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Tampa Women Say Cost, Too-Dramatic Change and Healing Time Are Key Facelift Concerns

Posted on: Monday, 30 October 2006, 06:00 CST

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a survey of 400 Tampa women aged 35 to 59, nearly half (47%) would consider having cosmetic surgery but 69 percent said the procedure was too expensive. And while two-thirds (69 percent) agreed that a cosmetic procedure would help them maintain a youthful appearance, many worried that they wouldn't be happy with the results.

Tampa's top plastic surgeons say that, although injectables and fillers battle wrinkles, they don't counteract the biggest tattle-tale sign of the aging face: sagging skin. However, some women may not want or need a traditional facelift. The survey showed that 56 percent of said they don't need a facelift and 25 percent expressed concern about looking too "pulled" post-procedure.

What's clear is that there is an unmet need among patients for a "midpoint" procedure between fillers/injectables and a full facelift. Tampa plastic surgeons now have a new technology that is not a traditional face life but offers longer-lasting results than injectables: ContourLift(TM).

Top cosmetic surgeons in the area including Dr. Joshua Halpern, Dr. Daniel Greenwald, and Dr. Andrew Coundouriotis say that the ContourLift -- an innovative facial rejuvenation procedure that uses a unique technology involving fine sutures that are carefully anchored to tissue far beneath the top layers of skin and then pulled to gently reposition sagging brows, cheeks and jowls -- offers patients results that are subtle and natural-looking, with no visible scarring.

This same technology is used in traditional facelifts. Doctors say it gives them optimal "vector control," meaning each section of the face can be manipulated independently for a natural effect. It provides natural, subtle rejuvenation for patients who want to look better but are not quite ready for a full facelift. The procedure itself usually takes about an hour and most people are typically back to the majority of their normal activities in about a week -- a much shorter recovery time than a traditional facelift. The average price of a traditional facelift is about $10,000. A ContourLift costs between $3,500 and $5,000.

"Women are telling us they want a middle-of-the road procedure. The ContourLift technology, which I have used in traditional facelifts for about a year and a half can on its own provide women with subtle, natural rejuvenation with less down time," said Dr. Halpern a prominent Tampa based plastic surgeon. "Women are excited about looking as young as they feel and the ContourLift offers them a more cost-effective, minimally-invasive option that addresses their facial issues or imperfections in a more subtle, natural way."

By age 35, brows, jaws and cheek areas start to soften and droop and by age 45 significant differences in facial contours are evident. Women 45+ may find they need more than injected fillers, chemical peels or microdermabrasion to look their best. However, many don't want -- nor need -- a full facelift at this point in their lives. They would rather address specific concerns in a way that matches their current lifestyle and revisit getting the Cadillac of facial procedures --a full facelift, later on down the road.

Dr. Daniel Greenwald who also uses this technology in traditional facelifts explains that the ContourLift facial rejuvenation procedure is the perfect in-between procedure for women who need more than filler, but less than a traditional facelift.

"The ContourLift enables me to address the issue of sagging, which is an inevitable result of aging," Dr. Greenwald said. "Injectables like BOTOX(R) or Restylane(R) will tackle wrinkles, but are ineffective for elevating sagging soft tissues. Many women are not yet appropriate candidates for a surgical facelift, or they simply don't want the long recovery time and expense. The ContourLift offers an opportunity for gentle and natural rejuvenation with much less down-time, risk, and cost."

"The needs of each patient are unique," says Dr. Andrew Coundouriotis, a skilled facial plastic surgeon out of St. Petersburg. "It's never one solution fits all when it comes to facial rejuvenation. The ContourLift technology is a versatile procedure that can be used on several areas of the face to correct signs of aging. Patients like the ContourLift because they receive great results from an office procedure with shorter downtime and without the need for heavy anesthesia."

Additional Survey Findings: * Tampa Women Aren't Shy: Four out of five, or 82% of women surveyed who had a cosmetic procedure told people about it. Three-quarters of women say they know at least one person who has had a cosmetic facial procedure. * I Can Tell! Two in five women (43%) say they can "always" tell when someone has had a facial procedure. * What Price Beauty?: Two thirds of women in Tampa (69%) want to look 10 years younger but only a quarter (22%) are willing to pay $10,000 -- the cost of an average facelift -- to do so. * Tampa Beauty Elite: Twenty-four percent of Tampa women spend more than $400 a year on their face (this includes, creams, facials, dermatology and plastic surgery). * I'm Doing It For Me: Fifty-six percent of respondents said a cosmetic facial procedure would help them feel better about the way they look. Fifty-three percent agreed that a cosmetic procedure would help them look as young as they feel. * You've Come a Long Way Baby: Twenty-five percent of Tampa women said a cosmetic facial procedure would help her career.

Only doctors that have undergone comprehensive training are qualified to perform the ContourLift facial rejuvenation procedure. Results vary from person to person and the procedure is not for everyone. During an initial visit, doctors evaluate bone structure, skin texture and skin density. They also factor in the patient's anticipated result. For additional information on the ContourLift procedure and the Tampa based doctors who are trained to perform it, visit http://www.contourlifttampa.com/ .

ABOUT THE SURVEY:

A randomly-selected, representative sample of women aged 35 to 59 years of age within the Tampa Bay Area took part in this survey. A total of 400 interviews were conducted. Data collection for the study was conducted via CATI telephone interviewing between August 29th and September 22nd, 2006. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 4.9%, 19 times out of 20.

This survey was conducted by Leger Marketing, the Canadian representative of the Gallup International Association. As Canada's largest independent research firm, Leger Marketing has offices all across Canada, as well as in New York and Philadelphia.

About The ContourLift(TM) Facial Rejuvenation Procedure

ContourLift uses a patented self anchoring suture technology that permits a minimally invasive surgical approach for elevation and fixation of skin. A ContourLift is performed with the first FDA product cleared for market with current indications for elevation and fixation of midface, brow and neck.

The threads used in a ContourLift procedure are made from polypropylene, a material that has been used inside the human body as a suture material for decades. These threads are designed with patented dimensional barbs that attach to the subdermal tissue, lifting, suspending and fixating contour of the brow, midface and neck areas.

CONTACT: Lisa Giassa Fleishman Hillard Office Direct: 212-453-2172 Cell: 201-406-7690

CountourLift

CONTACT: Lisa Giassa of Fleishman Hillard, +1-212-453-2172, Cell:+1-201-406-7690

Web site: http://www.contourlifttampa.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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