Rejuvenating the Facelift
Instead of the weeks that it takes to recover from a traditional facelift under general anesthetic, Dr. Gerut says that his patients are back to work and in their social circles within 2-4 days
In the spring of 2004 two New York sisters walked in to Dr. Zachary Gerut's plastic surgery office in Hewlett, NY, ready for their facelifts. Unlike the other 100,000 or more Americans that opt for a facelift each year, these women had one stipulation: they did not want to be put under anesthesia. "They were both doctors, one a physician and one a Ph.D. They were both very intelligent women and knew what they wanted," said Dr. Gerut. So with these two women he began developing a new variation of the traditional facelift, a technique that he is now calling the Gerut Lift.
Ideas In Practice
Instead of a general anesthetic or sedation, these sisters received a mixture of lidocaine and epinephrine to numb their faces, the same combination that is used to numb the body during tumescent liposuction, and remained awake for the entire surgery. The surgery itself produced the same results as a traditional facelift, but it produced them quicker. In the months that have followed, Dr. Gerut has performed a total of approximately fifty such procedures, adding new techniques and refinements along the way, and has been amazed by the results. Instead of the weeks that it takes to recover from a traditional facelift under anesthesia, Dr. Gerut says that his patients are back to work and in their social circles within 2-4 days. In fact, of the fifty cases, only one of his patients has had bruising and swelling at one week after surgery. For the traditional lift that is the norm, not the exception.
The Results
As of yet Dr. Gerut has had no patients that have incurred infection, which he says happens with great infrequency anyway. In short, the Gerut Lift seems not to increase the instances of any given risks while eliminating the risks posed by anesthesia, and the results are as long lasting as a traditional facelift. "When you ask any facelift patient what are the four things that worry them, inevitably in the top four, if not the top two, are going under [anesthesia] and recovery time," says Dr. Gerut. With his technique both of these worries become much less frightening.
Combining Procedures
Dr. Zachary Gerut
Though it seems to be safer and offers a quicker recovery, the Gerut Lift cannot be used on everybody. For patients that seek many procedures along with their facelift, Dr. Gerut believes that some anesthesia is still necessary. He has, however, combined other procedures with a facelift under local anesthesia including eyelid surgery, tip rhinoplasty and a lip augmentation. One or two is fine, he says, but when you start doing three or four additional procedures it can pose problems. As more procedures are added time can also begin to become a problem as the facelift procedure alone takes an average of two and a half hours.
The problem for the surgeon, Dr. Gerut says, is that the facial distortion that is caused by the injected anesthetic only makes surgery more difficult. But with surgical experience and proper planning this new technique could make a facelift a more appealing option for patients worried about "going under."
Published: 02/03/2005, Last Updated: 02/14/2005
By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers
Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics obtained from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.
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