A revision facelift is not often something that patients want to talk about, but it is essential that they recognize that this procedure is available. Sadly, many patients who have undergone traditional facelift plastic surgery are dissatisfied when the results turn out to be less successful than they had hoped. Unhappy patients like these often want to have revision facelift surgery performed by a highly-skilled board-certified facial plastic surgeon.
The best choice of a surgeon to perform this challenging procedure so that patients will be satisfied with the final result is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience. An experienced plastic surgeon knows that, in addition to getting a procedure right for the patient’s physical health, it is equally important that they be satisfied with the results for their emotional well-being.
Why Do People Need Revision Facelifts?
Many consider facelift revision surgery to be a “makeover.” Board-certified facial plastic surgeons have found there are two main reasons that patients are interested in a revision facelift procedure.
Less Than Successful Results
First, patients who worked with an inexperienced surgeon may have found that they did not get the results they were hoping for out of the cosmetic surgery. They were unhappy with the results from surgery performed by another plastic surgeon. Unfortunately, patients find out too late after the fact that the surgeon they selected did not have the appropriate skills to perform a traditional facelift without completely changing the way a person looks.
Needing a Second Surgery After Many Years
Second, patients who had a facelift done 10-15 years ago may find that they are now hoping to look younger once again and want to have the surgery performed a second time. Traditional facelifts often need a redo after 8 to 10 years. This means that a patient who had a procedure done in their early 50s might want to do another one in their early 60s.
It is unfortunate that every facial plastic surgical procedure does carry with it the risk of needing revision. But for individual surgeons, revision rates, especially for facelifts, should be low, and the need for revision surgery should be rare. In addition to seeking revision facial plastic surgery because of a poor result, some patients are going to need this surgery about one year after the initial surgery. This is true for patients who are overweight or have very heavy necks.
Finding a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
No matter what reason a patient desires a revision facelift, an expert cosmetic surgeon is available to provide them with the best results possible. Revision procedures are not an easy job to take on, but a professional cosmetic surgeon prides themself on the fact that they will not turn a revision case away simply because it appears to be too challenging. It is crucial that patients who want a revision facelift work with an expert facial plastic surgeon who has more than a decade of professional experience. They are aware that a revision done correctly has a great impact on a person’s physical and emotional health.
The reason a patient elects to have revision surgery done is far less important than their choice of the surgeon to do it. It is critical to find an eminently qualified plastic surgeon who welcomes the opportunity to perform challenging plastic surgery, so patients are rarely not satisfied. However, patients have to understand that their expectations must be realistic and that revision procedures are much harder than first-time cosmetic procedures and carry more risk.
Expectation of Facelift Surgery Results
Sometimes, an inexperienced surgeon will produce negative results for a patient. Typically, these surgeons are not skilled enough to complete a facelift without significantly altering the rest of a person’s face. As a result, these patients find they appear tight and pulled back in the face, whereas an experienced cosmetic surgeon can provide them with more natural results.
On the other hand, former patients of cosmetic surgery might find that within 8-10 years, the aging process has continued once again, and they want to return to their youthful state. A facelift procedure can allow a person to appear younger, but it does not prevent them from aging into the future. So, for instance, patients that had a facelift in their late 40s might desire to have a facelift in their late 50s or early 60s to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles that have formed since the original procedure.
It is important that all revision procedure patients have a realistic expectation of the surgeon and the results that will be provided. Professional cosmetic surgeons work with state-of-the-art computer imaging technology to help provide patients with an idea of what their results will be like. To plan the best course of action, call a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office in order to arrange a free consultation. For more information, set up a free consultation appointment.