The History of Facelifts

The first facelifts were performed in the early 1900s. During these early forms of the facelift procedure, the only concern was repositioning the skin so that the appearance of wrinkles and creases would be corrected. Facelifts were performed by making incisions, pulling back the facial skin, removing excess tissue, and closing the incision.

In the 1970s, doctors realized that although repositioning the skin was key in providing the youthful facelift results people were looking for, the deeper tissues and muscles also had to be repositioned to provide the excellent, long-lasting results people are looking for.

?Although the skin-only facelift is essentially a technique of the past,? says Dr. Douglas Hendricks in Newport Beach, California, ?the facelift procedures of today would not be in existence without the knowledge gained from the early versions of the facelift.?

In 1974, doctors began repositioning the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS). The SMAS is the layer of muscle and tissue below the skin, and up until 1974, doctors were performing facelifts by only repositioning the skin.

By repositioning both the skin and the SMAS, plastic surgeons are now able to provide patients with wonderful, long-lasting, and natural looking results. A facelift can reduce the signs of aging like wrinkles and creases in the cheeks, jowls, and neck.

Facelifts today begin with incisions that are concealed within the hairline. From these incisions, the skin is separated from the muscles and tissue beneath. The SMAS layer is then tightened to provide the youthful appearance in the lower face, mid-face, and neck. After the SMAS layer is tightened, the skin is pulled back to reduce lines and wrinkles. Excess skin and fat is removed, and the incisions are closed.

Recovery from modern facelifts is much easier than facelifts of the past. Now, there is less swelling, bruising, and pain than ever before. There are also different procedures, such as mini-facelifts that use smaller and fewer incisions, making recover all that much easier.

If you are considering having a facelift to correct the signs of aging in your face, contact an experienced plastic surgeon near you. During your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will review the entire procedure and listen to your concerns.

Please click here for more information regarding facelifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures in the Orange County area.