I’ve heard the above exclamation from many patients as they attempt to analyze “why” they look old. In these patients a full facelift was over-kill, and an isolated neck lift disrupted the “harmony” of the aging process at the jaw line by placing a 40-year-old neck on a 60-year-old face. This resulted in a very “operated” upon appearance.
Over the years I have developed the “EAR” (Extended Anatomic Rejuvenation) using anatomic considerations in the neck, lower face, and jaw line to maintain the harmony of the face and neck but correct the aging features of both. This “extended” process involves incisions in front of and behind each ear. Through these “ear” incisions, work is done on the foundation structures of the jaw line and the neck. The jowls are softened, muscle bands of the neck are eliminated, and loose skin is removed. A small correction is accomplished in the cheeks, more correction at the jaw line, and the most correction is seen in the neck area. This maintains the harmony of the face and neck and gives a smoother transition from one to the other.
Because of this smooth sequential transition, it is difficult for the observer to realize what has been done. Friends observe that the patient “looks great” but can’t really determine what has been done. The patient is void of obvious surgical sequelae as is frequent in either a facelift (her neck still looks bad) or with a neck lift (her face still hangs).
The “EAR” gives surgical results without the appearance of surgery.
Thomas J. Francel, M.D.
