Face lift technology has come a long way in the last 30 years. The plastic surgeries performed in the early '80s seem primitive by today's standards. Now, there are a variety of facelift procedures for every type of person; for those who want complete rearrangement, to those who want a little bit of rejuvenation.



The three major operations are the deep plane, mid face and thread lifts.

The deep plane surgery is the most dramatic type of procedure, and it works on the lowest layer of facial tissue. The basic idea is that it tightens the tissue under your skin to get rid of wrinkles and sags.

Deep plane surgery is ideal for older patients who want to get rid of the ravages of aging and have a younger facial appearance. You can focus on different areas, but most often doctors recommend the cheeks, chin, jaws and the area between the nose and mouth where you see a lot of wrinkles as you get older.

Although it's the deepest and most dramatic type of surgery, the results usually look very natural. This is because it involves rearranging the deep tissue, and the outer layers of skin and tissue then fit over the changes naturally. You can almost never tell that someone has had this type of operation.

The results will last for about 10 years or more. After that time, there may be noticeable changes in the facial tissue as it sags and wrinkles again. At that time, it may be desirable to get a second operation, but the second operation is never as invasive as the first.

The mid face lift is a new trend in plastic surgery that is good for those between the ages of 30 and 50. This surgery is a great improvement over older techniques that tended to look fake and plastic.

As opposed to the old technique, which tightened the facial tissue at the ears, the mid facelift goes deeper, tightening and readjusting the tissue in the middle area of the face. In particular, the operation focuses on the area from the sides of the eyes to the top of the mouth, and it tightens the deep tissue so that it looks more natural.

The thread lift is a more surface operation. The top layer of skin is adjusted slightly to give you a slightly rejuvenated look. The change is subtle and so natural it is often impossible to tell.

It has often been called the "lunchtime lift." It actually takes a little bit longer, but it is called this because it is a relatively short operation, usually taking only an hour. It is sometimes combined with other techniques to make the overall changes you want to see.

It is also used sometimes as a second facelift. If you've had a face lift in the last 10 years or so and the age is starting to show, you can usually get away with this simpler procedure.

If you are thinking about getting a plastic surgery, there are lots of options available to choose from. Talk to your doctor about what will work best for you.