Procedures
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Aging is unavoidable. Looking your age is not.
In a world where you seldom get a second chance to make
a first impression, putting your best face forward is important.
Finesse Facelift
The hallmark of a successful facelift is one that restores a more youthful version of you. The result should always be natural. Everyone should notice and no know should know. In fact, a properly performed facelift often garners compliments like, “You look great! Did you change your hair?” or “You look refreshed! Did you take a vacation?” After a finesse facelift you will look well rested and rejuvenated while preserving what makes you uniquely you.
the scoop
The finesse facelift is not the procedure of our mothers’ generation that created countless infamous facelift fails. Surgical techniques have advanced tremendously since the 80s, 90s and 2000s, when facelifts left people looking tight, skeletal or wind-swept.
Soft touches and subtle maneuvers are often what separate an exquisitely fine-tuned result from a mediocre one. Now that we now have a more sophisticated understanding of the dynamic aging process, our surgical techniques are tailored to address each problem individually.
Loss of skin elasticity, loss of facial volume in specific places, the effects of repeated muscle pull, weight fluctuations and gravity lead to a tired, wrinkled, drooping face over time.
Cheeks flatten, folds and jowls appear, the forehead and upper lip elongate while the brow and eyelids sag. A once well-defined jawline becomes blunted and obtuse. The heart and oval face shapes of our youth begin to look increasingly rectangular and bottom heavy.
Dr. Deniz Basci has the aesthetic eye to analyze your face and identify the telltale signs of aging. Armed with an intimate awareness of critical facial anatomy, Dr. Basci targets key facial features during surgery, achieving a polished and harmonious result by precisely repositioning lax tissue and rebalancing volume in essential areas. Surgery designed specifically for your face and adapted intra-operatively to whatever your tissues require are what separate this result from an average one. Most importantly, you will never be left unrecognizable.
The finesse facelift turns back the hands of the clock but does not stop the aging process! A well-executed result is one that will not only look natural in the years after surgery, but also will age gracefully as you do. It is important to remember that not everyone has the privilege of aging and the most attractive quality is being confident in your own skin.
*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.
Finesse Facelift
the skinny
Effective Solution For:
- highlighting the cheekbone
- Defining the jawline
- Improving jowls
- Softening Folds
- Smoothing contours
- Restoring mid-Face Volume
- Removing and re-draping sagging skin
- tightening and plumping stretched earlobes
The Basics by Basci
Pre-op Appointments:
- Consult – 1hr with Dr. Basci to evaluate aesthetic goals, examine anatomy, and customize treatment options.
- Pre-Procedure Visit – Confirm the plan and priorities, 3D medical studio photography simulations.
Length of Surgery:
- 3-5 hours – depending on the individually tailored operation and combined procedures
Anesthesia:
- General Anesthesia – performed by a licensed physician in a fully accredited OR facility
Aftercare:
- One Night Stay Required – with continuous overnight nursing care
Downtime:
- 2 Weeks until “Restaurant Ready”
– Return to work, light exercise, and casual social events with close friends
– Expect temporary bruising, moderate swelling and areas of numbness and tingling - 3-6 Months until “Camera Ready”
– Resume unrestricted exercise, enjoy attending formal events and posing for pics as the new you
– Expect persistence of mild swelling and gradual improvement in numbness and tingling. - 12 Months until “Complete Healing”
– The body has concluded mending and remodeling. Incisions are fully mature and swelling resolved.
– Appropriate time for any minor revisions or touch-ups
Unable to Impact:
- Fine lines
- brow position
- upper eyelid hooding
- lower eyelid/cheek junction (tear trough)
- upper lip length
- skin pigmentation, sun damage
- acne scars
- skin texture irregularities
Expected Finesse Facelift Enhancements
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a powerful procedure that can reverse the effects of aging to restore a more youthful appearance of the face. When performed properly, the result is natural and helps you appear as a well rested and rejuvenated version of you. The effect should be largely imperceptible, even to people who have known you for years. When you reach the limit of what less invasive procedures like fillers and Botox can do, a facelift may be right for you.
Dr. Deniz Basci’s finesse facelift consistently delivers reliable first-class results. There are a number of different techniques she uses depending on what your face needs. The goal is to reverse tell-tale signs of facial aging and bring back the facial tissues to a more youthful configuration. A finesse facelift replaces volume where it is lost and re-suspends attenuated loosened deep facial structures. Once the contours of the face are smoothed and plumped, the skin envelope is carefully re-draped and the excess skin is precisely trimmed. The key to a natural result is re-suspending the deep tissues from the appropriate height at the most flattering angle for your bone structure. Placing absolutely no tension on the skin itself ensures the best scar quality possible and a natural final result. In the operating room, Dr. Basci has full visualization of the facial tissues, and maximum possible control to safely execute the necessary maneuvers.
The finesse facelift incisions are well hidden along the hairline, behind the ear and sometimes under the chin. Typically, the scars heal nearly imperceptibly because of their well chosen location and Dr. Basci’s technique. Each procedure is custom tailored to the individual like a fine Italian suit. No two procedures are exactly the same.
Often a facelift is paired with other procedures such as a brow lift, eyelid surgery, fat grafting and laser resurfacing to address the areas of the face the finesse facelift does not impact. These adjunctive procedures help provide a more harmonious result. When all features are rejuvenated concurrently, the face is in balance. The appearance of surgery can be less noticeable when features are rejuvenated in tandem.
Our Little Facelift Secret
It comes as a surprise to most women seeking facial rejuvenation that the appearance of the neck and jawline is often the most prominent sign of aging and thus the highest priority to improve. A well-contoured neck is the sine qua non of an attractive, youthful, physically fit and sensual appearance. In fact, we have found that overall satisfaction following a facelift largely depends on the condition of the neck and jawline. The neck, having thin delicate skin with little padding, is an area that often shows signs of aging first, and is where the majority of people see the most dramatic change after surgery. In the age of selfies, FaceTime and social media, the neck is emerging as an enviable attribute
Isn’t there a shortcut?
Nothing takes the place of a face lift. There are a seemingly endless array of non-invasive or less invasive techniques that claim to accomplish what a facelift can, but with minimal downtime. We caution you to think carefully before trying a “short cut” procedure. None have ever been proven to be as effective, as reproducible, or as predictable as a facelift. They may actually be quite a bit more expensive, requiring you to have 3 or 4 procedures for a much more subtle change and they can carry a higher risk of unwanted contour deformities, asymmetries, fat necrosis, scarring and unforeseen complications. These undesirable results often prove difficult or impossible to fix, leaving patients unhappy. You wouldn’t take a shortcut in open heart surgery and you shouldn’t take a shortcut in facial surgery either. Invest in yourself and your safety and choose the best procedure the first time around.
Preparing for Facelift Surgery
Prior to any surgery, Dr. Basci will review your general health history, surgical history and current medications. Most patients will be asked to stop taking any medications or supplements that increase their risk of bleeding 2 weeks before surgery and remain off of them for the 2 weeks following surgery. Make sure to check with Dr. Basci and your primary prescribing physician before stopping any medications.
It is important to prime your body with a healthy balanced diet in the months leading up to surgery. Make sure you have appropriate protein intake, as protein is vital for healing. You may need to supplement your diet with protein shakes or bars for 3-6 weeks after surgery as your body works overtime to mend all of the tissues in your surgical site.
Preventing sun damage with routine use of SPF > 40 in the months leading up to and following your finesse facelift will protect and enhance your result. Presenting a polished canvas for your new face with radiant glowing skin will exponentially improve your youthful appearance. Dr. Basci also recommends a high-quality skincare regimen for 2-3 months prior to surgery, depending on the condition of your skin, and will talk to you about your existing routine. In cases of extensive sun damage, laser resurfacing may be recommended to help smooth any texture irregularities and remove pigmented lesions contributing to the appearance of coarse, dull, aged skin. Pre-surgery and post-surgery maintenance photo-facials can diminish the appearance of pigmented lesions, and prominent blood vessels, and will help enhance and preserve your facelift result.
During Surgery
Every individual has different facial aesthetic desires and problem areas they seek to fine-tune. Dr. Deniz Basci has advanced training and expertise in facelift surgery, and she will design a customized treatment plan based on your needs. She uses either a high SMAS or SMAS plication surgical technique, often paired with fat grafting, depending on your natural anatomy and tissue quality. Either technique is capable of delivering dramatic, long-lasting, and natural results.
Incisions are typically made along the sideburn, around and behind the ear, extending down along the hairline and sometimes under the chin. The skin is then elevated, allowing access to the underlying facial tissues. These are assessed and elegantly re-suspended to highlight the cheekbone and define the jawline. When more volume is desired in the cheeks, fat grafting may be performed to restore fullness, fill hollows, soften folds and finesse transitions. With the deep facial tissues in their new youthful position, the skin is delicately re-draped and trimmed.
Dr. Basci uses meticulous tension-free suturing techniques to promote the best possible scar quality during the healing process. A drain is placed on either side of the neck followed by a soft cotton wrap to provide gentle pressure and minimize swelling. Our facelift patients are required to remain overnight with round the clock nursing care for their comfort and safety. The surgical dressing, “the cotton tip,” is ordinarily removed the morning after surgery, before you return home for the next phase of your recovery
Routine Recovery
Just as every procedure is distinct, so is every individual’s recovery. Most patients will be asked to stay overnight, which includes 24-hour nursing assistance starting the evening of their procedure. This is for your safety and comfort. After that, you will need a family member, friend or hired nurse to stay with you at home for at least 2 days, although 1 week is recommended.
A drain on either side of the neck is typical and if you go home with your drains, they will need to be emptied and monitored twice daily. Drains are removed whenever the fluid output has decreased to an appropriate amount. You may shower after your drains are removed. Your scalp may be numb in certain areas; to avoid inadvertently burning your scalp avoid curling irons, intensely hot blow dryers, and chemically coloring your hair for 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Any non-dissolving sutures will be removed in the office at your first postoperative visit. You will need to apply a thin layer of ointment to your incisions once a day until they are fully healed. Talk to Dr. Basci about when it is safe to begin lymphatic neck massages and silicone scar treatment.
To minimize facial swelling, sleep with your head propped up on several pillows or semi-upright in a recliner for the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. You should expect to be moderately to significantly swollen during the first two weeks depending on how your body responds to surgery. This puffiness will gradually improve along with any bruising, numbness and tingling. It typically takes 6-12 months for the swelling to fully resolve and at least 12 months for the incision to fully mature.
We encourage patients to gently walk several times a day, beginning the evening after surgery. This is to promote circulation and prevent blood clots. If you have a personal or family history of blood clots or other bleeding disorders, be sure to speak with Dr. Basci prior to surgery.
After two weeks, most patients are permitted to begin light cardio activity but be sure to avoid heavy lifting, yoga, pilates and any other intense exercise for about 4 weeks. Typically Dr. Basci allows facelift patients to resume full activities 6-8 weeks after surgery.
We ask all our post-operative patients to supplement their regular balanced diet with protein shakes or bars for 3-6 weeks after surgery to help support healing. This is not the time for diets or nutritional restriction. Your body needs vital amino acids and building blocks to mend and remodel!
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if I need a facelift?
Fillers have their limitations. Dr. Basci offers both non-surgical and surgical procedures. She can help you decide which would best suit your needs for a natural, long-lasting result.
- When should I have a facelift? Am I too young? Is it too late?
Dr. Basci will give you an honest assessment of whether you’re an appropriate candidate for the procedure. A facelift is a powerful tool for reversing jowls, softening heavy nasolabial folds, re-suspending and filling deflated skin, and defining the jawline.
The goal is to turn back the clock and to leave you looking refreshed and rejuvenated and always like YOU.
Is it better to start early? Or will I have a better result if I wait longer?
The results of a facelift depend largely on your individual anatomy, the quality of your tissues and the surgical technique. Typically, better results can be achieved when the tissues are in better condition. While most peoples’ tissue quality is better when they are younger, tissue quality is only partially determined by age. Genetic factors play a large role in how your facial tissues change over time and how well they hold up to repetitive muscle pull, weight changes and gravity after surgery. Think of the difference in strength and elasticity between a wet paper towel and a wet tissue paper.
A patient who has the procedure in their 40s will look younger in her 50s than her peers. A patient who has the procedure in her 50s or 60s may have a more dramatic result, but she will not have the same result as she would have had in her 40s.
Facial aging continues even after your face lift. This procedure is meant to reset your starting point, be repositioning your tissue to a more youthful location.
- How long will my facelift last?
Typically, a facelift can help you look 10 years younger. You will continue to age after surgery, at a similar rate to how you aged before surgery. Ten years after your facelift, you should still look better than you did when you first had the procedure. Many patients often desire secondary procedures and those are usually to the neck. The timing varies from person to person.
I’ve had a facelift or other facial procedure before, am I still a candidate?
What is the recovery like?
You may shower after your drains are removed. You may apply light makeup after your sutures are removed at your 1 week postoperative visit. You will need to take short gentle walks several times per day during the first two weeks. After that, you may resume light aerobic activity. You may not engage in heavy lifting, yoga, pilates, or other intense activity until 4 weeks after surgery. Most patients are back to full activity by 6 weeks after surgery.
What should I bring to my consultation?
It is also a good idea to write down any questions you have, and bring your written list to your consultation. This way you won’t forget what to ask Dr. Basci! If you come up with new questions after the consultation you can always reach out to us via email to schedule another appointment or video consultation.
*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person. Editorial content, before and after images, and patient testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of specific results.