Looking younger at any age is a reality and can be as simple as a little filler or skin tightening but eventually can require a surgical lifting procedure, eyelid trimming and reshaping, or neck tucking. The critical determination in a consultation should be whether the appearance of aging is primarily due to soft tissue volume loss or excessive skin laxity and sagging. Both conditions are caused by volume loss but in some cases “tighter” isn’t younger looking.  Jowling, deep folds, and neck laxity requires surgery with the goal being a younger look without looking operated. A natural more youthful look requires meticulous techniques that shouldn’t be rushed.  I pride myself in doing what is best for you, not me.

Say “NO!” Some places don’t even tell you it’s a surgery-a facelift surgery. After 20 years experience I can tell you that I cannot do any lifting procedure in 2 hours. Even a “mini-lift” involves a few yards of fine stitches 3 mm apart. Is the surgeon doing the whole procedure or are nurse assistants finishing the work? How many cases does the doctor have to get done the same day as yours? Are the incisions planned to be inconspicuous? Is the doctor’s incentive volume or quality and what is their primary specialty?

At Spago Medispa, where I now perform all of my surgical procedures, facelifts take 3-7 hours, depending on the extent of work to be done. This is of no concern since the procedure is done without general anesthesia or IV sedation. I have been working on awake patients in an office setting since 1988, and it is the safest and most efficient way to have the surgery. Why so much time? Treating someone awake and aware takes basic TLC, tender loving care. No hair is cut, no staples are used, and layers of fine dissolvable stitches are used. A gentle, almost painless technique to deliver the local anesthetic is used. “Spa-asthesia” at Spago involves a mild blend of oral pain medicine and ant-anxiety medicines followed by an hour massage or facial to make patients as naturally relaxed as possible but requiring no anesthetic recovery. I have yet to have even the most hyper patients wish they had gone to the hospital for more anesthesia. This saves thousands of dollars over hospital or surgicenter based procedures. In 20 years I have had no adverse outcomes, a single case of post-operative bleeding, and only a single case of post-operative infection which occurred 2 weeks after surgery and healed without complications on oral antibiotics. After removing the bandage the following day, our salon staff will wash and blow dry your hair and leave you feeling almost normal in less than 24 hours. Dissolving stitches last 10-14 days and eliminate the need for painful suture removal while tissues are still tender. Bruising and swelling are minimized using tumescent infiltration of local anesthetic and careful handling of the skin at all times. So, by providing a relaxed environment, making your procedure the priority of the day, using meticulous surgical techniques, and basic TLC, a lifting procedure of any extent can be done without unnecessary costs or anesthetics. The often hectic hospital operating room environment is no match for the tranquil controlled medical spa environment I have created.

Looking younger at any age is possible with either surgical or non-surgical techniques and by having expertise in both treatment realms I can provide the best choice for your condition to fit your budget.