The concept of less-invasive mini-lifts has become increasingly important in recent years. While you may be considering facial rejuvenation procedures at an earlier age, not wanting to wait until the aging process is too apparent, cosmetic surgeons have developed less invasive techniques to address the lesser aging changes. Often, the results can be as dramatic as more extensive procedures with significantly less downtime. The same procedures are frequently coupled with Botox^® or fillers such as Restylane^® to create the desired effect without a "surgical look." Dr. Brackup has a number of publications and has lectured extensively on this subject.

The S-Lift, as performed by Dr. Brackup, has been a major advance for patients seeking facial enhancement at an earlier age. Essentially, the cheeks, jowls, and skin beneath the chin can be lifted and repositioned with the same efficacy as a facelift, with a much smaller incision. The S-Lift gets its name from the fact that it is accomplished through an "S"-shaped incision around the ears. Just as in a facelift, the underlying facial muscles are tightened to achieve a long-lasting effect, as the cheeks and jowls are lifted and excess skin removed. We are now able to convert many patients who otherwise would require a facelift to the S-lift procedure. Just as for a facelift, general anesthesia is not required.

In concert with this understanding have come new techniques for the harvesting fat and subsequent fat transfer that allow for long-lasting results. By removing fat from areas of excess such as the abdomen or thighs, carefully preparing it for placement, and meticulous injection into the face, we look for a result that will last years. The cosmetic result is often quite dramatic, with a youthful restoration despite a minimally-invasive procedure and remarkably short downtime. Multiple treatments are occasionally necessary to achieve optimal results.

Dr. Brackup performs fat transfers at our facility in scenic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia. It can be performed by itself or may be combined with other procedures to achieve maximal rejuvenation.

Very few people know they need a brow lift. Why? One of the earliest and most common symptoms of a drooping brow is sagging eyelids. So, very naturally, most people think that the problem is with their eyes.

Overlooking the effect of the brow on your appearance is an easy mistake to make. The cause of a drooping brow is the same as with drooping eyelids: gravity. As we age, gravity tugs at the underlying muscles of our eyes and forehead. Over the years, our muscles also lose elasticity. The result is a sagging brow and eyelids.

The brow lift procedure returns the eyebrows to their natural (and most attractive) position and tightens the forehead skin to reduce wrinkles. It is most often performed through an incision behind the hairline, using an endoscope.

Many people think that a facelift will leave your face looking stretched and artificial, like you have just been through a wind tunnel. If this is your concept of the procedure, there is good news. Techniques have come a long way in the last decade. We have developed a new generation of techniques, which takes a "layered" approach to restoring a youthful look to the face. These modern techniques are designed not simply to stretch the skin but to tighten the interlacing network of connective tissues that joins the facial muscles beneath the skin. The result is a smoother, longer lasting and better appearing rejuvenation, compared to old-style superficial skin tightening procedures.

The truth is there is no right age. A person should have a facelift when they feel that they are ready for it. For most people, the earlier the better. The key to success is early intervention. It is easier to correct a little sagging than a lot. Also, it helps us to prevent a person's appearance from aging prematurely, rather than trying to play catch-up.

Here's what we tell our patients. If you are happy with your appearance, it doesn't matter what age you are. You don't need a facelift. If the procedure is right for you, let's do it early enough so that we have the option of using the simplest and least invasive techniques to achieve your goal.

Our goal in facelift surgery is to produce a natural, revitalized appearance for our patients. We don't want people to walk up to them and say, "Who did your face?" We want them to say, "You look great. Have you lost weight?"

We perform the procedure under "twilight anesthesia", or sedation, at our facility in lovely Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and you are able to go home the same day.

The endoscopic brow lift corrects a drooping brow and forehead and has largely replaced the traditional "coronal" brow lift. Some indications that you may benefit from a brow lift includes a sagging forehead, brows that hang close to or over the eyes, and deep, vertical furrows between the brows.

For people with early stage or moderate loss of elasticity of the forehead and eyebrows, they can be repositioned using small incisions back in the hairline and an endoscope. The endoscopic approach has the advantage of minimizing scalp scars and decreasing numbness in the central upper scalp, which can be problems commonly associated with the traditional approach to the brow lift..

One of the most remarkable advances in the past few years has been recognition of the "3rd dimension" in facial rejuvenation. In the past we have focused on mainly two dimensions - tightening skin and muscle, without sufficient thought given to volume. Consider the appearance of children and teenagers. There is a fullness that is associated only with youth, a fullness we lose as we age. We now recognize that fat is not the enemy, but rather an essential component of a youthful appearance.