Facelift with Laser Resurfacing – Why Should You Combine Them?

We’ve all seen those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups ads that proclaim “two great tastes that taste great together!” Peanut butter and chocolate just go together. The same way you’d never have cookies without milk, peanut butter without jelly, or pickles without ice cream – okay, maybe not that last one, unless you’re pregnant. 

Some things just naturally go together. Like a boob job and a tummy tuck, or a facial and some Me Time. But did you know that facelifts and lasers also go great together? Dr. Nadir Qazi recommends getting a facelift with laser resurfacing for the best possible results. 

What Is a Facelift With Laser Resurfacing?

A facelift with laser resurfacing is a revolutionary new anti-aging combo procedure that can smooth away wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin as well as erase sun spots, age spots, sun damage, and old acne scars. This procedure is normally performed in two different steps: first, you get a facelift to take decades off your face. Once your skin is completely healed, you get a customized laser treatment to even out your skin tone and complete your ageless transformation. 

A facelift goes well with laser resurfacing because age is usually more than just wrinkles. Signs of aging also show on our faces in the form of age spots, sun damage, old acne scars, old melasma marks, uneven skin tone, and unwanted freckles. For some patients, getting rid of wrinkles is not enough to completely rejuvenate their face. It is also important to even out the skin tone and get rid of unwanted marks. 

Laser resurfacing is an ideal part of any anti-aging procedure because it can be like the cherry on top. You looked good before your laser appointment, now you look ready for a night on the town. Many patients in Orange County don’t realize how much their skin texture was aging their face until they had their first laser treatment and watched it take years off their face. 

Things like old acne scars and sun damage can really add up over a lifetime. You get used to it and how it makes your face look, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it. While facelifts are great for taking care of wrinkles, the final step to getting your youth back is a little laser resurfacing treatment. 

Facelift vs. Laser Resurfacing

Facelifts and laser resurfacing are normally performed as separate procedures. They both have the ability to revitalize your skin and make you look and feel younger. If you are interested in getting a facelift or laser resurfacing separately, here is what you need to know about each procedure: 

10 Facts About Facelifts

1. A facelift is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia that can be combined with other surgical procedures like a brow lift, neck lift, or eyelid surgery. 

2. Most facelifts last 10 to 15 years, so it is common to get one in your late 50s or early 60s, then have a refresher facelift in your 70s. 

3. A facelift only focuses on the bottom two-thirds of the face; it does not touch the forehead or the neck. 

4. Facelifts are able to treat: sagging jowls, facial wrinkles, skin laxity, fine lines, and loss of jawline contour due to sagging skin. 

5. Facelifts are not able to treat: old acne scars, sun damage, melasma, other facial scars, rosacea, or active acne. 

6. There are several non-invasive options that are available at Qazi Cosmetic Clinic as facelift alternatives, such as a PDO thread lift. 

7. Thanks to new surgical techniques, most facelifts do not leave visible scars. Incisions are always hidden behind the ears and under the chin. Once the scars fade, they will be practically invisible. 

8. Facelift surgery has been around for nearly a hundred years, so it is safer than ever and consistently ranked as one of the safest elective surgical procedures. 

9. Thanks to the rise of social media and a beauty standard that is highly focused on youth, there is no longer stigma for getting a facelift or any other elective procedure. If anything, your friends will probably ask for your doctor’s name so they can get one too. 

10. Qazi Cosmetic Clinic offers safe and affordable facelifts for our Orange County patients. All facelifts are performed by our team of experienced plastic surgeons. 

10 Things To Know Before You Get Laser Resurfacing Treatment

1. Laser resurfacing is able to treat: melasma, rosacea, sun damage, certain types of old acne scars, minor wrinkles, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and large pores. 

2. Laser resurfacing is not able to treat: severe wrinkles, sagging skin, or jowls. 

3. There are many different types of lasers, such as the CO2 laser, Erbium laser, and Pico laser. They all work in mostly the same way: by removing the top layer of skin to promote healing, get rid of imperfections, and boost collagen production. 

4. Not all lasers are safe for all skin tones. Only the Pico laser is safe for use on darker skin. Dr. Qazi normally recommends RF microneedling instead for patients with darker skin tones. 

5. It is normal to experience redness, swelling, light bruising, and some soreness after laser treatment. This will heal within a week. 

6. It is also normal for patients to require multiple laser treatments in order to see their desired results. 3 to 4 treatments spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart is the average for most patients. 

7. Certain types of acne scars may not respond well to laser treatment. If this is the case, Dr. Qazi offers other options for treating old acne scars. 

8. When you get laser treatment, topical numbing cream is normally applied to keep you comfortable. Patients who do not use numbing cream normally describe the experience as a 3 on the pain scale. Laser treatment feels quite similar to repeated light wacks with a rubber band. 

9. There is no downtime after laser resurfacing, you can immediately go back to the rest of your day and you are even safe to drive yourself home. 

10. The best way to learn if laser resurfacing is right for you is to schedule a consultation at Qazi Cosmetic Clinic. 

How Does a Facelift With Laser Resurfacing Work?

Preparing For The Facelift

The first step of this unique combination treatment is the facelift. Because facelifts are surgical procedures, you will be given unique instructions for how to prepare for the procedure. Most patients are instructed to: 

• Quit smoking and avoid alcohol for several weeks before the procedure. 
• Stop taking certain medications including blood-thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and any supplements that increase risk of bruising and bleeding. 
• Wash the face in a certain way and avoid harsh chemical products. 
• Avoid excessive sun exposure and wear sunscreen as much as possible leading up to the surgery. 
• Stop consuming food and water at midnight the night before your procedure. 

Facelift Surgery

When you get a facelift, you will be prepped by a caring team of nurses, who will get you all hooked up to an IV. When you are brought into the surgical suite, you will be greeted by the surgical team, who will make you comfortable before general anesthesia is administered. 

During the surgery, an experienced anesthesiologist will monitor your vitals while the plastic surgeon works. When a surgeon performs a facelift, they make small incisions near the ears and under the chin. They will then trim away extra skin from the cheeks and jaw. Finally, they will pull the skin tight and secure it in place. 

Recovery After Your Facelift

After the surgery, you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for a few days. You should give yourself two weeks before you resume normal activities; this is because you will be swollen, bruised, and sore for a bit. Your care team will give you instructions for when you need to remove the surgical drains and the bandages. 

While you are recovering from your facelift, it is important to avoid touching your face, sleeping upright, and not doing anything strenuous. Most patients feel comfortable being in public again within 3 to 4 weeks, and are fully healed by 6 weeks. It can take up to 6 months for the incisions to heal enough for them to be nearly invisible. 

Laser Resurfacing Treatment

When you get a facelift with laser resurfacing, Dr. Qazi likes to time the laser treatment so you have your first session only when your skin is fully healed from the facelift. This varies by patient, so discuss the timing with Dr. Qazi. 

You will notice that preparing for your laser treatment is much easier than preparing for the facelift. This is because laser treatments are non-invasive and non-surgical. When you prepare for laser treatment, all you really need to do is avoid sun exposure and harsh chemicals for a few days beforehand. 

When you get laser treatment, Dr. Qazi will recommend the best laser for your skin type and tone. Options include ablative and nonablative lasers, the CO2 laser, Erbium lasers, and the Pico laser. Each laser treatment session takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on if you would like numbing cream. 

During the procedure, Dr. Qazi will apply the numbing cream and give you eye protection, then he will run the laser device over your skin. After it is over, you are free to go about the rest of your day; however, some redness is normal. 

You will probably need multiple sessions in order to see results, but once you have completed your specialty facelift with laser resurfacing treatment, you can enjoy your fresh, beautiful, young skin. 

Why Should I Combine a Facelift With Laser Resurfacing? 

Every cosmetic procedure has certain pros and cons. Not every procedure is going to be right for every patient. The best way to learn if a certain procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation. Here are some pros and cons to consider if you are thinking about getting a facelift with laser resurfacing. 

Pros

• This combo procedure does more for taking years off your face than a facelift or laser treatment can do alone. 
• The facelift is ideal for lifting away sagging skin, while the laser treatment can erase any remaining lines and sun damage. 
• Patients love their results! This procedure has been getting rave reviews in Orange County, CA.
• Looking younger has huge benefits for people of all ages. It can make you more confident, more outgoing, others will perceive you as having more energy, and it can help you feel younger. 

Cons

• Neither a facelift nor laser resurfacing are a small feat. A facelift with resurfacing takes time before you will see your results. It is not a quick fix, so you will have to be patient. 
• A facelift with laser resurfacing comes with risks. Possible side effects for a facelift include: infection, bleeding, complications related to anesthesia, blood clots, visible scarring, permanent changes to sensation, hair loss near the incisions, and problems related to wound healing. Some side effects associated with laser resurfacing include: lingering redness and swelling, extreme itching, the recommended creams may cause acne to form, scarring, infection, and changes to skin color. 
• There is a chance that you will not be happy with your results. If this is the case, facelifts are hard to reverse and may require follow-up surgery to provide you with a look that you want. 

Learn More About Facelifts With Laser Resurfacing 

Do you want to turn back the clock on your face? Try the two great procedures that work great together: facelifts and laser resurfacing. Schedule a consultation at Qazi Cosmetic Clinic to learn more about your options for anti-aging procedures.