FACELIFT IN ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

ALSO OFFERING FACELIFT FOR MORRIS & UNION COUNTIES

At Bulan Plastic Surgery in Northern New Jersey, one of the most common complaints that patients share with Dr. Bulan is that they look older than they feel. Do you feel this way, too? Do you have the heart, mind and soul of a 30-something-year-old but feel that signs of aging on your face make you look much older?

As time passes, the natural aging process, overexposure to sun or pollution, or hereditary factors can take their toll on the face.  Skin may droop or lose elasticity. Fat may fall or become displaced. A loss of muscle tone can occur. When these things happen, jowls, saggy-looking cheeks or hollow pockets under the eyes can develop. Wrinkles and deep folds may appear, including nasolabial folds (i.e., “smile lines”), horizontal forehead lines (i.e., “worry lines”) or wrinkles on the outside corners of the eyes (i.e., “crow’s feet”).

All this may sound discouraging, but the encouraging news is that Dr. Bulan can correct these signs of facial aging! With facelift surgery, you can once again have a rejuvenated facial appearance that mirrors your youthful spirit.

CANDIDATES FOR FACELIFT

Ideal candidates for facelift are non-smokers who are in good health and have decent skin elasticity. They should be dissatisfied with the signs of aging that appear on their face and have a desire to reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, fat surrounding the chin and jawline and sagging skin along the neck. Setting reasonable expectations about what facelift can achieve (i.e., making your face look several years younger rather than like a teenager) is also important. During a consultation, Dr. Bulan will review multiple factors and confirm whether you are an appropriate candidate for this surgery.

FACELIFT PROCEDURE DETAILS

Although Dr. Bulan is skilled in a variety of facelift techniques, the standard approach to facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. The standard method for facelift surgery involves creating miniscule incisions along the inside of the hairline, continuing in front of the ear, under the earlobe to the back of the ear, ending in the lower scalp area.

Dr. Bulan then separates tissue from fat deposits (removing excess fat if needed), tightens the skin and removes any excess skin. He next addresses the neckline, if needed. To do so, he makes another small incision under the chin then again separates tissue from fat, tightening and removing skin from that area.

When he is finished, he closes any incisions with stitches, metal clips or staples, choosing the options that best minimize the chance of visible scarring.

Facelift surgery typically takes several hours or more, depending on which facelift technique Dr. Bulan uses and if other cosmetic procedures are included in the surgery such as eyelid lift or brow lift. Dr. Bulan may recommend that other procedures be completed at a different time. The plastic surgeon will discuss all available options with you during consultation; together, you will decide on the most appropriate facelift treatment protocol to achieve your aesthetic goals.

REVISION FACELIFT

As one of New Jersey’s most reputable plastic surgeons, Dr. Bulan is often sought out for revision facelift. Revision facelift is a second surgery performed when a patient is unhappy with the results of a prior facelift performed by another doctor. It is that much harder for a surgeon to produce amazing results after the skin tissue has already been manipulated, which is why it is so critical to choose a doctor with experience in revision facelift like Dr. Bulan.

MINI FACELIFT

Dr. Bulan also helps some patients with mini facelift, a modified version of facelift that is, as the name suggests, less intense. Dr. Bulan only recommends mini facelift for patients who are on the younger side with mild signs of aging. A mini facelift would be an insufficient way to treat more moderate to severe signs of aging, so traditional facelift is better in those circumstances.

FACELIFT RECOVERY

Immediately after facelift surgery, you will be taken to a room to recover while the effects of the anesthesia wear off. You will notice that your face is dressed with bandages, which help reduce recovery time and swelling.

Once you are released into the care of an authorized adult, you should make sure to get plenty of rest and limit any movement. Doing so will aid the body’s natural healing process and speed up recovery time. You may experience minor pain following facelift. Dr. Bulan will recommend oral pain medication to help alleviate any postoperative discomfort.

Any sutures, clips or staples will be removed about one week following surgery at one of your follow-up appointments. Although complications are rare, be sure to follow all Dr. Bulan’s pre- and post-operative instructions closely to help minimize any surgical risks or complications.

While all patients recover at their own pace, you will most likely feel well enough to resume normal activities like going to work after two weeks. Introduce exercise back into your life slowly, restricting anything strenuous for several weeks and until you have the go-ahead from Dr. Bulan.

FACELIFT FAQS

WILL FACELIFT TREAT THE UPPER PART OF MY FACE?

Facelift surgery is a procedure performed to rejuvenate the lower half of the face, as well as the chin and neck area. Patients who are also bothered by signs of aging on their brow or around their eyes may elect to combine facelift with an eyelid lift or brow lift procedure.

WHAT IS A LIQUID FACELIFT?

Liquid facelift refers to a non-surgical alternative to traditional facelift. During this procedure, Dr. Bulan uses a combination of injectable fillers and Botox to rejuvenate the face in a way that mimics facelift. Some patients prefer liquid facelift because it is painless and involves no downtime. Patients do need to set realistic expectations for liquid facelift, though: the transformation achieved by injectables is less dramatic than surgery, and it also does not last nearly as long.

WILL MY FACE LOOK TOO TIGHT AFTER FACELIFT?

Some people believe that all facelift results look way too tight, but that is probably because when they encounter good facelift results, they do not recognize it as plastic surgery. Have no fear — Dr. Bulan has developed an advanced technique that minimizes fine lines and wrinkles without pulling the skin so tight that it no longer looks natural. While rejuvenating the face is the primary objective of the surgery, it should not come at the cost of making it less attractive or appealing. Dr. Bulan understands how to find the right balance, and he has the before-and-after photos to prove it.

HOW LONG DO FACELIFT RESULTS LAST?

The short answer is, it depends. How long your facelift results last depends on a variety of factors, including which facelift technique you choose, as well as the condition of your skin and if you smoke. For example, “mini” facelift results typically last 2-4 years; revision facelift results generally last 2-7 years. Regardless of technique, smoking decreases the longevity of all aesthetic results.

It is impossible to say for sure how long facelift results will last for each individual. However, here are some general guidelines regarding the longevity of facelift results for you to keep in mind:

• Results for younger patients with minimal signs of facial aging may last for less time than for older patients who undergo multiple supplementary plastic surgery procedures.
• Because Dr. Bulan has already altered certain tissues with the original facelift surgery, revision facelift results may not necessarily have the same rejuvenation effects as the initial procedure did.
• Although facelift surgery cannot stop the natural aging process, it can keep you ahead of the curve!

HOW TO SCHEDULE A FACELIFT PROCEDURE

Why wait to have a younger-looking face? It’s time to enjoy looking in the mirror again! If you have ever wondered what you would look and feel like with a fresh facial appearance, schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Bulan to explore your facelift options. During your procedure you can learn about other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as neck lift, Botox injections and laser skin resurfacing.  Dr. Bulan has two convenient locations to serve the needs of patients throughout Essex, Morris and Union County. Contact Bulan Plastic Surgery at (973) 467-9744 now.