What non-invasive procedures complicate a facelift? What’s the right path?
July 9th, 2024
What happens in a deep plane face and neck lift?
Layers such as skin and muscle are meticulously freed from each other and repositioned into a more favorable position using sutures to achieve a more youthful aesthetic outcome. The facial nerves that control facial mobility run underneath the muscle layer, protected by a fascial envelope. Typically, the plane between this envelope and the muscles is well-defined and separates easily with dissection, optimizing the safety of a face and neck lift.
The non-invasive skin lifting fever
Modern non-surgical treatments are so widely available and often promoted for their supposed ease of recovery. However, many people overlook how these treatments function and their potential risks, which could complicate future surgical interventions.
These treatments can include:
Semi permanent fillers (particularly in the neck)
Aggressive prior facial surgeries or liposuction
Radiofrequency devices for skin tightening
PDO threads or others
Cryolipolysis, injections like deoxycholic acid or PLLA
HIFU (high-frequency ultrasound),
Any energy delivered via a cannula under the skin.
How do these treatments actually work?
These treatments work by generating heat and/or inducing an inflammatory reaction leading to disorganized sheets of type III collagen (present in scar tissue), which lifts and firms the skin above it (the intended effect).
How can this complicate future surgery?
Type I collagen constitutes 90% of the body’s collagen and is five times more prevalent in the skin than type III collagen. In normal tissues, collagen is organized into a network parallel to the skin surface through normal synthesis by fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen). Conversely, collagen is less organized in scars, contains more type III collagen, and forms sheets and nodules beneath the skin due to increased collagen synthesis. This alteration affects tissue characteristics such as pliability and smoothness, potentially leading to increased fragility. It can also cause different layers to fuse together with fibrosis (scar tissue), making them difficult to separate and reposition during subsequent deep-plane face and/or neck lifts.
Does it always happen?
While these treatments may not always lead to future complications if used appropriately, it is crucial to fully understand their implications. Pursuing minor improvements now may not justify the risk of complicating a future deep plane facelift, which offers the most enduring and natural results. Therefore, careful consideration and informed decision-making are essential before opting for any cosmetic procedure.
