Preservation Facelift

The major difference between a preservation facelift and a conventional facelift is the specific tissues treated. With the preservation approach, an advanced deep-plane technique releases the deep tethering ligaments and elevates the underlying structures vertically with minimal dissection to maintain vascular supply. As a result, the skin is not repositioned, and the technique produces less trauma, a lower incidence of complications and a more natural, age-appropriate result that avoids an overdone or artificial appearance. By contrast, conventional facelift techniques are based on entirely different principles. The skin is dissected away from deeper structures, elevated and approximated to a tensioned position. This invariably leads to distortion of facial contours and to the characteristic "pulled" appearance that many patients wish to avoid. All of these disadvantages are entirely absent with the preservation approach, which completely eliminates the need for aggressive manipulation of the skin.

It represents a refinement of the deep plane approach. The technique incorporates principles of deep plane surgery but minimizes skin elevation to preserve the integrity of facial fat pads, ligaments and vascular supply. As a result, Dr. Sadati combines the long-term effects and degree of facial rejuvenation achieved with high-SMAS and deep plane techniques, with the aesthetic results of modern methods of preservation. In clinical practice, this results in a similar degree of facial rejuvenation, reduced postoperative edema and a faster, more satisfactory recovery for patients. The technique has been published in the highly respected journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and further illustrates the validity of the approach. Explore your surgical options on the Facelift Procedures overview.

Candidates who are between 40 and 70 years of age with moderate to advanced signs of aging in the neck, lower or midface regions are best suited for this procedure. Patients who desire to avoid an overdone, tight appearance are equally appropriate. In addition, patients who previously underwent a facelift and desire a more natural result will derive particular benefit. Final determination of suitability, however, requires an individual consultation with Dr. Sadati. During this examination, attention is given to your skeletal architecture, quality of skin and aesthetic expectations. Based on these observations, a completely individualized plan of care is developed to reflect your unique patterns of facial anatomy and to achieve optimal aesthetic results. Instead of applying a standardized approach, each treatment plan is designed to meet individual requirements and to produce results that are fully consistent with your natural facial appearance. See how treatment varies over time on the Facelift by Age page.

No; it is performed with local anesthesia and twilight sedation, and thus general anesthesia is unnecessary. This results in a more physiologic procedure and provides a more rapid, comfortable recovery with fewer risks associated with full anesthesia, including prolonged recovery time or complications of anesthesia. As a result, most patients feel particularly reassured by the ability to achieve substantial, structural rejuvenation without added risk. The technique of Dr. Sadati provides optimal patient comfort throughout the procedure and with a minimum level of risk associated with sedation. Consequently, patients experience a rapid return to normal activities, minimal postoperative discomfort and an overall experience of exceptional satisfaction. This represents one of the most attractive features of the preservation facelift for patients who are generally reluctant to undergo surgical procedures. The technique of Dr. Sadati permits continuous patient comfort throughout the procedure and maintains a state of lighter, safer sedation. This results in a more rapid return to normal activities, less postoperative discomfort and a more pleasant overall experience of surgery. For many patients, especially those with general reluctance to undergo surgical procedures, this is by far the most attractive feature of the technique of preservation facelift surgery.

Most patients resume their normal daily activities within 10 to 14 days. Edema and bruising are substantially less than with conventional facelift procedures, as a result of maintenance of vascular perfusion and reduction of tissue trauma. Final positioning of tissues occurs over the next 3 to 6 months, with further refinement of results. Individualized postoperative care by Dr. Sadati facilitates an uneventful course of healing and provides results that appear fully natural and not excessively reconstructed. No evidence of operative intervention is apparent.

The ultimate goal of the preservation approach is to achieve completely natural and undetectable results. With repositioning of deep tissues in a vertical direction, rather than traction on the skin, we avoid the overly pulled or stretched appearance characteristic of older facelift techniques. The result is a refreshed and rested appearance, not a suggestion that work has been performed. In particular, our techniques do not produce excessive tension at the eyes or mouth, loss of full cheek projection or other evidence of surgical manipulation. Instead, lost volume is restored, soft contours are reestablished and overall facial architecture is reinforced from within. Our emphasis on preservation of individual facial characteristics and of craniofacial architecture avoids the imposition of an overly uniform, highly tensed result. As a consequence, patients report that family members and friends merely perceive a general improvement in facial appearance reflecting greater vitality, health and attractiveness. No suspicion of facial surgery is ever expressed. Read about the original version of this philosophy on the Natural Facelift page.

Results of a deep plane facelift generally last more than 10 years, often longer. Because the rejuvenation is based on the deeper structural support of the face and not on skin alone, it produces results that are maintained significantly longer than are achieved with techniques that depend solely on skin tightening. Good skin care, continuous protection against sunlight and maintenance of a stable weight contribute to long-term maintenance of your results. Your continued aging is from a more rejuvenated basis, and not with the goal of obtaining a temporarily tight but ultimately unsatisfactory result.

Incisions are small and discreetly located around the ears and along the hairline, where they are easily concealed within your natural folds and hair. With reliance on repositioning rather than aggressive skin traction, tension on the incisions is markedly reduced to provide excellent, virtually invisible healing. The exquisite surgical skill of Dr. Sadati, based on more than 5000 facelifts and neck lifts, results in incisions that mature with such natural continuity that they are virtually impossible to detect even at close range.

Investment for each patient varies, because each procedure of facial rejuvenation using deep plane facelift is artistically adapted to your individual anatomy, the regions being treated and your personal expectations. During your consultation, our staff will provide a complete discussion of cost and financing options, and will enable you to leave with a fully individualized estimate of cost instead of a general figure. For patients who prefer to plan in advance, options for financing also may be evaluated on our web site. This will allow you to proceed with confidence and convenience at the time you are ready to begin your treatment.