For those who want to turn back the clock and reduce the amount of wrinkles or sagging skin on their face, a rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, can help give you a more youthful facial appearance. However, there are several different facelift techniques used today, so it may be hard to understand what each procedure does. Here is some basic information about facelift surgery and the different parts of the face involved.
The Layers of the Face
To understand how a facelift works, it helps to know the layers that make up your face. Think of the different parts of the face as the layers of a bed:
- Skin (Bedspread). The skin of your face, much like a bedspread, can vary in thickness. Patients with thin faces tend to have less subcutaneous fat, while fuller faces have more. This layer of fat is attached to the underside of the skin.
- SMAS (Sheets). Also known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the SMAS connects the facial muscles to your skin, kind of like a sheet between a mattress and a bedspread. Without the SMAS, the skin would not stay in one place.
- Bone (Mattress). The underlying bone structure of your face is like the mattress of a bed. It provides the overall shape of your face.
The next step in understanding the facelift process is understanding how different techniques address the different layers of your face. In the beginning, facelift surgery only corrected the outer layer of skin. This is like spreading out the bedspread without addressing the sheets underneath. To help you achieve the best look possible, Dr. Ronald Schuster can perform a composite facelift, which not only smooths your outer layer of skin, but also lifts the SMAS underneath. The result is a full, youthful facial appearance.
Interested in a Facelift? Call Dr. Schuster Today
If you want to correct sagging skin around your jowls and cheeks or want to know more about facelift procedures, call Dr. Schuster today at 410-902-9800 to schedule a consultation. He will walk you through the basics of a facelift procedure and answer any questions you may have about his techniques. We welcome patients living in Towson, Owings Mills, Baltimore, and other communities throughout the state of Maryland. Virtual consultations are available for any out-of-town patients.
