The Facelift Letdown: When Results Don't Meet Expectations »

The Facelift Letdown is a "breath of fresh air" for those seduced by the images of Dr. 90210, Nip/Tuck and the flashy cosmetic surgeons of Extreme Makeover. With substance and authority, Dr. Hamra, an internationally renowned plastic surgeon, explains his groundbreaking surgical techniques including the five most common problems associated with a "bad" facelift, why, if a facelift is so "good", do so many rich and famous people look so "bad", telltale signs of bad surgery and, most importantly, how you can interview your surgeon, determine the best procedure for you, and avoid costly facelift mistakes and The Facelift Letdown

Dr. Hamra's timely book reflects his two decades of leadership and this beautifully illustrated book contains many case studies and photographic histories from grateful and youthful looking patients. A primer to avoid the problems of "overdone surgery", frozen expressions, windswept looks and bizarre results for anyone considering a primary or secondary facelift.

Preface 11

Introduction: The Rise and fall of Facelift Surgery 14

Part 1 Information Overload 20

Navigating Through It All 20

The Marketing of Cosmetic Surgery 21

Beware of Bogus Boards 24

Enhanced Photos 25

Beauty Buzzwords 26

Shopping For A Surgeon 27

The Famous Guys 30

Academicians and Spokespersons 31

The Power of Television 31

Where to Get Referrals 33

The New Surgeon in Town 36

Part 2 The Evolution of the Composite Facelift 38

What Is The Composite Facelift? 40

How Did The Composite Facelift Evolve? 42

Great Artists Showed Us the Way 42

Early Years: The SMAS Facelift 44

The Deep Plane Facelift 45

The Eyes Have It 46

Endpoint of A Composite Facelift 48

The Significant Changes Unique To The Composite Facelift 49

How Does The Composite Facelift Work? 61

The Essential Differences and Advantages 66

The End of Lateral Sweep 68

Youthful Eyes Stay Youthful 70

The Forehead: An Extra Measure of Lift 73

Sticking Your Neck Out 75

The Do-Over: Revising Previous Facelifts 76

The Whole Package: Combining Procedures 78

Are You A Good Candidate For The Composite? 79

FAQs about the Composite Lift 82

For First-Time Patients: 10 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon 85

Part 3 Problems with Today's Facelifts 86

Why Facelift Patients Are Often Dissatisfied 87

The Limitations of Traditional Techniques 89

The SMAS Facelift 90

Why Doesn't The SMAS Work Long-Term? 92

Facial Distortions Tell the Story 94

Problem - The Lateral Sweep 94

Problem - The Hollow Eye 104

Problem - The Malar Crescent 106

The Anatomy Behind The Cheek Lift 110

Other Telltale Signs of Surgery 113

Problem - Pulled-Down Earlobe113

Problem - Earlobe Displacement 115

Problem - Post-Op Neck Deformities 117

Problem - Unsightly Incisions 119

Less Is Less, More Is More 123

Tales from The Operating Room 125

For Second-Time Patients: 10 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon 139

Part 4 Finding the Right Surgeon 140

Qualifications Are Paramount 141

Education, Training, Board Certification 142

No Substitute for Experience 144

Complementary Procedures 146

Nasal Surgery 146

Breast Surgery 147

Body Contouring 148

An Integrated Approach 149

Your Consultation 150

Medical History and Physical Exam 150

Financial Considerations 152

Intuition and the intangibles 152

My Final Thoughts on Facelifting 153

Glossary 155

References 169

Index 171