Face and Neck Lifts (also performing mini face lifts and mini neck lifts) As we age, all parts of our face starts to sag as the skin starts losing its elasticity. A facelift and neck lift targets the lower third as the lower cheek/jowl/jaw of the face and neck region. Anything that will cause the skin to lose elasticity will hasten the process, including sun exposure, weight fluctuations and heredity factors. Patients with loose skin or jowling on the lower part of their face due to aging or sun damage or patients who have recently lost a good deal of weight and want to tighten the loose skin usually get face lifts to rectify the problem. Depending on the results the patient wants to achieve, she/he will opt for either a full face lift or a mini face lift. A mini face lift will involve making an incision beginning at the base of the sideburn area and ending at the earlobe. A mini facelift is not quite as invasive as a traditional facelift as it involves smaller incisions and the use of tiny stitches. A full face lift incision would start higher, continue around the facial hairline and behind the ear and end about two inches from the middle-back of the neck. Traditional facelift separates the facial skin away from the underlying muscle and tissue and results in much more recovery time. Ideal candidates for a either facelifts should be in good health and have strong jaw and cheekbone structure, for a good foundation. A facelift will not be able to successfully treat a "turkey neck," which is loose skin attached to a drooping muscle underneath the chin. Loose skin beneath the chin and along the neck can cause deep wrinkling along the neck, and the appearance of a "double chin." Through neck lift surgery, Dr. Liu can effectively smooth out the wrinkles and restore the smooth slender contours of a youthful neck. During a neck lift surgery, Dr. Liu removes stubborn fat deposits, smoothes and tightens the sheet of muscle that surrounds the structures of the neck, and snips away excess skin. A neck lift compliments the results achieved with a facelift so oftentimes the procedures are often performed together to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation of the lower third of the face. Good candidates are generally in good health, and don't smoke or tan too excessively, as this will undo all the benefits obtained by a mini facelift. A point to keep in mind is that a facelift will not change the texture of the skin. Acne scars, age spots, fine lines and smoker creases will still remain even after a facelift. To combat these other issues, Dr. Liu recommends combining other treatments to achieve a fully rejuvenated flawless appearance.