Because every person has a varying degree of sagging skin in the forehead, plastic surgeons today are using different types of brow lift surgery which are usually based on the length of the incision used.  But in general, the excision is placed behind or along the hairline in order to hide the scars.

For older patients, perhaps the most popular technique is the temporal brow lift which uses incisions made at the temples behind the hairline that will allow doctors to correct the wrinkles in the forehead, creases in the corners of the eyes or “crow’s feet,” and sagging cheeks.

If needed, this technique is performed with suture suspension in which plastic surgeons uses internal, permanent sutures to support the new, higher position of the muscles and tissues.

Another common technique for patients who need the most correction is the full coronal brow lift which involves making an extensive, temple-to-temple incision that runs across the crown of the head.  With this plastic surgery procedure, doctors can pull the muscle and skin upward and then tighten the forehead area.  If needed, they will also remove the excess skin that is causing the sagging appearance.

While this technique provides a dramatic result, there is a major downside which must be considered: the long incision may become visible for people who have thinning hair or receding hairline.

Because younger patients or those between the age of 35 and 50 usually need a minimal to moderate lift, plastic surgeons have developed a less invasive technique called endoscopic brow lift which uses a slender probe with a tiny camera attached to a screen.  Meanwhile, this instrument is inserted into three to six small incisions that are placed behind the hairline.

With this plastic surgery approach, patients can expect faster recovery, less post-operative pain and discomfort, minimal bleeding, and lower risk of scarring and other complications.

In some cases, the endoscopic brow lift is complemented with permanent sutures to support the muscles and tissues in the forehead in their new, higher position.  These internal sutures hold the tissue in place by suspending the muscles from a barb or just by passing through them.

The natural effects of aging also result to the formation of crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, “frown” wrinkles across the forehead, and low-lying eyebrows.  And with such problems, it is not surprising that a person’s appearance will look tired and old.

To treat the sagginess and wrinkles in the upper facial region, plastic surgeons use browlift surgery (also referred as forehead lift) which comes in several surgical techniques since every patient has a varying level of skin droopiness and excess skin in the forehead area.

Nowadays, plastic surgeons either use the coronal procedure or endoscopic browlift to treat the sagginess in the forehead.  These techniques have their own benefits and disadvantages and patient suitability.

In coronal procedure, which is the traditional browlift technique, plastic surgeons create an incision behind the hairline that runs over the top of the head.  Through this surgical cut, they can gently pull the skin upward, including the eyebrows, in order to place this into a new, higher position.

In most cases, doctors also remove the excess fats and skin to further eliminate the sagging appearance.  At the same time, they also reshape or tighten the facial muscles responsible for the frown lines in the forehead region.

After the necessary alternations have been performed, plastic surgery specialists close the incision sites with sutures or clips before wrapping the area with a dressing and bandage.

If done properly, the coronal procedure can raise the hairline and lift the forehead of a patient.

Meanwhile, the endoscopic procedure is the second type of browlift technique in which doctors use a flexible, hollow tube with a lighted camera attached to its end.  This instrument is connected to a monitor that will guide plastic surgery specialists, allowing them to see the underlying tissues during the operation.

And since the endoscope is inserted to several small incisions behind the hairline, patients can enjoy shorter recovery, less post-operative pain and discomfort, and of course, shorter scars.

Despite the advantages of this surgical approach, this may not provide the best result for patients with a significant amount of excess skin and sagginess in the forehead region who will benefit more with the traditional browlift technique.

As with any plastic surgery, facelift requires recovery that will largely depend on the number and depth of the incisions used, and a person’s healing ability.  For this reason, individuals suffering from serious health conditions such as diabetes, excretory disorder, heart problem, delayed healing, and high blood pressure are typically considered as a bad candidate for the said procedure.

While facelift provides a satisfying result to the right patients, they should realize that this plastic surgery procedure will not change their fundamental appearance and will not stop the aging process, although it can make them look five to 10 years younger.  In general, the surgical approach provides a more dramatic outcome compared to non-invasive procedures such as botox injection, facial fillers, and laser treatment.

If needed, plastic surgeons recommend non-surgical procedures to complement facelift surgery.  Examples of these treatments include chemical peels to improve the skin texture; botox to relax the muscles and prevent wrinkles due to excessive facial movements; facial fillers or volumizers to plump up the skin and “fill in” the small crevices and hollowed areas of the face; and laser treatments to treat photo damage manifested by sun spots, freckles, and other discolorations.

Because every person has a varying degree of skin sagginess and has different locations of lines and wrinkles, plastic surgeons have developed several “isolated” techniques to remove the effects of aging.  And by specifically targeting the “problem area,” there is almost no risk of having a “windswept appearance” caused by overcorrection.

For patients aged 30 to 50, the most popular “isolated” facelift technique targets the mid face, the first area to manifest the signs of aging.  Through this approach, plastic surgeons can remove the mouth-and-nose lines, correct the downturned lips, eliminate the under-eye bags, and lift the sagging cheeks through shorter incisions made discreetly behind the hairline, along the lower lash line, or inside the mouth.

These are the other examples of “isolated” facelift surgeries: brow or forehead lift, neck lift, lower facelift, and eyelid lift.  These procedures may be combined together to create the most desired result.

However, it is important to note that most minimally invasive facelift techniques, especially if performed as a stand alone procedure, are not ideal for patients 50 years and older who will benefit more with a complete facelift.

As with any cosmetic plastic surgery, facelift involves several incisions with lengths and locations depending on the severity and position of the excess skin, wrinkles, and expression lines.  If needed, some plastic surgeons recommend non-invasive procedures such as laser treatments, chemical peels, and facial fillers as a complementary procedure to further eliminate the effects of aging.

While facelift can provide a satisfying result if properly performed, patients should remember that this plastic surgery procedure is not designed to change the fundamental appearance of the face and cannot stop the aging process.  However, this surgical approach can make a person five to 10 years younger and provide a more significant improvement compared to non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedure.

To date, there are several techniques used in facial rejuvenation surgery to accommodate the specific needs of each patient.  One of the most commonly used techniques is the complete facelift which targets the upper, mid, and lower facial region.

Being the most invasive technique, complete facelift involves more incisions which means longer recovery, higher risk of complications, and more post-operative pain and discomfort.  But despite the extensiveness of the incisions, this approach does not result to visible scarring since the cuts are usually made along the natural folds of the skin, inside the mouth, behind the hairline and ears, below the chin, and inside or along the lower lash line.

For younger patients or aged between 40 and 50, they usually benefit more with a less invasive plastic surgery, particularly with mid facelift technique which removes the mouth-and-nose lines, corrects the downturned lips, raises the sagging cheeks, and eliminates under-eye bags.

To perform this procedure, plastic surgeons make incisions behind the hairline and inside of the mouth to lift the mid facial region and access deeper tissues to postpone future sagginess.

Another popular “isolated” technique in facial rejuvenation surgery is the brow lift (also called as forehead lift) which is designed to eliminate the “furrows” in the forehead, elevate the upper facial region, remove the sagging skin in the area, eliminate fine lines, and reposition the eyebrow line.

However, the brow lift surgery cannot remove the sagging skin that hoods the upper eyelid.  For this reason, doctors perform a complementary procedure called eyelid lift to further make their patients look younger.

Likewise, 22 percent of total patients for that year who had plastic surgery were senior citizens. The most popular procedures for older patients are:

• Face lift
• Eyelid lifts
• Brow lifts
• Neck lifts
• Nose surgery

According to plastic surgeon Robert Kotler, M.D, another reason that older people are seeking plastic surgery, aside from the obvious is that many choose to continue working and do not want to be seen by their co-workers as haggard, fatigued or careworn.

Another plastic surgeon, Dr. Ellenbogen, who has made appearances on Dr. 90210 on the E! Channel, sees the future of facial aging as “operationless.” He foresees older patients undergoing facial injectable procedures that leave no scars and requiring no surgical openings in the skin.

Says Dr. Ellenbogen in a recent blog: “Already, we are seeing that 70 is the new 50. Actually, that happened in Los Angeles 10 years ago, but we’re seeing it nationally today.”

Going with the trend of increasing numbers of older patients, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) closely studied its member reports from 2007, the most current year for which statistic exists, and found the average age of patients seeking cosmetic surgery has increased by two years.

Thus, while the average age of a cosmetic surgery patient having an invasive procedure is 42.6, surgeons nationwide are seeing many more 67-year-olds.

“Cosmetic surgeons are seeing anywhere between a one to three year increase in our patient’s ages,” said Steven Hopping, M.D. AACS president.

Will you have cosmetic plastic surgery when you are 64?