Case Studies

Case #1: Facelift

This woman complained of a tired, angry look in her eyes as well as excessive fullness in her neck. Dr. Armstrong observed that she had increased furrows between the eyebrows, descent of the cheeks and fullness in the neck that was accentuated by a small chin.

Three weeks after surgery, she appears refreshed and more than ten years younger. The eyebrows have been lifted through an endoscopic forehead procedure made through tiny incisions behind the hairline. As part of this procedure, the muscles that create the creases between the eyebrows have been divided to improve the frown line.

The upper eyelids look dramatically better, although no skin was removed from the upper lid itself. The nose looks smoother and more elegant from release of the horizontal creases at the top of the nose. No surgery was done directly to the nose. The lower eyelids have been improved by lifting the cheek through a transconjunctival midface lift. Excess skin has been removed from the lower eyelids. This technique improves the fullness of the cheeks and elevates the lower eyelid shadow. No fat was removed from the eyes. This fat conserving technique provides smoothness to the lower eyelids without creating a hollowed-out look.

The lower face was treated with a facelift, liposuction and a chin implant. By augmenting the chin, we greatly enhanced the jaw line as seen from the side. These early photographs show how quickly the swelling and bruising can subside. Most patients avoid social engagements for 2-3 weeks after a facelift.

Follow-up examination after 3 1/2 years shows that the elevation of the eyebrows and the relaxation of the eyebrow and nasal creases has been sustained. She has required no surgery to her upper eyelids at any time. The cheek elevation and improvement in the nasal shape have maintained and the improvement in her neck line has been sustained. The scars in front of her earlobe are barely visible.