Facelift or known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging on the face and neck. When patients ask for a facelift, they often have a very vague idea of what they need, other than that they want to look younger. The plastic surgeon, on the other hand, looks at the face and divides it into four aesthetic units that he treats individually or together with other areas. A full facelift is a surgical rejuvenation of all the four areas. These areas include:

• the forehead and upper eyelids
• the mid face and lower eyelids
• the lower face and lips
• the neck

Forehead and Upper Eyes
The forehead is grouped together with the upper eyelids because most cases of upper eyelid skin excess are really due to the brow being too low. Forehead wrinkles can be treated with botox, but this is only for temporary effect. A forehead lift or brow lift done with an endoscope has minimal scars, will give a natural appearance and will correct most of the skin excess in the upper eyelid.

Mid Face and Lower Eyes
The mid face covers the area of the lower eyelids and the cheekbone area down to the level of the corners of the mouth. With the mid facelift procedure, the tissues are suspended to a fixed point above the cheekbone and thus give the cheeks a fuller, younger, look.

A forehead lift in combination with a mid facelift is often an option for patients beginning in the late 30's or early 40's. Another option for the mid face area is to have a thread lift. The thread lift is a more subtle version of the traditional procedure and is performed in the office under local anesthesia. It is ideal for the patient who needs a shorter recovery time and is willing to accept results that will only last a few years.

Lower Face and Lips
The lower face is what was most effectively treated by a traditional facelift. It is this part of the procedure that leaves a scar in front of the ear. However, the scar is very well disguised. The lower facelift procedure adds definition to the jaw line. When done together with a neck lift, the results can be very flattering.
The lips are often overlooked when trying to rejuvenate the face. A lip augmentation with fillers or fat injections will plump the lips and results in a more youthful and pleasant appearance. Sometimes the space above the upper lip is too long and a lip lift will make a great improvement to the face.

Neck Area
The neck area, although not usually the primary focus of most people requesting a facelift, is sometimes desired by patients who want to improve wrinkles and lines in the neck. Whether treating a younger or older patient, the best neck-lift results are when it is done in combination with a lower facelift.

Skin Care and Facelifts
The structure of the face can be treated with lifts, fat injections, liposuction, and implants. However, even a beautiful 'structural' result can be ruined by sun damaged skin, much like how the appearance of a fabulous house can be ruined by cracking or peeling exterior paint. Thus, any effort to rejuvenate the whole face must take into account the treatment of the skin. For this, a variety of chemical peels or laser resurfacing can be very effective.