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Our face is the first thing people see and generates long lasting impressions with those with whom we interact. Unwanted wrinkles, creases, and sagging skin can give an illusion of an older appearance and fatigue. Many patients seek a facial plastic surgery operation because they feel the person they see in the mirror does not reflect their true age and vibrancy.

Over time, the facial skin deteriorates due to sun exposure, gravity, genetics, daily stress, and environmental factors such as smoking. The end result is deep wrinkles, loss of facial fullness, and skin sagging. While skin care and minimally invasive procedures can provide some localized, temporary improvement, patients with widespread changes of aging and sun damage will benefit from a full facelift neck lift procedure in Fort Worth.

If you are ready to learn more about how a face/neck lift can improve your look, request a consultation online with Dr. Steele or call our office. We serve patients in Fort Worth, TX and surrounding communities and we welcome patients who wish to travel from outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

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Case #1
This 67-year-old female did not like the aging appearance of her face and neck. She felt like her jowls and excess, sagging neck skin made her look…
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Case #2
This 56-year-old female did not like the aging appearance of her face. Specifically, she did not like her jowls and the excess skin in her neck. After careful evaluation…
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Case #3
This 46-year-old female desired a facelift to correct her early jowling and neck bands. She also desired improvement in her lower eyelid contour…
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Benefits of a Facelift/Neck Lift

Depending on our genes and environmental exposures (sun, cigarettes, etc.), facial aging can begin in the 30s but is usually noticed in the 40s and 50s. Elements such as sun exposure, gravity, and repetitive facial movements result in breakdown of supportive elastic fibers in the skin. The end result is skin laxity, creases, and wrinkles that cause a loss of facial definition, jowling, and loose neck skin (turkey neck). Additionally, we lose bony support and fat in the middle face that causes descent of tissue and the deep creases just outside the mouth and nose. To illustrate the changes in your mind’s eye, picture a heart (young face) that turns into a square (old face).

Many women and increasing numbers of men are considering a Fort Worth facelift to reverse the signs of gravity, sun, and time. Benefits of facelift/neck lift include the following:

  • Restoring a more youthful look to the middle face by restoring volume and turning a square, boxy face into a more angled, youthful, heart-shaped face
  • Eliminating jowls around the mouth
  • Provide a sharper, more sculpted jaw line
  • Removing a turkey neck or double chin

Understanding Face/Neck Lift

There are many described techniques for effective face and neck lifts. Dr. Steele is well versed in the many variations and nuances of modern face/neck lift procedures. Face lift surgery has evolved over the last 40 years to be more than just a skin tightening surgery. Older techniques focused on pulling the skin as tight as possible. The unfortunate side effects included a “wind tunnel look,” shifted hairlines/sideburns, pixie ears, and the “joker look.”

Modern facelift surgery manipulates the underlying supporting tissue (SMAS) for longer lasting support, while allowing the skin to be excised without undue tension. The net result is a more youthful, natural look, rather than an operated look. Additionally, the state of the art facelift of today strives to identify and reverse the natural changes of aging. The vast majority of patients will benefit from fat grafting to the middle face and regions near the eyes. This helps to restore volume loss over time and build up the cheeks to restore a more youthful, heart-shaped appearance.

Surgical Techniques

The vast majority of local face lift/neck lift patients will benefit from elevation and suspension of the deeper facial tissues that support the facial muscles (the SMAS layer). Dr. Steele utilizes a variety of techniques such as the MACS lift, SMAS-ectomy, and SMAS plication to manipulate the deep tissues for a longer lasting result. After careful examination of your anatomy, Dr. Steele will develop an individualized approach for optimal facial rejuvenation. The type of skin incision largely depends on the amount of skin excess.

Traditional Facelift Incision:

A traditional facelift incision begins with an incision along the temporal hair, down the front of the ear, around the back of the ear and into the hairline behind the ear. This is most effective for patients with extensive neck skin laxity. Although the scars are longer, they generally heal well and are concealed within the hair and natural skin folds.

Short-Scar Facelift:

For patients with less extensive neck skin laxity, a short-scar facelift may be an option. The incision in front of the ear is similar to a traditional approach but stops just behind the earlobe or slightly above. The principle difference between the traditional and short scar facelift is the elimination of scar behind the ear and into the hairline.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to combine other procedures such as a brow lift or blepharoplasty for optimal facial rejuvenation.

Male Neck Lift:

Dr. Steele evaluates many men whose main complaint is the excess, “turkey-neck” skin under that chin that can develop with aging or weight loss. Many men do not want the long incisions and downtime associated with a traditional or short scar facelift. In many cases, these men are candidates for a male neck lift that directly excises the skin on the neck for a powerful transformation. Because men have thick, hair bearing neck skin, the scars heal almost imperceptibly.

During/After Surgery

Dr. Steele typically performs a facelift under general anesthesia as an outpatient. Because safety is our number one goal, procedures involving prolonged anesthesia (over 5-6 hours), or patients with significant medical issues are best served by an overnight stay. Small drain tubes are also placed to eliminate fluid buildup. A large bulky dressing is placed to minimize movement of the neck. Dr. Steele will see you frequently during the first 10 days. The bulky neck dressing and drains are typically removed 3 days postop, sutures are usually removed around one week, and staples in the hair are removed around 10 days postop. Once the drains are out and the drain holes are healed, the patient can shampoo their hair. Makeup can be used very early to hide any bruising.

Activity restrictions (no cardio, heavy lifting, etc.) are in effect for about 3-4 weeks. Most patients can return to work within 7-10 days. Patients do not complain of significant pain with a facelift/neck lift. There is some bruising that takes 10-14 days to resolve and swelling that may persist up to 3 months (however, the majority is gone within a few weeks).

Dr Steele is Amazing, Very attentive and makes sure his patience are taken care of.

- Amy Wright

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    Facelift / Neck Lift in Fort Worth