Secondary Facelifts: Corrective Surgery

Our faces display our most defining physical features; they also broadcast the first signs of aging for all to see. Thus, the goal of facelift surgery has always been to fight back against mother nature and take years off of our appearance, while maintaining and enhancing our physical identity.

Since many specific variations of facelift surgery exist today, it can be hard to determine which type will best help us achieve that goal. Current facelift procedure options include the full facelift, mini or mid-facelift, brow lift and forehead lift. In more recent years, however, there's been increasing buzz surrounding secondary facelifts. But what exactly is a secondary facelift? Who is a candidate for it?

What are Secondary Facelifts?

Secondary facelifts, sometimes called facelift revision surgery or reverse facelifts, are performed either to restore the results achieved with original facelift surgery, or to correct a faulty facelift procedure. Facelift surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures chosen to be redone. This is because the face highlights the signs of continued aging more prominently than any other body area does; and because the face features our most distinguishing and identifiable physical characteristics—so naturally, patients are very particular about their facial enhancement results!

Why Your Secondary Facelift Motives Matter

As mentioned above, patients typically choose secondary facelift surgery either to touch up previous facelift results, or to correct a facelift gone wrong. Your reasons for undergoing a secondary facelift can affect how you and your plastic surgeon plan and complete this process.

If you're looking into revision facelift surgery to correct poor results, or mistakes made during your first facelift (hopefully not), it's wise to take certain steps the second time around to ensure yourself better odds:

Thoroughly research facelift surgery types and their supplemental information before your consultation with a plastic surgeon
Identify what specifically displeased you about your original facelift results, and clearly communicate this to your surgeon during the consultation
Based on your own input, viewings of before and after photos, and result previews with computer imaging software, you can frame a very specific idea of what you want and, again, share all your thoughts and needs with your plastic surgeon
Ask about the experience and credentials of the plastic surgeon you will be working with. They should have years of facelift experience behind them, and be able to make personalized suggestions and recommendations for your surgery

If you underwent a facelift several years ago and were very satisfied with the results—but are now starting to notice some degradation—you are likely interested in a secondary facelift to restore youthful structure and tautness to your facial appearance. In this instance, there are other guidelines to follow that can help you efficiently tackle your revision facelift process:

Jog your memory about the specifics of your original facelift surgery. If you're going to a new plastic surgeon, you will want to share with them details about this previous procedure that yielded such favorable results for you
Know exactly what you're trying to improve with this facelift, and communicate this to your surgeon. Even if you were pleased with your original facelift, you may have different wants or expectations this time around
During the consultation, bring in before and after photos of yourself from the first surgery. You and your surgeon can then refer to these images while considering your current options and creating a more personalized surgical plan for your second facelift

No matter what your reasons are for seeking a secondary facelift, you have every right to expect safe, professional surgical treatment and customized, natural-looking enhancement results.

Choosing a Secondary Facelift Surgeon

The most important factor that will determine the success of your secondary facelift is, without a doubt, your plastic surgeon. Even if you've chosen the most reliable, tested facelift technique available, and have done all of your research and pre-surgery homework to the letter, none of it will matter if your provider is inexperienced and/or isn't qualified to perform the surgery.

As indicated in the above-mentioned guidelines, some surefire ways to help pinpoint your plastic surgeon's credibility and skills are to:

Inquire about the plastic surgeon's medical training, experience, areas of expertise etc. Are they board certified in plastic surgery? What facelift surgery methods are they knowledgeable in? Do they specialize in corrective plastic surgery work?
Ask to view the surgeon's before and after photos of past facelifts. These will be good indicators of the plastic surgeon's capabilities, and may also give you ideas for your own surgery
Look into testimonials and reviews from past patients to get a better feel for the plastic surgeon's local reputation and overall performance

By taking the time to find a reliable, board-certified plastic surgeon in your area who specializes in corrective work, the quality level of your facelift results will reap the benefits! For example, many Beverly Hills facelift patients have found their way to Dr. Gary Takowsky when they're in need of exceptional work in corrective facial plastic surgery—he even offers a unique reverse facelift technique and free consultations for his patients! Once you've found the plastic surgeon who's right for you, you'll be on your way to successfully reaching your secondary facelift goals!

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