Surgery of the aging face. Advances and functional considerations in facial plastic surgery.

Abstract

With an aging patient population, many more individuals will seek advice from a trusted primary care physician regarding improvement of their appearance and related functional considerations. The physician plays a key role in understanding patients' concerns, counseling their needs and desires, and recognizing the important psychological benefits associated with surgery of the aging face. Recent advances and techniques for both aesthetic and functional problems have made surgery for the aging face safer, more precise, and more predictable, resulting in a much more positive outcome. By keeping in mind the preoperative assessment, indications, and specific procedures discussed in this article, many patients referred for consideration should enjoy the benefits of rejuvenation surgery of the aging face.