When people think of plastic surgery, they often imagine the removal of excess skin, a smoother surface, or a tighter silhouette. But there’s so much more going on beneath the surface. Procedures like tummy tucks and facelifts go far beyond skin, targeting muscles, connective tissue, and deeper facial structures to deliver results that are not only more natural-looking but also longer-lasting.

Let’s break down what really happens during these transformative procedures and why muscle repair is a game-changer in the world of aesthetic surgery.

Understanding the Role of Muscles in Plastic Surgery

While the skin is the most visible part of our anatomy, it’s the underlying muscles and soft tissue that provide structure, support, and expression. With age, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and gravity, these deeper tissues can stretch, sag, and shift, altering our appearance and affecting our core strength and posture.

Skilled plastic surgeons don’t just tighten the skin; they go deeper, repairing and repositioning muscles to restore youthful anatomy and support. This layered approach is what truly sets modern surgical techniques apart from quick fixes or non-invasive treatments.

Tummy Tucks (Abdominoplasty): It’s About More Than Skin

What Is a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen. But one of the most critical aspects of a tummy tuck is the repair of separated abdominal muscles, also known as diastasis recti.

Diastasis Recti: Why Muscle Separation Happens

Diastasis recti is a common condition, especially in women who have experienced pregnancy. The abdominal muscles stretch and separate to accommodate a growing baby and often don’t return to their original position naturally. This separation can also occur in men and women due to significant weight gain or loss. It leaves the core weakened, leading to poor posture, back pain, and a protruding belly that can’t be fixed with exercise alone.

How Muscle Repair Works in a Tummy Tuck

During the procedure, your surgeon will:

• Make an incision along the lower abdomen (typically below the bikini line).
• Expose the rectus abdominis muscles.
• Suture the separated muscles back together in the midline, essentially “corseting” the abdominal wall.
• Remove excess skin and fat.
• Reposition the belly button if needed.

This muscular repair provides a strong foundation, flattens the belly, and improves core support. It’s not just cosmetic — it’s functional.

Facelifts: Beyond the Skin Surface

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging skin, deep creases, jowls, and loss of facial volume. But a high-quality facelift does more than tighten skin; it repositions deeper facial structures to create a refreshed, not “pulled,” appearance.

The SMAS and Deep-Plane Approach

Modern facelifts often focus on the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System), a deep layer of facial muscles and connective tissue. A SMAS facelift or deep-plane facelift involves lifting and repositioning this layer, rather than just stretching the skin over sagging structures.

Benefits of Deep Structural Work in a Facelift

• Results look more natural and youthful.
• There’s less tension on the skin, reducing the risk of a “windswept” or tight look.
• Improvements last longer, often 10 years or more.
• The facial volume is restored in a way that mimics youthful anatomy.

Facial muscles and tissue shift with age, just like the skin. Correcting those deeper changes is the only way to truly turn back the clock.

Why Muscle Tightening Matters

Whether you’re considering a tummy tuck or a facelift, understanding the importance of muscle work helps set realistic expectations and explains why board-certified plastic surgeons go far beyond the surface.

More Natural Results

Because the foundation of the body or face is being restored, the outer results appear smoother and more proportional. You’ll still look like you, just a more refreshed, youthful version.

Longer-Lasting Transformations

Skin alone is elastic and will continue to stretch over time. But by tightening the muscles underneath, the entire structure is reinforced, making results more durable and resistant to the effects of aging and gravity.

Improved Functionality

In procedures like tummy tucks, repaired muscles can enhance core strength, reduce back pain, and improve posture. Patients often report better balance, improved athletic performance, and less abdominal discomfort.

Boosted Confidence

Feeling strong and looking great go hand-in-hand. When your body functions better and your reflection matches how you feel inside, confidence skyrockets.

Common Myths Debunked

Myth #1: Plastic Surgery Is Just for Looks

In reality, many procedures have functional benefits. Tummy tucks can improve posture and alleviate physical discomfort. Facelifts can restore facial symmetry and boost emotional well-being.

Myth #2: Exercise Alone Can Fix Loose Skin and Muscle Separation

No matter how many crunches you do, you can’t close separated abdominal muscles without surgery. Likewise, facial exercises won’t lift sagging muscle layers. Surgery is the only way to structurally repair these deeper issues.

Myth #3: Facelifts Just Pull Skin Tight

Today’s techniques focus on repositioning deep tissues for a natural, elegant result. If you’re seeing tight or unnatural results, that’s likely the result of outdated techniques or unqualified providers.

Choosing the Right Surgeon Matters

Because these procedures go far beyond the surface, it’s essential to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with expertise in muscular and structural repair, not just cosmetic refinement.

At The Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Golden and Denver, Colorado, our board-certified plastic surgeons specialize in deep structural procedures that produce natural, long-lasting, and functionally beneficial results. With a patient-first philosophy and thousands of successful surgeries performed, we’re here to help you look and feel your best.

Ready for a Transformation That Lasts?

If you’re considering a tummy tuck or facelift, don’t settle for surface-level changes. Discover what’s possible when your treatment plan includes both cosmetic and functional enhancement.

Book your consultation today with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at The Center for Cosmetic Surgery and receive a customized surgical plan designed just for you.

Golden Office: 725 Heritage Rd #100, Golden, CO 80401

Denver Office: 501 South Cherry Street #900, Denver, CO 80246

Phone: 303-278-2600

• Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery
• Explore Facelift Options
• Schedule a Consultation

The post Tummy Tucks & Facelifts: They’re More Than Just Skin Deep first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

People who search online for “how to get a better jawline” find all sorts of exercises that promise great results. But these exercises focus on muscles, while the real reason for lost definition is usually lax skin and accumulated fat.

From filler sessions to a mini facelift, there are many ways Denver patients can improve the appearance of their jawline. Here are a few surgical and nonsurgical options for those interested in a brand-new look.

Nonsurgical

• Fillers: Dermal fillers are an easy, popular way to slim and sculpt the face. Sculptra®, in particular, can be used to contour the chin and jawline. Results last up to 2 years, and maintenance treatments can help refresh your improvements.
• Laser skin resurfacing: This treatment harnesses the power of a small, precise laser to improve skin texture, fade wrinkles, and leave skin looking fresher and more youthful. This option pairs well with other procedures to completely transform your skin’s appearance.

Surgical

• Neck lift: A neck lift is the most direct way to address loose, saggy skin that collects around the jawline. This surgery can remove “turkey neck,” tighten weakened muscles, and skin along the lower face. It is a fairly straightforward procedure with less recovery time than other major procedures.
• Mini facelift: Facelifts are an excellent way for Denver patients to fight the signs of aging on multiple areas of the face at once. A mini facelift rejuvenates the lower two-thirds of the face by lifting sagging tissues and tightening skin and muscles along the cheeks, jawline, and neck. While a mini facelift is a more involved procedure than a neck lift, it can often create a more noticeable result.
• Neck liposuction: Liposuction is a go-to procedure for shrinking fatty areas and sculpting the body. It can also be used to directly target the neck area to help refine and tone the jawline. Ask your doctor if this treatment is right for you and if it can be paired with other popular contouring options.

Even though a nonsurgical procedure may be the right choice for some patients, a surgical procedure can produce more dramatic and long-lasting results. Discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon to see which jawline treatment is right for you.

Browse our before-and-after gallery to see examples of real patients after their contouring procedures. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, request a virtual consultation online. You can also contact our practice by phone to schedule an appointment with one of our plastic surgeons in Denver (303) 951-2100 or Golden (303) 278-2600.

The post How to Get a Better Jawline first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

A Well-Planned Solution

During her consultation, I recommended a proper surgical facelift via her existing periauricular (around-the-ear) incisions, with tightening of her deeper SMAS (denser tissue on top of the facial musculature) and platysma (superficial neck muscle) layers as well, with anti-gravity vector redraping and excision of excess skin. This plan did not involve an open neck incision. I performed this mini facelift as an approximately 3-hour procedure, in conjunction with repeat upper eyelid lifting and JUVÉDERM® soft-tissue filler to her brow areas for her static rhytids (wrinkles).

Do It Right the First Time

The patient is shown here at approximately one month post-op (she didn’t want her eyes featured), with excellent early healing and resolving edema/swelling, but most important, a much improved neck contour that should last for many years.

Before & After Mini Facelift

It’s important to understand that although a proper facelift of this sort may cost a bit (but not much) more than short-cut procedures, (which may cost at least half as much, but deliver only 20 to 30% of the potential results, if you’re fortunate – or create new problems altogether), it’s worth it to have your facelift and neck rejuvenation done properly the first time. (And even though patients continue to age, it’s safe to repeat these procedures, usually 10+ years later).

Regards,

~Dr. Paul Steinwald, board-certified plastic surgeon

If you have similar problems of progressive lower facial or neck-area aging (or secondary problems from an improperly performed prior facelift), please contact us today at 303-278-2600 or contact us online for consultation. Thank you for reading and keep an eye out for future “Case of the Month” postings, featuring all of our surgeons on rotation.

The post Case of the Month – June 2018 first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

Everyone readily accepts the basic premise that the results of lifting surgery are not permanent. No one contests the idea that the benefits of a facelift are slowly lost over time. Yet, when people ask, “How long does a facelift last,” it’s unclear how they measure “last” versus “not last.”

l encourage you to keep an open mind as we explore various factors affecting facelift longevity. I’ll also address facelift versus mini facelift results and share insights into how to preserve your youthful look.

It’s Easy To Forget What You Looked Like

Sometimes, I address facelift longevity by asking patients if they mean that “lasting” is the time period until they are back to where they were before surgery. Often, people will respond, “OK, sure, until then.” So, I’ll oblige and reply that it generally takes 10 or more years to return to a pre-surgery state. I then quickly add that, within one month after surgery, no one cares what they looked like prior to the procedure.

Knowing how people think after a facelift, it would be disingenuous of me to pretend that this 10-plus-year answer means anything to patients after the procedure is over. The truth is, most people are so happy with their refreshed appearance that they don’t remember what they looked like before surgery, nor do they care. So, even though the aging process continues, you can expect to still look younger than your peers and more youthful than if you had not had your facelift procedure.

Common Factors Impacting Facelift Longevity

While not permanent, facelift results are undoubtedly long-lasting. The full lifespan of your facelift is also determined by your individual circumstances, including:

• Your skin elasticity
• The surgical technique used
• Genetic and lifestyle factors
• How closely you adhere to your post-op protocol

How well you maintain your skin and overall health after your facelift can also affect how long you’ll continue to look refreshed.

How Long Does a Mini Facelift Last?

With more patients opting for a mini facelift, it’s natural to wonder how the results of this procedure compare to a full facelift. A mini or “short-scar” facelift uses a less invasive approach to address minor to moderate aging symptoms in the lower face, such as sagging and early jowling. While highly effective, its results are more subtle and last less than 10 years. During your personalized consultation, I’ll help you assess whether you’re a better candidate for a traditional versus mini facelift.

Does Skin Continue To Tighten After a Facelift?

While your skin may look and feel tight after a facelift surgery, that’s often due to postoperative swelling. Most swelling resolves within 2 weeks post-op. However, it can take 3 to 6 months to subside fully, so your skin may feel tighter for some time.

How To Prolong a Facelift

One of the most important steps to ensuring you enjoy long-lasting results is to follow your post-op protocol. Once you have healed fully, you can preserve the results of your facelift by:

• Limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, and brimmed hats
• Staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet and avoiding smoking
• Practicing a good, consistent skincare routine

Many patients find that visiting our medical spa for rejuvenating “maintenance” treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic,  dermal fillers, and laser skin resurfacing helps prolong their more youthful look.

Facelift Longevity: The Takeaway

I believe most patients asking, “How long will a facelift last?” actually mean, “When will I be dissatisfied with my appearance again?” In all honesty, there is no way for me to know this, even if I’ve done the best facelift possible. The most truthful answer is that a facelift lasts until a person no longer likes how they look. Your perspective may be different than mine. Therefore, we can’t know when each person will reach the parameters to deem the results “no longer lasting.”

So, how do I answer this puzzling question without getting overly philosophical about the human condition? Just as I have done above. The benefits of a facelift are lost with time at a variable rate depending upon each person’s skin elasticity, aesthetic vision, etc. However, the duration of happiness someone enjoys from their results depends on a mindset that is only truly understood by each person after surgery.

All I can do is turn the clock back using my surgical skills in the most natural-looking and safest way. This usually results in my patients finding their facelift experience rewarding for many, many years.

Begin Your Transformation

To see what results you can expect from facelift surgery, view before-and-after photos in our facelift photo gallery and view our step-by-step facelift surgery guide. If you still have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, use the online form, or please call us at (303) 278-2600.

The post How Long Does a Facelift Last? (Updated 2024) first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

Most people, and baby boomers in particular, feel younger than they look. In effect, then, a facial rejuvenation procedure actually improves the balance between how patients feel and what they see in the mirror. It’s always nice when science confirms something I’ve seen for years.

Visit our before-and-after photo gallery to see real outcomes of facial rejuvenation surgical procedures.

Dr. Wolfe

The post On the perception of aging … first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

Did you know that everybody’s neck ages a bit differently? Depending on your weight fluctuation, your genes and your habits (smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, etc), you may age faster or slower than someone else the same age. Women’s skin tends to show age a bit sooner than do men’s simply because a man’s skin is a bit thicker—compare a man of 50 to a woman of 50 and you’ll see what we mean.

Some individuals are born with more laxity in the neck and jaw line areas, while others seem to age very well, with little sagging until they reach their 70’s. Some of this is due to the bones under the jaw. If you have a very well developed jaw line, such as Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, you can look good for quite some time. If you have a softer jaw line, you may notice sagging in the jaw and in the neck more than someone else with a stronger jaw. Beauty isn’t really skin deep—it’s actually bone deep. The underlying structures can make quite a difference in your aging pattern.

If you have a sagging neckline, you’ll be happy to know that dramatic results can be obtained through neck lift surgery and/or liposuction.

The benefits of the neck lift procedure

• Removing loose sagging skin from under the chin (the dreaded turkey-neck)
• Correcting the visible bands on the front of the neck
• Eliminating fat from under the chin (double chin) and from the neck
• Restoring a smooth, youthful neckline

How is a neck lift performed?

A neck lift, also called a cervical tuck, can create a dramatic change in your appearance. It’s similar to a mini-facelift, in that a neck lift involves little discomfort, requires a fairly short surgical time and is a fast recovery.

During the procedure, excess skin and fat are removed and the neck muscles are tightened. The incisions for a neck lift are placed between the face and ears and at the hairline; therefore, they will be barely visible once healed.

Our patients are delighted with their new, defined jaw line after a neck lift. When skillfully performed by experienced plastic surgeons like Dr. Vath and Dr. Wolfe, you can rest assured knowing you’ll feel and look younger! See examples of patients who have had their face and neck rejuvenated with face and neck lift surgery by Dr. Wolfe and Dr. Vath.

The post Neck Rejuvenation first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.

This is yet another example of a new Plastic Surgery technique promoted to an unsuspecting public by the lay press and a number of overeager, under-informed physicians. It goes something like this:

• New technique is developed, often with backing of large technology corporation
• With aggressive advertising, both to the public and physicians, buzz is generated regarding said new technique
• New technique is featured on Oprah/Today Show/local news
• Patients begin requesting this technique from their surgeons, who may or may not choose to perform it
• Non-surgeon physicians, enticed by the lure of self-pay patients and the aggressive nature of the marketing campaigns aimed at them, (“why let the surgeons do all the facelifts?”), may take up the new technique with gusto
• Many patients will be treated, by surgeons and non-surgeons alike
• Limitations of the technique begin to appear, and physician/patient enthusiasm may wane
• Actual research into the effectiveness, safety, and durability of the results derived from the new technique is done

Now, in some cases, the new technique has real merit, and gets added to the armamentarium of many surgeons. In others, however, the results are not what were promised and the technique falls into disuse. In the case of Thread Lifts, the study showed that newer was not better. Complications were relatively common and included dimpling of the skin, visible threads, and facial asymmetry. More significantly, the improvements in facial shape that were seen were short-lived.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Our challenge, as physicians first and purveyors of procedures second, is to make sure that any procedure we offer our patients has been proven both safe and effective by independent research and that the procedure is right for that particular patient. If we stray from this standard, we risk both patient safety and our own credibility. Early adoption of new technology can have its benefits (our iPhones really did change our lives) and we are delighted to learn and use the latest surgical techniques – after we’re sure they work.

AJW

The post The Demise of Threadlifts? first appeared on The Center for Cosmetic Surgery.