As we age the almond shaped face goes to a more oval configuration. An oval face goes to a more round shape, and the round goes to a more square shape. The square shaped face ages the least gracefully because even minimal redundancy is noted immediately. This is why women age more rapidly than men who have more square shaped faces to begin with. Individuals with high cheekbones and an almond shaped face can camouflage laxity of skin and muscle more readily. These people age the most gracefully.

A facelift procedure, or rhytidectomy as it is medically called, treats the neck, cheek, jowl, lateral temporal or eyebrow area. It gives the ultimate improvement in facial plastic surgery because it addresses all the areas of concern, and will reposition tissues into a more normal, natural position. It helps to turn back the clock approximately 10 years in most people.

In the female patient, incisions are hidden within the skin creases around the ear, going behind the tragus (the small flap of skin immediately in front of the opening to the ear canal). This means there is no incision in front of the ear which can be a telltale sign of facelift surgery. The incision goes behind the ear and back into the hairline. In the frontal temporal area the incision extends superiorly into the hairline. Incisions around the ear are closed with dissolvable sutures in multilayers. The hair is not shaved and incisions in the hair bearing tissues are made within hair parts. Small clips are used to allow the patient to shower following surgery. In most cases, a small incision, the size of a pencil, is made in a natural chin crease below the chin. This helps to obtain support and contouring in the neck and submental area. The surgery can take between three and six hours and you can return to work in 10-14 days. Any major family event or reunion should be scheduled at least one month after this procedure. . This long-lasting surgery leaves patients looking a good 10 years younger than they are. Dr. Picerno may also recommend laser resurfacing or facial fat transfer to further improve your appearance.