Out With Facelifts? Not Yet, Says ASPS - Plastic Surgeons Refine Surgical Techniques to Meet Future Boomer Demand

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. With new laser treatments and injectable wrinkle fillers and fighters, many baby boomers are choosing to postpone the facelift – but it is not dead! In fact, patients age 45 and older may find they only achieve their desired result with surgical rejuvenation options. A study in May’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), reveals a new facelift technique that offers patients more options.

“With the introduction of injectable fillers and Botox®, many people over 45 believe they can achieve the same results as a facelift without surgery,” said ASPS President-elect Richard D’Amico, MD. “However, as we get older our brow lines, jowls and wrinkles can become too deep for an injectable to smooth out. When a patient’s degree of facial aging is such that an injectable can not achieve the desired result, surgery is the next natural progression.”

In the study, the authors placed the facelift incision, in a specific angle, within the side burn and temple areas (traditional techniques place the incision above the ear). Hair grows back through the scar which is hidden within the hair. The technique allows women to comfortably pull their hair back without exposing a scar and men to grow sideburns without the embarrassment of missing hair. The technique also allows for better repositioning of tissue, further reducing the risk of the “wind blown,” overdone look.

Although surgery may provide better results, injectables still play an important role in facial rejuvenation for the over 45 set. “After a facelift, fillers and Botox® are key adjuncts to help restore volume and maintain surgical improvements for many more years,” said Dr. D’Amico.

“Whether injectable fillers, surgery or a combination of both, the procedure selected should fit and meet the needs of the patient,” said Bahman Guyuron, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author. “With the youngest boomer turning 42 and the oldest turning 60 this year, the demand for surgical procedures that produce results without the tell-tale signs of having had a facelift are going to continue to increase.”

Facelifts are the second most popular cosmetic surgical procedure for men and women over age 55, according to new ASPS statistics. Nearly 102,000 people aged 40 and older had a facelift in 2006.

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