Facelift

You just thought you'd gotten used to hearing it--people telling you how tired you look. "Did you have trouble sleeping? Are you feeling okay?" It's hard to keep from screaming out the answer: "I feel great! I'm not tired! I got a good night's sleep! I'm just getting old!" But, why should you have to listen to these comments at all? These days, many Baby Boomers seek solutions to fading youthfulness by having facial rejuvenation surgery. Once viewed as narcissistic and rarely a subject for public revelation, cosmetic surgery is now talked about widely. In fact, it has become so acceptable in Houston, Texas, that many people look upon surgical procedures as necessities rather than luxuries. Today, having your face lifted and your skin peeled certainly aren't considered radical extremes reserved for the neurotic. It doesn't make you vain; it just makes you self-aware. Baby Boomers, raised and nurtured on instant gratification, tend to view rejuvenation procedures from a practical perspective. "Having a face lift made me look about 10 years younger, which gave me an edge in the workplace," explains Darla. 52. "It also made me more comfortable socially. I feel better--prettier, actually--when I go out on a date. The man in my life right now used to date women in their 30s, so it feels good knowing I don't look old." Options for making people look younger run the gamut from eyelid lifts and facial peels to face-lifts and nose surgery (the tip of your nose tends to droop as you age).

WHAT DOES A FACE LIFT ENTAIL?
Dr. Aguilar will "lift" up and "reshape" the lower third of your face during face-lift surgery. To do this, he will remove some of the droopy skin that gives you that hound dog look, and typically, he'll need to suction out excess fat. He will carefully hide stitches in your hairline and behind your ears so that the fact that you had a face-lift isn't evident to others.

DOES A FACE LIFT GET RID OF WRINKLES?
As Dr. Aguilar lifts your skin, some wrinkles will vanish because your skin is tighter. But if you have wrinkles, you'll probably want to combine a peel with the face-lift. Otherwise, you'll have a young-looking, uplifted face with "old" skin--not the result you want.

IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE AN EYELID LIFT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A FACE LIFT?
A person who has a face-lift wants a younger-looking face, of course, and an eyelid lift will serve to enhance the entire appearance of the face. Some people with very deep-set eyes will benefit from having a lower eyelid lift only; others will need both upper and lower lids done. Dr. Aguilar can advise you on the approach that will net the best results.

HOW MUCH OF A SETBACK IS A FACE LIFT WHEN IT COMES TO LIMITING ACTIVITY? People are always surprised to find that a face-lift isn't painful. But it is very likely to keep you out of the public eye for about two weeks. Your face will be swollen and bruised, and your energy will be zapped (from being under anesthesia).