Wednesday, March 16, 2011

How much younger will a facelift make you look?

The results of a cosmetic surgical procedure vary from patient to patient, depending on the doctor, the technique, and one's own physical features. These variables can make having accurate expectations a bit of a challenge. But when it comes to facelifts, a new study may allow prospective patients to get a better idea of their potential age-reversing outcomes.

Eric Swanson, MD, surveyed 82 women and 11 men—average age, 57—who had undergone a facelift between 2002 and 2007, and the findings were published in a recent edition of the ASPS's official journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

In tune with previous studies about surgical satisfaction, the vast majority of patients reported improved self-esteem, higher quality of life, and positive reactions to their new appearance. But is that appearance significantly more youthful?

When the patients were asked how much younger they believe the facelift made them look, the average subjective assessment was 12 years, with some patients claiming to look as many as 27 years younger.

"These findings support the recommendation of surgical facial rejuvenation to patients who wish to look younger," Dr. Swanson writes. However, at least one patient said he or she did not look any younger, indicating that both results and self-evaluation vary greatly among patients.

It should also be noted that the majority of the survey participants underwent other procedures, like browlifts and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), which may have enhanced the perceived results of the facelift.

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