Plastic Surgery Channel Expert from San Francisco, Dr. Michael Kulick, talks about laser facelifts and clears the confusion regarding the term.
Dr. Kulick from San Francisco, California, who is an expert in laser usage in surgery and non invasive techniques in plastic surgery talks about a new development and the rising interest in laser facelifts and the things patients should keep in mind about the same.
Dr. Kulick emphasizes the distinction between a regular facelift and a laser facelift and feels that the media along with corporations have played a big role in fuelling the confusion regarding laser facelifts. To make matters worse, the terminology becomes more confusing with attention being given to newer procedures such as non invasive laser facelift.
A facelift could be a single procedure or a combination of smaller procedures such as facial implants, brow lifts, eyelid surgery, neck lifts and chin surgery. While attempting to clear the confusion, Dr. Kulick explains that a laser facelift can be used to clear the surface of the skin and this procedure, being fairly common, is known as the Laser Skin Resurfacing. While this procedure has shown significant reduction in wrinkles and signs of aging by tightening the skin, the results are nowhere as visible or as accurate as those resulting from skin tightening via a true surgical incision face lift.
A laser can also be used to cut tissue and this is what a laser has historically been used for in surgical procedures and forms the basis of a laser facelift. Instead of using a knife or scissors to cut the tissue, a laser is used to divide the tissue. The distinct advantage of this procedure as opposed to using a knife is that there is little or no bleeding because of the usage of a laser. This is a significant help to the surgeon as it helps them perform a cleaner and more accurate surgery. The cut is more precise and the surgeon does not have to use electrocautery as much. Electrocautery is a surgical technique which involves introducing high frequency current to a specific area of the body in order to remove unwanted tissue or seal off blood vessels.
Laser facelifts are also beneficial to the patients as the recovery time is shorter, there is less bruising and swelling and the patient can go home and return to their everyday routine much sooner. Also, any post surgical problems can generally be handled through over the counter medication such as Tylenol. Dr. Kulick is confident of this procedure as he has not had any major lasting problems with patients such as Hematoma or nerve damage. He also feels that the added bonus is that the results from a laser facelift last for a long time.
Give that Dr. Kulick is an expert in this procedure, his technique has been perfected with years of expertise and in his hands, the laser facelift is a perfectly safe and viable alternative to the orthodox knife incision based facelift.
Asian Eyelid Surgery responded:
Definitely laser usage is better than knifes in surgery which causes less damage and earlier recovery.
Tallthing responded:
So why are so many surgeons still cutting the old fashioned way? And why would patients go to them? Is Laser a lot more expensive?
jason pozner responded:
Lasers have been used as a cutting tool for some time now. Some physicians have used them for eyelid surgery professing faster healing but there have been studies which show poorer healing after eyelid surgery with the laser. At best the topic is controversial.
For facelifts we await studies that show a true advantage to cutting the tissue with a laser. Dr. Kulick is certainly a thought leader in the field and i would love to see more data from him on the use of lasers in facelift surgery.
Others have used lasers in a non-cutting fashion during facial surgery – “acculift” etc. The laser is used to help dissect the tissues and to create tissue tightening. The data is anecdotal and further studies are needed to see if a true advantage exists.