The results of facial feminization are often enhanced with a facelift, especially if you are 40 or older. A FFS facelift may be the right way to improve negative effects of aging as well as the sagging that can be left behind by certain facial reshaping procedures.
Please call Bay Area Feminization Surgery at 650-249-3169 to learn more about our experienced San Mateo facial feminization surgeon, Dr. Joel Beck.
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Dr. Beck recommends scheduling your facelift several months after you have completed other FFS procedures. This gives the skin, muscles and tissues time to adjust after initial surgery. The facelift can then be used to eradiate leftover skin sagging, wrinkles, folds and furrows.
Dr. Beck performs all facial feminization procedures at the San Mateo Surgery Center, a world class, accredited outpatient facility where you will receive the very latest in technological advancements and state-of-the-art equipment, along with top-tier patient advocacy, safety and care. Your facelift is performed under general anesthesia or twilight sedation, and takes on average 2-3 hours to complete.
Depending on the procedure you and Dr. Beck choose for your goals, incisions are typically created along the hairline and in front of the ear. These incisions will be of a conservative size and well concealed. Incision issues and all of your other questions about facelifts will be answered during your consultation with Dr. Beck.
Some feminization patients choose to combine their facelift with eyelid surgery or other facial feminization procedures. Doing so can produce an optimal result. Through the incisions, Dr. Beck will tighten and reshape drooping muscles and underlying tissue, creating a new foundation for the skin. After reshaping and tightening underlying tissue, Dr. Beck re-drapes the skin and removes the excess, using stitches to create a smoother, tighter skin surface.
Short scar facelift – Also referred to as a mini facelift, this version of the procedure causes less discomfort and downtime, and minimizes scarring. Short scar lifts are best for middle-aged clients with average facial sagging who are not suffering from neck folds. These types of facelifts can last 5-7 years.
Endoscopic facelift – This is a non-invasive facial procedure that relies on a tubular camera inserted via small incisions at the hairline and ears. Images from the endoscope are projected onto a monitor, assisting the surgeon to better navigate the anatomy. Endoscopic lifts are best suited to patients with skin laxity concentrated in the midface.
Cheek lift – Using concealed incisions placed inside the mouth, the doctor can adjust the midface and cheek areas to create a more youthful countenance, reducing nasolabial folds and drooping skin. If eyelid surgery is being performed, Dr. Beck can use lower-lid incisions to access the cheeks, minimizing invasiveness.
In clients requesting facial feminization, fat grafting can achieve beautiful, volumizing effects in the midface and cheek areas, creating rounder, softer contours that exude youthfulness. During the treatment, donor fat cells are harvested from the thighs, abs or hips. They are then purified and refined, and grafted onto the cheek area. This can be done in tandem with a facelift for remarkable improvement in the skin’s glow.
If you are interested in a facelift, but don’t wish to undergo the anesthesia, incisions, downtime or post-op discomfort of a surgical facelift, Dr. Beck may be able to meet your goals using dermal fillers and injectables such as Botox, Restylane, Juvederm or Radiesse. These compounds trigger the body’s natural collagen and elastin production, and can be used to reshape the entire face while shaving years off of one’s perceived age.
Most of Dr. Beck’s facial feminization clients find their facelift recovery to be swift and incident-free, although everyone will heal at their own rate. Swelling, redness and bruising may be evident for the first week or so, but getting lots of rest along with prescribed pain medications will ensure your comfort during this important stage. Cool compresses are also helpful in minimizing the discomfort.
You can apply makeup usually 7-10 days post-op, unless you find your skin is too sensitive. A return to work and normal activity is acceptable at around 5-7 days after your facelift. Never hesitate to contact Dr. Beck if you have questions or concerns during recovery. Our office is standing by to assist you day or night.
A FFS facelift requires a couple weeks of recovery and downtime, but can produce results that will last for several years, maybe even a decade, before the signs of aging may become dramatic once more. The only way to know if this type of procedure is right for you is to consult Dr. Beck, who can explain what the procedure can do for your unique aesthetic concerns, as well as inform you of all the risks and procedural details.
If you live in San Mateo, San Francisco, San Jose or the surrounding areas and are wondering if you are a candidate for a FFS facelift, please contact Bay Area Feminization Surgery to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Joel Beck.
