Facelifts were up (pun very much intended) 18% in 2022.

Last fall, one of the worlds most respected facelift surgeons,L.

While not for the queasy, the post quickly went viral, sparking debate across the aesthetics community.

A woman wearing sunglasses fuschia lipstick and a black blazer with bandages around her head and neck against a dark…

My goal wasnt to start a controversy, Dr. Nayak tellsAllure.

I think its only fair to be able to ask that question and get a straight answer.

What are the odds of future surgical complications arising from treatments like Sculptra?

We dont know the answer to that yet, he says.

With increasing frequency, theyre discussing this phenomenon in private group chats and at medical conferences.

Im like a forensic scientist in there, tracking the history of your aesthetic treatments under your skin.

Seventy-four percent rated the effects of thread lifts as equally or more concerning.

It also pointed out that Sculptra is often not received in isolation.

Im like a forensic scientist in there, tracking the history of your aesthetic treatments under your skin.

Were all contending with a loss of fat in the neck from deepradiofrequency microneedling, adds Dr. Shediscouragesher Instagram followers from getting radiofrequency microneedling treatments, insisting that the risks far outweigh the potential rewards.

I hear from people on Instagram: Im 27 and Ive had seven Morpheus8 treatments.

Who does this to people?

(There are several brands of radiofrequency microneedling devices but Morpheus8 has become the Kleenex of the category.)

This seems to be cold comfort to those holding the scalpels, however.

Chance broke it down like this: Scar tissue is collagen and collagen is scar tissue.

You could get super-nerdy about it, but the difference between them is basically branding.

In response, scarring is the reparative process whereby new collagen is formed.

Thats why biostimulators make some doctors uneasy.

Scar tissue is collagen and collagen is scar tissue.

The difference between them is basically branding.

Whats more, the collagen born ofcosmetic treatmentsdoesnt necessarily mirror our native supply.

It may be organized differently or sprout where it shouldnt.

Our intention here isnt to scare you or put any brand on blast.

These collagen-building procedures are generally FDA-cleared or FDA-approved and regarded as safe and effective.

When used well, they are very successful, says Dr. Its conferring the desired effect: Biostimulators collagen clusters fill out hollows.

The scarred or contracted tissue from radiofrequency makes skin feel a littlefirmer.

Fat-freezing and overly-aggressive past surgery (includingliposuction) are two others that come up.

When facial tissues have never been touched, they glide and divide effortlessly.

The anatomical terrain is familiar and easy to navigate.

Surgeons can rely on consistent landmarks to guide them safely through the facial layers.

But when previous procedures muck up those layers, this basic task becomes daunting.

Surgeons rely on consistent landmarks to guide them safely through the facial layers.

When tissues are scarred and muddled, surgeons can lose their bearings.

To grasp the ramifications of this, imagine those layers like the diaphanous pages of a time-worn classic.

Now picture them haphazardly dotted with adhesive.

your facelift] not as good.

Wading through scarred tissues can stir up swelling and cause excessive bleeding.

When the tissues are oozing, the patient will have morebruisingand downtime, Dr. Nayak notes.

The risk of developing a hematoma during recovery also shoots up.

When these pools of blood form under the skin, they commonly have to be drained in the OR.

Heat-based treatments that penetrate deeply can also affect facial tissues.

Its like if you were to microwave crayons, says Dr. “Its like if you were to microwave crayons.

Theyd go from red, blue, and green to a brown mess.

She always asks about past procedures, but sometimes patients forget or dont know exactly what theyve had done.

you might avoid a lot of pitfalls, she says, by disclosing your treatment history.

It has been on the market for 14 years, with over 2.5 million treatments delivered globally to date.

The Ultherapy technology is supported by more than 60 clinical studies and more than 120 published peer-reviewed papers.”

The majority of machines have adjustable options, which allow doctors to customize temperature and depth.

(Others argue that any gear that makes heat can melt fat.

Always get your surgeons approval before having anything done prior to a scheduled facelift.)

This allows for ideal tightening without the side effects that other non-targeted energies display."

Threadscan also promote scarring, especially when haphazardly placed.

Whenthreadsare placed appropriately, he says he has no trouble operating behind them years later.

[That patient is] getting a lot more inflammation.

Can hyaluronic acid filler affect a facelift?

Hyaluronic acidfilleris more of a nuisance than a real obstacle during surgery.

Some doctors suggest dissolving it with hyaluronidase beforehand, though, for a couple of reasons.

Filler can hang around for years in the tear troughs, blocking the lymphatics and causing persistent puffiness.

What about previous facial surgery?

Surgeryitself introduces scar tissue and swelling, while also affecting blood flow to the skin.

Whats the difference, really?

It relates to the nature of the scar left behind.

With injectables and devices, the scarring is from the surface down through the tissues, says Dr. Calobrace.

A well-donefacelift, on the other hand, typically creates even, horizontal sheets of scar tissue.

Theyre clearly defined and we can dissect right along them.

Some surgeons even find secondary facelifts easier to perform for this reason.

WhatcanI do if I plan on someday getting a facelift?

If a facelift isnt for you, carry on with your favoritetweakments, being cautious and conservative.

If you are entertaining a lift well, youre not alone.

(I, for one, can relate.)

Others take a less stringent stance.

If someones had threads, she delays even longer, waiting for that inflammation to settle down.

Try not to stress too much about past procedures, though.

Facelift specialists have grown accustomed to operating in patients whove had biostimulators or radiofrequency in the past.

Still, being mindful about your treatment choices now could mean a safer, better facelift in the future.

To read more about facelifts inAllure’s new series,Want a Lift?

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