operative instructions. This may include avoiding intensive activities for a certain period, taking prescribed medications and wearing compression garments. Attending all follow-up appointments is also crucial, as these visits allow Dr. Ridenour to monitor your healing process and make any necessary adjustments to your care plan.
Long-Term Maintenance
To prolong the results of your facelift, consider incorporating nonsurgical treatments into your routine. Fat Injections, dermal filler injections, laser treatments and other skin rejuvenation treatments can help maintain the smoothness and volume of your face. Additionally, adopting healthy lifestyle habits like staying hydrated, protecting your skin from direct sun exposure and eating a balanced diet can contribute to the longevity of your facelift results.
Turn Back the Clock With Subtle Yet Stunning Facelift Results
A facelift at Ridenour Plastic Surgery is an opportunity to rejuvenate your appearance in a way that feels authentic and natural. By choosing a skilled facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Ridenour, understanding the importance of facial harmony and considering complementary procedures, you can achieve a refreshed look that enhances your natural beauty without sacrificing your unique features.
Ready to take the next step? Call our St. Louis plastic surgery practice at 314-878-8600 or schedule your consultation online today.
