Detroit Cosmetic Surgeon Finds Face Lift Patients Still Look Younger Years After Surgery

    STERLING HEIGHTS, MI, July 12, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A long-term follow-up study published in the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery shows that 75 percent of patients who have received facelift surgery still look younger more than five years following their procedure. This level of surgical longevity is something that Dr. Mark N. Berkowitz, a facial cosmetic surgeon at Accents Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa (http://www.accentscosmeticsurgery.com) in Sterling Heights, Michigan has noticed in his own patients as well.

"Many of my patients have questions about how long their new look will last," explains Dr. Berkowitz, a fellowship-trained oculofacial surgeon and face lift specialist in suburban Detroit. "Although results can vary from patient to patient, this study provides the first ever objectively reliable baseline."

The comprehensive study, published at the end of 2012, was the first of its kind and included a range of both objective and subjective physical assessments that demonstrated long-lasting results in patients following their facelift surgery. Although surgery itself cannot stop the aging process, which continues even after a facelift, patients did show significant aesthetic improvement when compared to before their procedure.

Fifty study participants were analyzed via standardized photographs, with researchers noting objective measurements such as the angle of the chin to the neck as well as jowl height. Subjective assessments of key facial areas like the parentheses lines that run between the outer corner of the nose to the outer corner of the mouth were also included, and also the lines running from mouth to chin. An overall subjective assessment of the patient's appearance was conducted as well.

Over the study participants' 5.5 years average time lapse since surgery, all three sets of assessments indicated significant improvement. Some loss of improvement was noted as well; objective measurements indicated the improvement in jowl height experienced a 20 percent decrease, while the neck-to-chin angle showed a 70 percent decrease in improvement.

The overall subjective assessment reported that the key aging areas showed very little deterioration in the years following the initial surgery. Scoring totals indicated that 76 percent of patients still looked younger by 5.5 years after their surgery than they did before their procedure. The neck was the area that looked most aged by several years following a facelift.

"Studies like this give patients standards for realistic expectations following their procedure," says Dr. Berkowitz, who performs plastic surgery for men and women from Grand Rapids to Detroit at his practice, as well as minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. "Knowing what to expect ensures that patients feel more positive about their results."

During a facelift, the underlying muscles of the face and neck are tightened and sutured in place. Any excess skin and fat are removed, and the skin is redraped for a smoother, firmer appearance. Surgical alternatives to the traditional facelift include the QuickLift , a less invasive facelift surgery that delivers similar results with minimal healing time, as well as a variety of mini-facelifts that offer the same benefits of fast healing.

Led by Dr. Mark N. Berkowitz, Accents Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa (http://www.accentscosmeticsurgery.com) serves Michigan residents out of its suburban Detroit location. As one of only 19 Michigan surgeons with advanced training in oculofacial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Berkowitz is sought after by patients from across the state, from Lansing to Grand Rapids, and beyond. From facelifts to anti-aging medspa treatments, Accents continues to lead the way in patient satisfaction and excellence in results.

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