Procedures of the Face

   The earliest sign of facial ageing is sagging, especially of the jawline and neck region.  This is benefited with a “lift” called the rhytidectomy or facelift, which traditionally also corrects the neck and is better referred to as the cervicofacialplasty (neck-lift).

   The cervicofacialplasty (facelift) has undergone continuous evolution and takes on many forms determined by the individual needs and wants of each patient.  The technique no longer simply relies on tightly pulling the facial skin.  Today the underlying facial structures such as the cheeks are cosmetically enhanced.  The jowls of a droopy jawline and “turkey gobbler” deformity of the sagging neck are elevated with the resuspension of deeper facial layers, called the “SMAS-platysma unit”.  This “two layer” enhancement and resuspension of underlying deep facial structures allow the surface skin to simply be redraped, with only the excess skin removed. Depending on your preference you may have local or general anesthesia and have the surgery performed in the hospital or in my office.  Patients usually go home with drains after the procedure. The next day the drains are removed. Sutures around the ears are removed in four to five days, while those hidden in the scalp above and behind the ears are removed in 7 to 10 days.  Many patients return to work after the sutures are removed applying makeup to any residual bruising.  Patients usually enjoy normal social activities after two to three weeks.

   Most commonly the two layer (SMAS-Platysma and skin lift) is employed o reverse some of the ravages of aging. This alone is adequate for those with “satisfactory” underlying bone structure. For those in the majorities, who is less fortunate, or have lost some of their youthful facial structures, resulting in flattened cheekbones or heavy jowls, Dr. Pober first corrects the underlying architecture with facial lipocontouring techniques he described in his textbook chapter on “Facial and Body Lipocontouring.”  “Vogue’s article on “Face Lifts for the Fainthearted” highlighted Dr. Pober’s art of liposculpture,” wherein the “art of removing a little fat here and putting it a little there” can “achieve many of the same effects as a face lift but with far less trauma.”

   Dr. Pober’s refinements of traditional and modern aesthetic surgery of the face and neck have been described in professional textbook chapters, typically co-authored with Dr. Sherrell Aston, such as his most recent chapter entitled “Aesthetic Surgery of the Face, Neck and Brow.”  The cover story of “Psychology Today” begins with how the author watches Dr. Pober change a woman’s “life” by having Dr. Pober perform upon her a facial transformation. “Avenue” magazine reported Dr. Pober was among The Best Doctors for refining the aging jaw and neck, the first sign of aging or the first “challenge” often encountered by both men and women as they advance in years.  Some of his results have also been featured in “The Record.”

   The newest techniques involve the endoscope and offer virtually scarless surgery.  With the endoscope, eye brow and forehead lifts can be performed through 5 or 6, small (fingertip-width) incisions in the scalp concealed by the hair. Previously, an ear-to-ear incision across the scalp was necessary which created numbness, itchiness and hair loss along the scar.  With the endoscopic forehead lift, there is far less risk of any of these complications.  Just like the older procedures, the endoscopic forehead lift can be used to correct frown lines and lift the upper face.  Post-surgery, wrinkles of the forehead and brow virtually disappear.