Forbes Facelift
Posted October 21, 2015
According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the acceptance of minimally invasive procedures, such as Botox and dermal fillers, as well as rejuvenating surgical procedures among men, has grown by more than 40% over the past 5 years. Men are eating healthier and exercising now more than ever before. Men who are working longer before retirement are feeling the pressure of competing with a younger work force.
Realizing that being healthier and staying in shape does not slow down the external signs of aging in the face, many men have started turning to what plastic surgeons have termed the “Forbes Facelift” to address laxity in the skin under the chin and neck area, deepening of the lines at the corners of the mouth and thinning of the cheeks. Most men that I talk to about plastic surgery tell me they started noticing the changes in their face around their mid to late 40’s. Common complaints are: “I feel great but look tired” and “I look older than I feel.” Thus, for men in their 40’s-50’s, the “Forbes Facelift” reverses some of the symptoms that occur with the natural aging process.
Similar to women, the goal of a facelift is to produce a natural, rested look without any telltale signs of a surgical procedure. Classically, a facelift should make a patient look 10-12 years younger. However, it has now become more common for men to undergo a facelift in their early 50’s so that the results are still noticeable, but less obvious. The technique for a facelift is essentially the same for men and women but the incision in front of the ear is slightly different for a man because of the beard pattern. The effects of a facelift typically last about 8-10 years.
The downtime for a facelift procedure is usually 2 weeks away from work and 3 weeks from exercising. There is usually only minor swelling and bruising depending on the patient. Most men say it is mildly uncomfortable and only use pain medication for the first 2-3 days.
