Facelift / Mini Facelift in Englewood, CO

Preservation Facelift surgery, aka Preservation Deep Plane Facelift surgery, is a more advanced type of facelift surgery that focuses most of the work of lifting on the deep structures of the face while minimizing lifting, or delamination, of the skin. This allows for a very natural result that causes less skin damage and less dead space to heal under the skin. As a result, the risk of skin injury and fluid/blood collection can be minimized, and social recovery can be faster. Dr. Shah is one of the few surgeons in the U.S. with experience and expertise in this type of aging face surgery.

For those who have severe cases of drooping and skin folds that are normal with aging and extensive sun exposure, a deep plane lift may be the best approach. This is especially true for those whose facial profiles need extensive reshaping on areas that typically have volume and tight contours. This involves a highly specialized skill set, and the plastic surgeon must be carefully selected as the nature of the procedure has a high chance of damaging the facial nerves. With a deep plane facelift, the deep structures (SMAS) are lifted in a block with the overlying skin. There is less skin undermining and a very natural redraping of the face. It is a very good procedure for managing heavy jowling and softening the nasolabial fold.

SMAS is the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system, which is a muscle complex that is primarily active when it comes to facial expression. With normal wear-and-tear due to age, gravity, and personal habits, muscle tissue loses its form and becomes displaced significantly for those over 50. This particular facelift is considered the standard for this cosmetic procedure. With lengthy incisions on the side of the face, from the temple to the lower hairline behind the ear, the skin will be separated from the underlying muscles and lifted to reshape contours. If there is excess fat and skin, these will also be removed.

Also called a short-scar facelift because of the shorter incisions made, a mini lift is a quick treatment that corrects the middle and lower face. Many patients initially consider this technique, but this doesn’t correct severe issues and offers shorter-term results. Patients who undergo this procedure are most likely to require a full facelift in the future as a final step to fully rejuvenate and reshape the face to its youthful curves. So consider this when considering a Denver facelift vs. a mini facelift.

Also referred to as the cutaneous facelift, this technique removes excess and loose skin to create a tightened look. The remaining skin is repositioned to lift sagging cheeks and jowls. It also improves the profile along the jawline. With this facelift technique, the muscles or fat tissues are left untouched. As the treatment focuses on the skin only, recovery is quick. This is ideal for those who still have good tone muscle and distribution of fat but find the skin losing elasticity in some areas. This type of facelift has short-term results and is not favored by Dr. Shah.