face Facelifting: The Science & Expertise Behind Natural-looking Results for outst<strong>and</strong>ing, natural-looking facelift results, Sydney plastic surgeon Dr Darryl Hodgkinson says surgical expertise <strong>and</strong> experience are paramount. No one wants a tight facelift or to face the public derision that so many celebrities face, especially men, when they have a tight, stretched <strong>and</strong> unnatural-looking face after facelift surgery. Why is it that so many people have this ‘operated on’, tight look which is a giveaway they have been ‘under the knife’? The answer could be twofold: they have opted for lesser procedures such as S-lifts or skin lifts, or the surgeon lacks the experience <strong>and</strong> expertise in facelifting necessary to create a result that is both visible <strong>and</strong> natural in appearance. In the case of the lesser procedure, the skin lifts which are marketed under many different names, use the skin No two faces age exactly alike; some age around the brow or eyes, some in the mid face, <strong>and</strong> others around the jowls. like cling wrap to pull back the tissues. These cases seem attractive at first as they take less time, less expertise, have potentially less downtime for the patient in healing <strong>and</strong> therefore cost less. The problem arises in that when using the skin like a corset to hold back the sagging tissues underneath, these lax structures <strong>and</strong> fat pads which needed to be secured are still underneath, ready to bulge out like when you squeeze yourself into too-tight jeans <strong>and</strong> create a ‘muffin top’. Another problem is that this pulling back on the skin under tension places stress on the suture lines, which can cause scars to migrate <strong>and</strong> be more visible. Finally, to create this tension, more skin needs to be removed than is natural <strong>and</strong> if a secondary or corrective procedure is considered at a later date, it will be more difficult as there may not be enough skin <strong>and</strong> there may be wider scars to contend with. The second case is, of course, the experience <strong>and</strong> expertise of the surgeon. As in all cosmetic plastic surgical procedures, the number-one factor in defining the quality of the result is the skill of the surgeon. Face lifting <strong>and</strong> neck lifting surgery is an area of expertise unto itself. The surgeon must have a highly detailed knowledge of the intricate facial anatomy to work in the deep plane to secure these tissues without damaging tissues or, worse, nerves which could lead to a facial palsy. Also, there are many techniques which can be deployed in conjunction with one another to create an overall more natural look as no two faces age exactly alike. Some faces age around the brow, with drooping <strong>and</strong> sagging or furling of the brow; some around the eyes with drooping, bulging <strong>and</strong> wrinkling; others through the mid face with hollowness created as the fat pads resorb from the cheeks; while others show ageing mostly around the jowls <strong>and</strong> neckline. Some people have a little of each of these aspects <strong>and</strong> to adopt one approach to all faces will lead to the classic maligned facelift: a tight face with pulled earlobes <strong>and</strong> the tell-tale droopy neck. With a skilled surgeon, a natural-looking result can be achieved for each patient, addressing their unique signs of ageing <strong>and</strong> taking 10 years off the clock. csbm For more detailed information on the types of facelifts Dr Hodgkinson performs, visit www.cosmeticsurgeryoz. com.au/face-lifting-just-the-facts/ 104 www.cosbeauty.com.au
face 1 2BEFORE AFTER face <strong>and</strong> neck lift <strong>and</strong> upper <strong>and</strong> lower blepharoplasty by Dr Hodgkinson BEFORE AFTER face <strong>and</strong> neck lift <strong>and</strong> upper <strong>and</strong> lower blepharoplasty by Dr Hodgkinson www.cosbeauty.com.au 105