Lora began low carbing nearly 5 years ago, and has shed over 150 pounds, learning a great deal in the process. With an education in nursing and nutrition, Lora debuted Low Carb Luxury in 1999, and now writes for multiple publications as well as speaking in public arenas.

As some of you know, this past October (on the 16th), I underwent cosmetic surgery. I had two procedures done. A Rhytidectomy — a facelift, and Blepharoplasty — eyelids.

I made the decision to have these procedures done because after losing a great deal of weight, I found my face looked older at the end of this journey than I'd expected. It's quite common, actually. Like any other part of the body, the face had held an excessive amount of weight. And while small to moderate weight loss rarely causes problems with skin, a big weight loss usually does.

In our next issue, we'll be bringing you an in-depth interview with Dr. Jon Mendelsohn, who performed my surgery at the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery & Laser Center in Hyde Park, Ohio. Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Fellowship trained by the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Mendelsohn is a renowned specialist in facial plastic surgery.

But first, we want to start you with our "first look"... a primer of sorts on the basics of facial cosmetic surgery, and hopefully help you decide if it's right for you.

We'll be covering mostly the two procedures I had done myself.

What is a facelift?

Some of the most visible signs of aging first appear on the face — whether from weight loss, or from the stresses of daily life. Deep creases can form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly (especially after a large weight loss); folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.

A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can't stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck. As a result, your face will appear firmer and fresher.

Is a facelift right for you?

Facelifts are most commonly performed on patients in the 40-60 age range. However, the procedure can produce good results for people in their 60s, 70s and 80s as well. You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you have any of the following types of conditions:

    • a deep line that runs from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth

    • loss of a well-defined jawline

    • deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging skin near the cheekbones

    • loose skin, wrinkles or excess fatty tissue in the neck.

If you are still overweight — with more than 20 pounds to lose, your continued weight loss can affect your results, so it's important to discuss this with your surgeon to determine if you're ready.

The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined.

A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-confidence in the process. But it can't give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

How is a facelift performed?

The technique chosen for your surgery depends on your features, your surgeon's preferences and your desired results. There are many variations to the facelift procedure. However, the incision is typically hidden in the natural contour of your ear, and then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline.

Following surgery, the incisions are easily concealed by your hair or with makeup. There also may be a small incision hidden beneath your chin. Working through these incisions, your plastic surgeon frees the facial skin from its underlying tissues and pulls it upward and back. The excess skin is then removed.

In some cases, the deeper tissues may also be repositioned to restore a more youthful contour to your face. If necessary, an incision under the chin allows your surgeon to remove fatty tissue in that area and smooth the cord-like structures of the underlying muscle in the neck.

           

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