WHAT IS FACELIFT SURGERY? Facelift surgery is one of the most complex facial rejuvenation procedures among all plastic surgery procedures. Facelift surgery involves making an incision around the ear to raise the skin and muscle; and then lift it vertically up. Excess skin is lifted up and back and removed as needed. It addresses several facial aging concerns including but not limited to:

• Loose skin in middle and lower third of the face
• Prominent folds and lines in middle and lower third of the face
• Sunken and hollow cheeks giving square look to face instead of triangular youthful look
• Prominent jowls or bags near jawline

Even though facelift is a gold standard in facial rejuvenation, Dr. Shah believes in individualized patient-specific approach. He does the complete examination of face and neck before determining what is best for an individual patient. Goal is to achieve patient-specific, long lasting and natural-looking results. Different facial aesthetic procedures can be combined to achieve full facial rejuvenation. Treatment will be tailored to patients’ needs and concerns. Dr. Shah uses different facelift techniques:

1. Lift and fill technique – This technique involves plicating SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) after raising the skin and filling different facial compartments with fat to obtain youthful face.
2. High-SMAS technique – This technique involves lifting and anchoring SMAS vertically up and removing excess skin.
3. Deep plane – This technique involves releasing attachments underneath the SMAS so that whole unit of skin, fat, musculature and tissues can be lifted simultaneously.

Goal with all these techniques is to provide natural-looking long lasting results and avoiding “overly pulled” or “wind tunnel” look. WHY CHOOSE DR. SHAH FOR FACELIFT SURGERY IN NEW YORK New York has several plastic, facial plastic, ENT and other surgeons claiming to be the “Best Facelift Surgeon in NYC”. Patients should be very cautious about who they choose. Dr. Shah always advises patients to do proper research on anyone they are going to see for facelift surgery in New York or anywhere else in the country. Most important thing is to feel comfortable with the surgeon and what they have to offer. Dr. Shah is a well-trained plastic surgeon who has learned from the pioneers of facelift techniques including Dr. Donald Wood-Smith and Dr. Rod Rohrich. Patient safety and concerns come first for Dr. Shah. He is honest about his opinion and easily accessible before and after the surgery. RECOVERY AFTER FACELIFT Recovery varies based on type of technique used for facelift:

• Swelling, bruising and soreness are normal for up to 1-3 weeks. Residual swelling can be concealed with make-up
• Patients are able to return to work in 1-3 weeks
• Follow up is on day 1, 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery
• Final results of surgery can take up to 1 year because internal healing and collagen deposition takes time