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The Life-Changing Benefits of a Facelift

Dr. Philip Miller

December 17, 2018

Image showing a woman looking much younger after having a facelift surgery, New York, NY You’re considering a facelift but you’re wondering if it’s really worth the expense and downtime. If you’re listing the pros and cons while trying to come to a decision, a study from the Journal of the American Medicine Association (JAMA) Facial Plastic Surgery, supplies a number of new entries for your “pro” column. As it turns out, women who’ve had facelifts and other upper-face rejuvenation procedures aren’t just perceived as looking younger, but also as being more attractive, healthier, and more successful.

Dr. Phillip J. Miller, an expert facial plastic surgeon in New York City, has long promoted facelifts as one way to attain what he calls “Aesthetic Confidence®.” Dr. Miller’s patients relay that his surgeries do not just improve their appearance, but they have other life-changing benefits.

Some of these benefits include feeling happier and more confident after their surgery, and also that people react more positively to them than they did before. The following study, “Association Between Facial Rejuvenation and Observer Ratings of Youth, Attractiveness, Success, and Health” confirms his patients’ perceptions. Let’s explore each benefit so you can fully understand how, in the right hands,  life-changing a facelift can be.

Before and After  Older woman with more youthful look than before with no sagging skin, after facelift surgery, New York, NY

The study included before-and-after photographs of twelve older women who’d either had eyelid surgery and a facelift, or eyelid surgery, a facelift, and a brow lift. Each of the 504 participants who looked at these photos in an online survey either saw the “before” or the “after” photograph from each of the twelve patients, but never saw both views.  

When the researchers looked at how the observers rated all of the photos, they found that…

The “Afters” Looked Younger

On average, women were estimated  4 to 5 years younger in their “after” shots than they were in their “before” shots.

Technique plays an important role in creating this youthful result. When performing a facelift, Dr. Miller always lifts the underlying SMAS (submucosal aponeurotic system) layer, along with the skin. Lifting the SMAS both vertically and horizontally creates a more youthful, uplifted face that appears much more natural than when lifting skin alone. The re-positioned SMAS also provides better support for your skin, allowing your facelift to last longer.

The “Afters” Were More Attractive

On a scale of 1 to 100, the “before” photos were rated “50” on attractiveness. The “after” photos jumped up to 68.

Another technique that Dr. Miller utilizes to restore a youthful visage is fat grafting. Dr. Miller often recommends fat grafting in combination with a facelift to get the best outcome for facial rejuvenation. The fat grafts fill in areas of lost volume on your face by using fat you’ve donated from a place where you have excess fat, such as your abdomen. Using an artist’s eye, Dr. Miller uses fat grafts to give your face more youthful and balanced contours. Another added benefit is the fat grafts also help your facelift heal.

The “Afters” Looked Much Healthier  Two images comparing face of an older woman before and after facelift. Face looks much younger with no sagging or loose skin after the treatment, New York, NY

Using the same scale, the average of the “before” photos was just “50” on how healthy they looked. But the “after” shots gained 20 points.

Youthful vitality and health go hand in hand. To accelerate your healing and improve the quality of your skin overall, Dr. Miller recommends a skin rejuvenation procedure such as Fractora(TM) laser or microneedling in tandem with your facelift. Lasers and microneedling devices stimulate your skin to produce rejuvenating collagen. Your skin becomes thicker, stronger, smoother, and glows with health.

The “Afters” Looked More Successful

The study participants also rated that the women in the “after” pictures appeared more successful. The average “before” rating was only 50 but jumped to 61 for the “after” photos.

And, as Dr. Miller’s patients report, getting positive feedback on their appearance after a facelift or other cosmetic surgery really does give them a confidence boost. That confidence translates into more willingness to take risks in romance and on the job, leading to more success … and more confidence.

 

Rate Your Own “After” Photo

Not sure about getting a facelift, but still considering? As part of your facelift consultation, Dr. Miller can create a computer image that shows you what your life-changing results will be. Call Dr. Miller and his facial rejuvenation team to book your facelift consultation in NYC today. You deserve to live your after.

Next, read about The Rise of Medical Aesthetics for Men.

Dr. Philip Miller

Focusing exclusively on the face for more than two decades, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller blends art and science with innovation and skill to provide thousands of patients with impeccable results. He is known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and other cosmetic procedures for the face.

Settle for Nothing But the Best Facial Plastic Surgery

Facial Plastic Surgery

Dr. Philip Miller and his team of New York's top rated facial plastic surgery experts provide custom cosmetic treatment plans that include a combination of minimally-invasive techniques and advanced procedures, to help each patient achieve the Aesthetic Confidence® they desire. Our unique NatraFace™ approach to facial rejuvenation includes the following effective procedures:

Eyelid Plastic Surgery

Dr. Miller provides patients with Manhattan's #1 customized care and treatment for smooth, supple skin that brightens the eyes and revitalizes the face. With our NatraFace™ approach, we utilize a combination of effective aesthetic techniques tailored to suit each patient’s needs. We offer:

Rhinoplasty (Nose Jobs)

Dr. Miller and his staff of NYC's best aesthetic specialists offer the NatraNose® process, which is a comprehensive range of minimally-invasive and advanced techniques to achieve natural-looking rhinoplasty results, improve nasal function, and meet the patient’s aesthetic goals. Dr. Miller specializes in nose jobs, nose reductions, non-surgical nose jobs, and more: Adjust the links in these sections as follows:

Skin Care Treatments

Widely acclaimed for our broad range of flawless skincare solutions, Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS and his team of aesthetic specialists offer customized skincare treatment plans to achieve healthy, natural-looking results. As part of our NatraLook™ process, the following procedures may be performed individually or in combination with more advanced surgical treatments for optimal rejuvenation.

Male Plastic Surgery

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience working with male and female patients. He specializes in facial plastic surgery and is recognized as an expert in facial rejuvenation procedures. Utilizing the most advanced surgical techniques, Dr. Miller can maintain or enhance masculine features while producing the most natural-looking results.

Services >

Aesthetic Confidence®

The Plastic Surgery Podcast with Dr. Philip Miller

Tune into The Plastic Surgery Podcast, hosted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller. Dr. Miller is here to answer your questions, de-mystify plastic surgery, and help you feel more knowledgeable and empowered about any procedure performed at our center.

  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 44: My First Time

    8 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 43: Top 10 Reasons Not To Get A Rhinoplasty ( Plastic Surgery)

    20 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 42 : Osteomas & Lipomas

    11 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 41: All Ears Considered!

    8 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 40: Infrared Light Therapy

    6 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 39: Beauty, the Plateau

    6 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 38: Botox and Dermal Fillers

    3 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 37: Cost of Rhinoplasty

    1 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 36: Different Types of Nasal Surgeries

    3 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 35: Do You Have to Break the Nose for Rhinoplasty?

    2 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 34: Do You Have to Stay Overnight After Having a Rhinoplasty?

    2 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 33: Don't Have a Rhinoplasty!

    2 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 32: Endonasal or External

    1 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 31: Are You a Candidate?

    2 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 30: In The Office

    17 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 29: Can My Nose be Made Smaller?

    4 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 28: Can't Breath Through Nose

    3 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 27: Chin Implants - Mentoplasty

    2 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 26: Columellar Struts

    23 sec
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 25: Common Terms

    5 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 24: Connection Between Facial Resurfacing and Tattooing

    5 min
  • Apple Podcast Icon Podcast Icon

    Episode 23: The Sooner, The Better?

    4 min
View all Episodes

Plastic Surgery w/ Dr. Miller

If you’re thinking about getting a lift, nip, or tuck, this app is for you. It’s the most comprehensive pocket encyclopedia of plastic surgery terms, before and after photos, and visualization tools to help you really know what to expect from a procedure, including seeing potential results on your own photo. This app is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.

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