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Face Lift - Overview
Cosmetic Surgery Face Lift
Before & After

When the term face-lift is brought up, many people think of a skin tightening procedure. This, in fact, used to be true up until about 10 years ago. At that time plastic surgeons began serious evaluation of the causes of facial aging. What has been discovered is that skin stretching over time is only a small part of the aging process. Other factors have been found to be the major contributors. Facial rejuvenation requires that all the contributing factors be corrected in order to produce the most aesthetically pleasing, natural result. The fruit of this research is that face-lifting is much more predictable and effective at re-creating the youthful appearance we once had.
Youthful Face

Dr. Cruise has been actively involved in investigating the causes of facial aging. It is not enough to just tighten skin. This can create an unnatural look and certainly does not re-create the full, glowing look of youth. The easiest way to describe this is to look at the cheeks of a baby. They are full of fat. In today's society fat is considered a bad thing but nothing could be further from the truth in regard to facial rejuvenation. In fact, it is the descent and/or loss of facial fat primarily and other factors secondarily that causes the characteristic look of facial aging. See the aging woman below.

Aging Face

If you look at any model, male or female, you will see high cheeks that are full of fat. Now, look at an older person. You will see that this facial fat has fallen from the cheek area and now is located in the fold above the upper lip and in the jowl area at, or even below, the mandibular border. The results of facial aging are quite predictable but only a small part of it is because of skin stretching.
Youthful Face. Cheek fat is just below the eyes.

Notice how cheek fat descends with age. This gives a gaunty look to the eyes. It also enlarges the naso labial folds just above the lips and creates jowls at the jawline. The once elegant triangular face has fallen creating an aged rectangular look.
Aging Face

It is a very exciting time in plastic surgery because we are just beginning to solve the puzzle of facial aging. Even though facial aging affects the entire face and neck, sometimes a patient is really only concerned with a particular area such as the neck. In this situation, only that area needs to be addressed. This is an excellent way to approach facial rejuvenation. You should only have corrected what really bothers you. You can always come back and have other things done.

Cosmetic Surgery Face Lift
Before & After

Dr. Cruise's technique for face-lifting addresses ALL the causes of facial aging. It is not a skin pulling procedure that is commonly practiced. Primarily, it involves elevating the facial fat that has fallen into the upper lip/cheek fold and into the jowl area. This fat is then suspended back up to the cheek area where it should be. This has a three-fold effect. It helps to reduce the prominent upper lip/cheek fold and also re-creates a fuller cheek area similar to that of youth. In addition, elevating the fat from the jowls defines the mandibular border. This effectively widens the face at the cheek level and narrows it within the jaw area. By doing this, an elegant triangular shape is recreated. Look at an attractive young model and then at a person with obvious facial aging. The youthful model will have a triangular shape whereas the face of the older person will have a more rectangular shape. Dr. Cruise has developed sophisticated techniques to recreate this triangular shape without an operated look. This is done by re-suspending the cheek fat and muscles. Then redraping the skin gently so that it does not look tight or unnatural
Reconstructive Surgery Face LIft
Before and After Face Lift. Notice the elevation of cheek fat creating a more triangular appearance. Also notice reduction of cheek folds and jowling.
face-lift-2
46 year old woman. Notice improvement of jowling, jawline, and neck.

As far as the neck is concerned, Dr. Cruise has developed a unique technique utilizing suture suspension to elevate the tissues of the neck. This dramatically tightens the hanging skin and eliminates the banding under the chin that is so common with aging. This creates a neck with a high, sharp angle above the Adams apple like that of youth. This is discussed in more detail within the neck-lifting section of this web site.

The results of face lifting and neck lifting are quite dramatic. They can easily take 10 to 20 years off of your apparent age. You must, however, understand that the aging process never stops. So, eventually the procedure may need to be repeated in 10 to 15 years. Some people say, Why bother? For them, it doesn't matter. But for most people, if they can turn the clock back 10 to 20 years, it has a huge impact on their state of mind and subsequently quality of life.
43-year-old woman. Notice improvement of jowling, jawline, and neck.
Notice how the facial shape has change from rectangular to a more youthful triangular appearance.
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Quick Links to Face Lift Procedure
  1. Overview
  2. Are you a good candidate?
  3. What do you want to change
  4. Face lift methods
  5. Benefits
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  1. Consultation / Physical Exam
  2. Prior to surgery
  3. Anesthesia
  4. After the procedure
  5. Recovery time
  6. Possible complications
  7. Face Lift Before and Afters

 

Joseph T. Cruise, M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
180 Newport Center Drive, Suite 150
Newport Beach, CA 92660

949-644-4808
contact-us@orangecountycosmeticsurgery.com

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Recent News

 

Watch Dr. Cruise on TV

Dr. Cruise on Discovery Health ChannelFox 11, Jan. 23rd. @ 7 pm

American Health Front will be airing a special on Gynecomastia

Watch Dr. Cruise on Discovery Health July 5th at 12pm and 4pm.
Maximum Makeover

American Health Journal, Interview with Dr. Cruise on Silicone Breast Implants - Watch Video 

Silicone breast implants

Watch Dr. Cruise on Discovery Health Channel

Plastic Surgery Before and After

Episodes:
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April 22 @ 10 pm
April 23 @ 1 am
April 28 @ 2 pm

- Maximum Makeover
May 5

In January 2007, Dr. Cruise has been interviewed on American Health Journal
KOCE & KVRC regarding silicone breast implants.

Perception of the Injection

ASPS Survey Reveals Women Confused but Drawn to Facial Injectables

Silicone Breast Implants are Back


FDA approves return of silicone breast implants after 14 years of lengthy review process...

Plastic Surgery For Teenagers

Teenagers often have plastic surgery to improve physical characteristics they feel are awkward or flawed, that if left uncorrected, may affect them well into adulthood. Teens tend to have plastic surgery to fit in with peers, to look similar. Adults tend to have plastic surgery to standout from others.

Cosmetic Surgery Tourism

Cosmetic surgery tourism is a price-driven phenomenon that has experienced increased growth over the past decade.

Considerations Before Plastic Surgery

Although millions of people have plastic surgery every year without complications, no surgical procedure is risk-free.

Study Reveals Who Is Really Considering Plastic Surgery

Hint: It’s Not Who you Think!

“It’s not just women over 50 with high incomes who are seriously considering procedures. It’s the young mom next door, the waiter who served you coffee this morning, even your coworker.”

From Restylane® To Facelifts – Checking Credentials Paramount When Choosing Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Restylane ® on Dec. 12, and with other fillers on the horizon, the arsenal of cosmetic plastic surgery treatments to attack wrinkles, furrows and folds continues to grow.

Breast Implant Decisions Should Be Based on Science, not Emotion, Plastic Surgery Organizations Tell FDA

FDA’s Initial Comments Still Find No Link Between Silicone Implants and Systemic Disease...

FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Conditional Approval of Mentor Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined on Apr. 13, 2005, that the Mentor's silicone gel-filled breast implants are safe and effective for use in breast reconstruction and augmentation patients.

9.2 Million Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2004

Although television makeover shows are providing exposure for cosmetic plastic surgery, the numbers show, there was'nt exponential growth in people having cosmetic procedures in 2004.

Teens Should Be 18 for Cosmetic Breast Augmentation, ASPS Recommends

In light of recent media coverage on the topic of teenagers seeking purely cosmetic breast enlargement, the ASPS has adopted a policy that is consistent with the U.S. FDA approval of saline filled breast implants for women at least 18 years old.

Procedures Not Solely for Massive Weight Loss Patients

More than 106,000 body contouring procedures were performed in 2004, up 77 percent versus 2000.

Four Paralyzed in Florida After Injecting Botulism Toxin

A Florida clinic doctor injected himself and three assistants with an unapproved and unlicensed animal research botulism toxin similar to BOTOX® Cosmetic . It resulted in total body paralysis of all four. They are alive thanks to the help of a mechanical ventilator to breath for them.

 

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