How Successful are Face Lifts?

Patients normally measure the success rate of these procedures in terms of the visual impact of the changes and of their duration. Considering that 11.9 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2004, it would appear image conscious Americans are availing themselves of all the techniques currently offered in the field.

Full surgical face lifts yields results that will last five to ten years whereas practitioners’ doctors are quick to caution that your normal rate of aging and your life habits will affect the benefit gained from surgery and the duration of that benefit. Smokers, for instance, will see wrinkles return much more quickly than non-smokers.

Non-surgical procedures have more limited results but many can be performed more than once. Any type of facial resurfacing procedure should last for several years provided the patient takes good care of their skin and avoids exposure to the sun. Injection methods tend to fade within a year to eighteen months but Thermage specialists claim the results of their methods will last two years.

In the end result, patient satisfaction is the benchmark for measuring the success of a cosmetic procedure. Unfortunately there are cases of individuals who have literally become addicted to cosmetic surgery and it is these people who usually appear in articles about the horrors and excesses of the field. With realistic expectations and the services of a board certified surgeon, cosmetic surgery is considered routine and overwhelmingly safe.

To Cut or Not to Cut

Obviously the decision to cut or not to cut is based on many factors including overall health, the extent of the expected benefit, and the cost involved. The popularity of a face lift without surgery is born out by the numbers, however. Of those 11.9 million U.S. cosmetic procedures only eighteen percent were surgical. Eighty-two percent of patients opted for a non-surgical face lift method. The best advice is to gather your facts. Make an informed decision. The procedure affects not just your looks, but your health and your pocket book.