Los Angeles Facelift - Patient FAQ

Have you been considering a facelift in the Los Angeles area? Not sure if it's the right procedure for you? If so, you'll find this article helpful, for it explains the things you need to know before making a final decision on facelift surgery.

How a Facelift Works

Let's start with the basics of how this type of cosmetic surgery works in the first place, just so we are all on the same page. When talking about a Los Angeles facelift procedure it's important to note that there are different kinds. As a potential patient, you obviously want to know about your options. So let's talk about those options.

The full surgery -- The full surgical option for a facelift is also known as rhytidectomy. Don't worry, you won't have to spell or pronounce that word. It's a medical term for this procedure, but most people just call it a facelift. With this process, your Los Angeles surgeon will actually remove portions of excess / sagging skin. This makes the face appear "tighter" and therefore more youthful as well.

The mini facelift -- There are actually two different procedures that are collectively known as the mini facelift surgery. With this option, the surgeon uses smaller incisions than a traditional surgery and relies on a thin camera device and small instruments to perform it (endoscopy). While the results of a complete facelift can last up to 12 years or so, the results of the "mini" surgery typically last only half that long. Ask you Los Angles cosmetic surgeon about this option as well.

Non-surgical facelift -- There are certain dermal fillers in use today that are collectively being positioned as a "non-surgical facelift" (mostly by the media). With this alternative to a full facelift procedure, your Los Angeles cosmetic surgeon will inject a "filler" product such as Restylane or Radiesse. These temporary procedures give the face a fuller, more youthful appearance while also helping with wrinkles.

Here's a short video that explains what a facelift does for patients, how it works, how it compares to a mini lift, etc. It's not a Los Angeles surgeon in the video, but it's one of the most informative I could find on this subject:


Click the arrow button above to view this video tutorial. It only takes about two minutes to watch and is well worth the time.

Choosing a Los Angeles Surgeon

I probably don't need to tell you how important it is to choose a Los Angeles facelift surgeon who is well qualified for the job. If you've been researching this process for any length of time, you've probably encountered a few horror stories of plastic surgery gone wrong. In nearly all cases, these stories are the result of an unqualified surgeon botching the surgery.

The good news is, you can minimize such risks by choosing a qualified physician to perform your facelift procedure. For starters, you should choose a Los Angeles plastic surgeon who is board certified by a professional organization such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). When you start with this criteria, you know you're getting a surgeon who has undergone a certain amount of training and certification.

It's also important to ask plenty of questions before choosing a facelift specialist. Find out how long he or she has been performing cosmetic surgery in general, and facelift procedures in particular. Ask about their past success rates, their credentials, patient satisfaction, etc.

Don't be shy about asking for this information -- you have every right to know this information. In fact, a first-rate Los Angeles surgeon will offer this kind of information before you even ask for it. Many of them proudly post their credentials, testimonials and more on their websites. This is the kind of person you want performing your facelift surgery!