Facelift after Major Weight Loss

Achieving weight loss after struggling for long is a major achievement for a majority of people. However, as you lose weight, your face loses its youthful appearance. Undergoing significant weight loss may leave you with excess, sagging skin, which might speed up the aging process.

 

After losing facial fat, you will most likely experience deep folds, jowls, sagging neck skin, and have a gaunt appearance. The sad part is that people go through this experience during their younger years. Fortunately, there are various techniques to correct the sagging skin, and one of the most popular techniques is a facelift surgery.

 

What is a Facelift Surgery?

Facelift surgery can help rejuvenate your facial skin, giving you a youthful appearance many desire when choosing to undergo this procedure. So, what exactly does it involve? A facelift,  also referred to as bariatric surgery, is a medical procedure that aims to deal with excess and sagging skin in your facial region.

 

Keep in mind that this procedure is mainly for younger and not older people. Before you undergo a facelift, consult with a skilled and professional plastic surgeon who will brief you on the entire procedure. Normally, the surgeon makes incisions behind your ears so he or she can trim the excess skin and tighten muscle layers. The procedure takes between a couple of days and several weeks for you to achieve full recovery.

 

Techniques Involved in a Facelift Surgery

 

There are various techniques involved in this medical procedure to deal with skin laxity. They involve:

 

• Facial plastic surgery

Facial plastic surgery is one of the most popular techniques to deal with excess and sagging facial skin. Mostly done on patients that were previously obese, this procedure aims to deal with volume loss that occurs after significant weight loss. It helps resolve jowling and sagging on the face. In most cases, the surgeon will remove the excess skin and tighten your skin with face-and neck-lifts. If your face has deflated areas, the plastic surgeon has to fill those areas using fillers and fat transfers.

 

• Blepharoplasty

Another effective procedure to deal with excess fat and saggy skin on your face is blepharoplasty. It is a surgical procedure that involves removing excess fat or tissue from your eyelids. Excess fat on your eyelids may cause them to droop over your eyes. Blepharoplasty corrects the condition by tightening the bulging under your eyes.

 

• Face and neck lifts

Other effective facelift surgery techniques are face and neck lifts. These procedures mainly focus on the lower third of your face. The procedure aims to remove the extra skin and fat under your neck, thus giving you an improved appearance. These medical techniques also resolve the sagging of your middle face. When done properly, they will tighten the muscles under your skin and the skin, thus resulting in a youthful appearance.

 

• A permanent implant

A facelift surgery could also involve a permanent implant. This permanent implant contours a region of your face, especially the chin or cheeks. The primary purpose of this procedure is to restore lost volume or enhance the outcome of a procedure such as a neck lift. However, it is imperative to know that the effectiveness of a permanent implant varies from one patient to the next. Overall, it eliminates the saggy appearance, making you look better.

 

• Hyaluronic acid fillers

A plastic surgeon may also conduct a facelift surgery by using hyaluronic acid fillers. There are several in the market, and they aim to increase temporary volume to the hollowness and folds on your face after weight loss. Interestingly, the results are seen immediately, and they last between six and twelve months. The fillers can also be used to treat various regions on your face.

 

• Fat transfer

Yet another facial rejuvenation technique is enhancement through fat transfer. Usually, fat transfer involves injecting fat from a part of your body, especially the abdomen, to different areas of your face to help increase its volume. The results are effective and long-lasting, with the target areas being your chin, lips, and cheeks.

 

What to Expect

Before you undergo the procedure, schedule a consultation with a certified plastic surgeon. It is advisable to look for a medical professional who has some experience in this procedure.

 

When you visit the doctors’ office, he or she will use a computer imaging software plus three-dimensional digital photography to show you the projected outcome of the facelift. During the consultation, the doctor will also assess the different aspects of your face to ensure that he or she does the procedure appropriately to give you a youthful appearance.

 

The surgeon also has to know your medical history, and you’ll undergo a full physical examination. If you’re a viable candidate, the surgeon will proceed with the surgery. It will take you a couple of weeks to recover, but the outcome will give you a youthful and better appearance.

 

About Dr. Andrew Jacono

Dr. Andrew Jacono is a renowned Dual Board-Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. He has vast experience in the field and is sought after to offer expert advice about this medical procedure. He is the Section Head of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at North Shore University Hospital Manhasset. Moreover, he also holds other key positions in various institutions. His vast experience in the field has seen him win the trust of many clients, including prominent persons.