Facelift in Washington, DC

Saggy Jowls

As the facial skin ages, the tissue loses elasticity, and gravity begins to have a greater effect. This results in jowls that sag over the jawline. Heavy jowls can add years to the appearance of the face, and many patients find themselves pushing their cheeks upward in the mirror. A lower facelift in Northern Virginia can restore the clean jawline of your younger years, with the jowly look completely resolved. The procedure that will work best for your case can only be determined through a full evaluation of your facial skin, the condition of the facial tissue, and a comprehensive review of your medical history. Every person has a unique condition, and Dr. Chang will determine a specific plan based on your features and goals.

History

Youth and beauty have long been synonymous in cultures across the world and throughout history. In many societies, aristocrats could be recognized by their smooth, fair skin, which was not aged and darkened by the sun as with laborers and farmers. These themes persist today, although the emergence of Hollywood and tanning in the 50s, 60s, and 70s brought sun-kissed skin into fashion. Today, personal health, environmental awareness, and physical fitness have become priorities in our culture. While the baby boomer population is growing older, this group is also healthier and more active than earlier generations in their later years. These patients want to look as young as they feel, but sun exposure in the younger days, as well as outdoor living, has often taken a toll. For these patients, facial rejuvenation and advanced procedures to reverse the signs of aging have increased in popularity.

Expertise

Dr. Chang is an authority in the field of facial plastic surgery. With extensive training in facial cosmetic surgery, he has performed nearly every type of facelift, including subcutaneous, SMAS, SMAS plication (a medical term for “fold), high SMAS, deep plane, and MACS (thread) lifting. He is the only plastic surgeon in the DC area who has completed an ACGME-accredited craniofacial plastic surgery fellowship. Furthermore, he has worked directly with some of the experts and innovators of these techniques to advance his knowledge and skill in the most modern procedures for facial rejuvenation. With all these things in mind, it is easy to see why Dr. Chang's patients regard him as one of the top providers of the facelift in Washington, DC. 

Technique 

Facelifts have been performed for centuries, but in the mid-20th century, the most current facelift procedures were developed. Previously, the skin was tightened by pulling upward and back, re-draping the cheeks and eyes, giving an odd, unnatural “windswept” appearance. Often, even these effects were short-lived, as the skin and tissue once again loosened with the aging process. In the 1970’s, Swedish plastic surgeon Tord Skoog popularized his version of the procedure. In combination with other plastic surgeons, Mitz and Peyronie, Skoog helped to define the concept of the deeper layers of the face—known as the Submuscular Aponeurotic System, or SMAS. Using this deep tissue, Skoog created a procedure that supported the tightened skin, providing a more thorough correction of sagging, loosened tissues.

During the plastic surgery boom of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, SMAS lifts became the standard method, by tightening or removing portions of the deep tissue of the cheek to restore the facial profile associated with youth. In the late '90s, Lemmon and Hamra popularized a new type of lift, called a deep-plane or composite lift, which kept the SMAS layer and skin layer together, strengthening the power and hold of the resuspension to the overlying skin. Today, variations of the subcutaneous, deep plane, SMAS, and “high” SMAS facelifts are all performed routinely. These may be effective as a single procedure or be part of a treatment combining implants, fillers, or fat grafting. Dr. Chang will review all the options for facelifts, facial rejuvenation, neck lifts, and eyelid and brow tightening to determine the most effective treatment plan for the individual patient.

Outcomes

Many patients express apprehension when they hear the word “facelift.” Although everyone notices laxity and drooping facial skin, there is typically a concern about the results of a facelift, “looking too tight” or “overdone.” Many tabloid magazines and celebrities have perpetuated this fear by popularizing images of over-tightened, over-injected A-listers. Dr. Chang prides himself on producing natural-looking results with a conservative yet effective approach to produce appealing outcomes.

To avoid the windswept appearance, every procedure is carefully planned, with a full examination of the facial structure, quality, and strength of the tissue, and a complete understanding of what the individual envisions in results. A detailed history of skin treatments, medical conditions, and prior surgeries is an essential aspect of the consultation, as repeated tightening procedures over the years can contribute to a “pulled” appearance. During your consultation, we can review every concern and explain how a natural, more youthful, and fresh appearance can be achieved. Recent studies have confirmed that the effects of a full facelift can make patients look an average of ten years younger.