Rhytidectomy

Rhytidectomy literally means "the removal of wrinkles." It is the medical term for a face lift.

The social stigma surrounding the rhytidectomy has actually come up on account of bad face lifts, not the good ones that appear natural and have literally no sign of surgical presence. A patient who suffers from a poor face lift looks windswept, as though they are wearing a mask that is too tight, or like their skin is being continuously pulled on. This poor result is not what a face lift is meant to do. It is not designed to tug the skin out of its sagging state (this actually makes the condition worse, as the added tension will just lead to further distortion later). This unfortunately is what most surgeons do when they perform a face lift.

Rather, it is meant to address the original cause for the facial aging, by addressing the muscle and fat layers of the facial structure, for a very natural uplifted and youthful visage without pulling the skin.
Dr. Shapiro's face lift would never let you leave his Scottsdale area office with a “windswept” look. Instead, he will address the descended facial fat and muscular layers in combination with a readjustment of the skin. With his attention to detail and professional care, you will have a very natural looking, satisfying result that will last for many years to come.

While there is a variety of styles and surgical techniques for face lifts, the purpose of each is to correct visual signs of aging in the face and neck. These signs include wrinkles, loose skin that has begun to sag, eyes that appear puffy, necks and jawlines that appear indistinct with muscle bands and fatty tissue, and facial fat that has accumulated in less-than-attractive places.

The style of face lift that Dr. Shapiro, a Scottsdale rhytidectomy surgeon, recommends for you will depend on the extent of facial aging and the amount of change you would like to see after surgery.

Traditional Rhytidectomy

Also referred to as a standard face lift, the traditional rhytidectomy is designed to correct advanced signs of aging such as overdeveloped jowls, loose neck skin, and any excessive fat accumulation beneath the chin that causes a "double-chin" appearance.

The incisions in a traditional rhytidectomy run from the temporal hairline (hairline at the temples) or hidden along the sideburns themselves, around the ear hidden behind the cartilages, and within the hairline in back of the ears. Scars are planned artistically to be concealed so that your procedure will remain your secret.

In most cases, extra fat and skin are trimmed away while the deeper layers of the muscular facial structure are lifted back into place. Facial fat is also lifted to a more youthful position as it is attached deeply to the muscle layers of the face. Another incision below the chin may be necessary to fully address an aging neck, where redundant skin and fat are also removed, and muscle bands are tightened.

The results of Dr. Shapiro's standard face lift are a crisp and contoured neckline, a jowl-free chin, and uplifted cheeks that produce an overall youthful appearance.