As a renowned facial cosmetic surgeon with precision artistry, Dr. Amiya Prasad’s approach to facelifts, mini facelifts, and all other cosmetic procedures is to maintain the unique facial characteristics of the individual so they still look like themselves, but about 10 years younger. He has dedicated his career to performing full, extensive facelift surgery for the best results possible, but with quicker recovery techniques such as using local anesthesia with LITE™ intravenous (IV) sedation.

In Dr. Prasad’s experience, when a facelift is done well, a person will get a lot of comments about how great they look, but not get any comments about having had cosmetic surgery.

A full facial analysis with Dr. Prasad will help determine the specific procedures you may need to achieve your renewed look that complements, not changes, your unique facial character, and realizes your aesthetic goals. To set up a consultation with Oculofacial plastic surgeon Dr. Amiya Prasad, you may contact us by phone or email. Our offices with full surgical suites are located in Manhattan, New York City, NY and Garden City, Long Island, NY. We welcome patients from all over the world for aesthetic facial rejuvenation.

Celebrity tabloids revel in evaluating celebrity facelifts, often commenting on the quality of the facelift, and whether there is a drastic alteration to the appearance. This popular type of analysis and commentary raise some important questions. What is the goal of a facelift? Do people want a whole new face? Do they want to go from their sixties to their twenties in one fell swoop of the scalpel? It is important to understand the problems facelifts address to answer these questions.

Facelift surgery, or a rhytidectomy, is a well-known procedure used to lift the sagging skin, muscle, and soft tissue of the face. Over the past century, the procedure of facelifting has undergone many changes. Techniques which were standard as far back as the late 1990s have been redeveloped to ensure safety and quicker recovery.

Rhytidectomy includes different types of procedures that lift and tighten the sagging skin and deeper tissues (SMAS – superficial musculoaponeurotic system) in the cheek, jawline, and neck area. Different procedure terminology can be confusing.

During Dr. Amiya Prasad’s years of training as an Oculoplastic surgeon, and as a cosmetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Prasad came to realize that “aging is less about lines and wrinkles and more about general deflation or overall facial volume loss”.

Terms such as “deep plane facelift”, “SMAS facelift”, “high SMAS facelift” or mini face lift can result in confusion about which procedure is right for you.

Today, most people do not wait until they look “old” before pursuing cosmetic surgery. They want to keep the face they have, but with an enhanced appearance that still looks natural. The goal is to look refreshed and youthful, while still retaining the unique characteristics of your face. Facelift surgery is now routinely performed under local anesthesia with LITE™ sedation as an outpatient procedure in our accredited operating rooms, and with significantly reduced downtime and quicker recovery.

Facial Aging

The mid-face has a certain amount of fat that gives volume to the face, and brings the youthful suppleness that distinguishes a 20-year-old face from a 40-year-old face, even if the person has no other signs of aging.

When the fat found in the middle of one’s face begins to disintegrate, the shape and contour of the face changes – it becomes saggy and wrinkled due to the loss in volume. The facial fat pad located under the eye socket (orbit) changes shape, and gets smaller or moves to a new position. Mid-face implants can make a very dramatic difference in a person’s appearance. Usually, this procedure is performed along with a facelift or eyelift but it can certainly be performed on its own.

Although aging is inevitable, having facelift surgery can improve your appearance so you can look 10-15 years younger. An artistically performed facelift can boost your self-esteem and confidence both socially and professionally.

A facelift procedure will:

• Restore sagging or loose skin of the face or neck, resulting in improvement in the jawline and neck definition.
• Tighten the facial structure under the skin through the musculature and soft tissue.
• Improve the contour of the face.

A Proper Facelift

The most important thing to remember is every facelift needs to be customized to the individual. Every approach to a facelift procedure must be individualized to properly address each unique concern a patient has, and to yield the best results possible.

Factors such as bone structure, looseness and elasticity of skin, ethnic/racial background, and state of health are all important to determine the type of facelift to be performed, and the extent of surgery needed. Not only will these factors have an effect on the success of the procedure, but also impact the longevity of the procedure. The best practice to protect your investment in a facelift is to do what you would ordinarily do to maintain good skin health, even if you decide not to get surgery: get plenty of sleep, stay out of the sun, exercise regularly, and eat healthily.

The facelift incisions that Oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Amiya Prasad executes are much smaller than standard facelift procedures of the past. Another very important difference is the level of anesthesia used and the downtime necessary. For most face lift procedures, Dr. Prasad uses local anesthesia with IV sedation, which reduces the downtime to 4-7 days. Procedures are performed in Dr. Prasad’s Joint Commission-accredited, state-of-the-art operating suites within the Manhattan and Garden City locations.

• There are three different types of incisions that Dr. Prasad uses:Short Scar Facelift
  The short scar incision starts where the ear attaches to the face at the top, then extends along the inner edge of this connection, then finally swings around and behind the earlobe. The short scar facelift is ideal for younger patients, generally in their 40s to 50s, or in some case for people experiencing premature aging challenges who want to lift their mid-face, but still don’t need extensive lifting in the face and neck.
  

  

  Facelift
  Even though this scar is larger than the short scar procedure, they are generally not visible and tend to heal very well. Dr. Prasad also uses extracellular matrix (ECM) for advanced wound healing to further diminish any visible signs of the facelift incision, which if often combined with laser treatment and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

  

  

  Face and Neck Lift
  The face and neck lift is recommended for older patients who need more extensive lifting of the skin and soft tissue. The incision is larger though still located in front and behind the ear. While all facelift incisions also lift the neck, this longer incision lifts the neck and underlying tissues more extensively for the benefit of older patients.

  

  

The term “SMAS” is an acronym for “Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System”. This is commonly referred to as “the muscle” which needs to be tightened. Another way to think of it is as a foundation for the skin to provide the structure needed for the skin to be properly redraped.

The term “facelift” refers to the surgical lifting of sagging SMAS and skin from the upper cheek area to the jawline and part of the neck.

Is a facelift the same as a necklift?

No. The term “neck lift” refers to surgery to define the area from the jawline to the middle part of the neck, also referred as “lower facelift”.When the muscle under the neck called “the platysma” is weak or separated, a procedure called a “platysmaplasty” or “corset platysmaplasty” is performed to help restore the contour under the chin.
Often a face lift procedure is a combination of facelift and necklift. The incisions are made from the temple area to behind the ear so the face and neck can be lifted effectively.

Dr. Prasad’s facelifts include the SMAS and the space below the SMAS, often referred to as the deep-plane facelift. Tightening the SMAS and the platysma for a deep plane facelift are often necessary to achieve better and longer lasting results.

Less extensive procedures where the neck doesn’t require extensive lifting can be done with a shorter incision, referred to as a short scar facelift, also known as mini face lift. Short scar facelifts are appropriate for people who want to lift a sagging jawline, but don’t have skin, deep tissue or muscle laxity at the neck.

An isolated or limited neck lift can be performed where the muscular bands, or platysmal bands, at the neck are addressed by a procedure called a platysmaplasty and/or submentoplasty. The procedure aims at raising the loose skin from the jawline to the lower part of the neck. Different methods can be used for a neck lift. This can be done with a facelift procedure, but can be performed separately as well .

Unique Expertise in the Deep-Plane Facelift

The deep-plane facelift refers to a procedure that goes into a deeper layer beneath the skin and beneath the SMAS. Performing a facelift from this deep tissue area often results in a longer lasting facelift. While some cosmetic surgeons claim exclusivity and expertise with the deep-plane facelift, it is actually a well established technique practiced by experienced cosmetic surgeons who perform all types of facial surgeries. In contrast to many cosmetic surgeons performing the deep-plane facelift using general anesthesia, Oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Amiya Prasad performs the deep-plane facelift using local anesthesia with his sedation method called LITE™ IV sedation. This approach makes the surgical experience much easier on patients when compared to general anesthesia. Dr. Prasad has observed faster healing process, and greater ease in recovery in using local anesthesia for facelift surgery.

“For me, the intersection of functional and aesthetic surgery is a great source of personal and professional reward. It drives my passion. On one end of the spectrum, oculofacial surgery may improve how my patients see the world. But equally important, oculofacial surgery offers enormous potential to change how patients are seen by the world.”

People considering facelift surgery search tirelessly to find “the best”. Several “top doctors” and “best doctors” directories are advertisements and manipulated by the selection process and ballot stuffing.

Certain professional organizations will claim their Board-certified doctors are superior to other doctor with certifications from competing organizations.

As stated by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), “there is no certification that guarantees performance or outcomes”. Choosing your surgeon requires more than knowing that the surgeon passed an exam.

In fact, no Board certification measures a surgeon’s’ artistry, technical skills, and ethics.
In addition to knowing that your surgeon has appropriate training and more than a few years of experience, here are some questions which you can ask yourself at the time of a consultation:

• Does the surgeon spend more than a few minutes with you?
• Do you feel the surgeon is an effective communicator and understands your concerns
• Have you seen the surgeon’s own before and after photos?
• Do you know that facelift surgery can be performed without general anesthesia?
• What is your impression as to the sincerity of the staff and their enthusiasm for the surgeon’s face lift results?

Dr. Amiya Prasad is a “super-specialist” Oculofacial Cosmetic Surgeon and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (Board-certified).

Dr. Prasad has established his exceptional position as a leader in Facial Rejuvenation surgery, including eyelid and facelift surgery by being a clinical instructor in facelifting surgery as well authoring his highly regarded book, “The Fine Art of Looking Younger”.

The Vampire Facelift procedure only takes about an hour to complete, and that includes the: blood draw, preparation of the PRP, platelet-rich fibrin matrix, and The Vampire Facelift® treatment itself. Since skin renewal and rejuvenation is using the body’s own active regeneration components, facial skin renewal is continual for about 3 months after the procedure. The overall effects of the Vampire Facelift® can last for over a year.

The Vampire Facelift® can be done in conjunction with wrinkle treatments such as Botox or Dysport. Dr. Prasad can help you determine what complementary procedures are right for your individual case, and develop a treatment plan that you are comfortable with.

The face ages in two ways:

• There is loss of volume from bone, muscle, fat, and skin. This can make the under eye area and cheeks look flat and hollow. The skin can look dull or gray instead of being rosy as it was when younger.
• The loss of support of the skin results in drooping upper eyelids, lower eyelids, cheeks , jowls and sagging neck skin (“turkey neck”).

The term refers to a range of procedure, full facelift, short scar facelift and/or neck lift. It is also often associated with volume enhancement methods with fillers or eyelift surgery to remove eye bags if necessary. The cost is determined individually, depending on the extent and type of facelift procedure, and accompanying procedures. Insurance does not cover any costs related to facelift or any cosmetic surgery. Contact our patient coordinator to arrange your consultation.

Many “revolutionary” procedures and devices claim to be produce facelift results without surgery. They do not. Clever (and expensive) marketing combined with manipulated photos and persuasive testimonials have resulted in many people wasting money time and even be worse off than when they started. The latest laser and heating devices can tighten skin, but exceeding a safe amount of exposure to the skin in attempt to replace surgical lifting can damage and thin the skin, and also compromise the health of the essential fat layer beneath the skin responsible for youthful suppleness.

We do offer the Vampire Facelift® and the Y Lift®, but these procedures do not replace surgical facelifting. The Vampire Facelift® using a hyaluronic acid filler and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) does have a moderate outward lifting effect, but it still meant for patients in their 30s and 40s who are not yet candidates for a surgical facelift. The procedure is more of subtle volume enhancement and skin quality improvement. The Y Lift® is a deep volume enhancing procedure, where the placement of cosmetic fillers on bone and underneath the muscle lifts skin away from bone structure, but it does not vertically lift skin, or tighten soft tissue. The Y Lift® is also a procedure meant for people who are still too young to be candidates for a facelift as skin and soft tissue laxity is not yet their major issue, but volume loss is their primary concern.