The face lift has long held a prominent place in the field of plastic surgery. Since their invention, they have been immensely popular with patients looking to restore their youthful appearance, and the procedure has come a long way since its inception in the early 20th century.
While facelift technologies and procedures have evolved tremendously over the years, that doesn’t mean there is a surefire way to treat and rejuvenate the face. In fact, according to Gulf Shores, AL facial plastic surgeon E. Gaylon McCollough, MD, individualized care for specific conditions is key when it comes to delivering noticeable results.
Understanding facial rejuvenation for specific situations
As described in an article written by Dr. McCollough for the Journal of Facial Plastic Surgery, the unique degrees of aging seen in different areas of a patient’s face play a large role in the correct treatment for facial rejuvenation. “The degree of aging for each area of the face, including the eyelids and lips, is measured on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most advanced,” explains Dr. McCollough. “If the score is 0 or 1, surgery is not necessary, and with each step up the invasiveness of the surgery increases, to the extent that a stage 4 or 5 usually indicates that skin resurfacing is required along with lifting procedures. The depth of skin resurfacing for wrinkles and sun damage is also factored into the equation, with level 1 being spa peels and microdermabrasion and levels 2 to 3 being surgeon-performed procedures.”
The Pitfalls of a “One Size Fits All” Approach
Despite the inherent variability in aging patterns between individuals, Dr. McCollough observes a tendency among some surgeons to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to face and eye lifts. He notes, “I can find no evidence that other surgeons are grading each area of the face and neck and applying the findings when recommending or performing facelifts, blepharoplasty, or skin resurfacing. They often resort to the same “one size fits all” process in every situation. However, not all facelifts and eyelids are the same, nor should they be, because not all faces are the same, nor is the same face consistent at different ages. So there is no “one size fits all” face or eye lift. I’ve been in practice long enough to see trends come and go. For example, the currently popular and more expensive ‘Deep Plane Facelift’ turns out not to be suitable for all faces, especially those showing minimal to moderate aging.”
In contrast to this standardized approach, Dr. McCollough relies on the Grading of Aging algorithm to guide him through each stage of the facial rejuvenation process, from initial consultation to post-operative care. He adds, “Given the opportunity, patients readily understand the ‘case-specific’ approach to treating their face,” noting that the results of this tailored approach are preferable, as they avoid the appearance of over- or under-correction, thanks to exact implementation of the McCollough algorithm.
As the field of plastic surgery continues to evolve, embracing the principles of individualized care and disease-specific treatment will undoubtedly remain essential to achieving optimal results. Dr. McCollough emphasizes that when it comes to face and body, “newer” isn’t necessarily better. and that processes and products that have stood the test of time should not be dismissed out of hand.
With this commitment to informed and personalized care, the future of facial rejuvenation offers endless possibilities to enhance natural beauty and restore youthful vitality, for men and women from all walks of life.
