We live in a society that praises a wrinkle-free and flawless appearance. Millions of cosmetic products are sold worldwide claiming to prevent acne breakouts, iron out wrinkles, and fade away scars. With so many products failing to meet consumer expectations, it makes sense that Americans are now looking into plastic surgery more than ever. Every year, these thousands of Americans step foot inside a plastic surgeon’s office for another round of BOTOX®, Restylane®, or even for a more invasive procedure—a facelift.

Unlike other plastic surgery procedures such as breast or rhinoplasty, getting a facelift is all about turning back the hands of time. One of the woes of the natural aging process is, well, a more wrinkled and sagging appearance. After purchasing a hundred different types of facial products that all claim to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, plump up the creases and erase the signs of aging, many of us find that these products do little to help our appearance. At the end of the day and the beginning of the next, we still look old and aged and realize that all that money we had spent should have been spent elsewhere. Now this “elsewhere” can be directed towards plastic surgery, but more specifically, a facelift (rhytidectomy).

Although plastic surgery was once highly frowned upon, it is safe to say that it has now become more socially acceptable. This is mainly due to the popularity of plastic surgery in the media as well as the gradual increase of celebrities and non-celebrities alike opting to go under the knife over the years. And thus, it makes sense that in 2011, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reported over nine million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the nation with facelifts accounting for 116,086 of the total.

Now, the signs of aging are not pretty—that is a given. While some wish to allow wrinkles and deep folds to develop and remain on their face, others have sought out a facelift to restore their skin back to the youthful and rejuvenated appearance that it once had. This procedure aims to remove excess skin and fat, tighten the underlying facial muscles, and improve on the deep creases found under the eyes and around the mouth. Although this procedure will not stop the aging process, patients have discovered they look decades younger after undergoing the surgery.

Youthfulness and the magical “Fountain of Youth” that will prevent aging have been sought out for many centuries. Though the Fountain still remains a myth, mankind has found the next-best approach in helping individuals look years younger. Today, technology and scientific advances have allowed doctors to reverse the signs of aging for a more refreshed and rejuvenated facial appearance with a facelift procedure. Consult a plastic surgeon for more information regarding a facelift or any other types of procedures to reveal the younger you today!