Ageless Voice with Voice Lift

 

In the past, doctors have mostly performed vocal chord surgery on people with voice-robbing diseases or injury. With the advancement of modern medicine along with its cosmetic and plastic surgery side, we now offer a cosmetic lift for the voice, — the voice lift.

Voice Lift is becoming more widely known among the aging population who are dismayed to notice hoarsenessas they speak, signiofying the creeping reality that nature is on full force to rob their youth again.

Professionals who use their voices — including performers, lawyers and telephone operators, and others who are seeking out the procedure are hoping to shave years off the sound of their voice.

Doctors are however warning against doing cosmetic surgery on normal, but aging, vocal cords. The procedure, though relatively minor, is still surgical in nature and should not be taken lightly. Before setting up and appointment for surgery, make sure you make your research about your surgeon's experience in this procedure.

 

Generally, there are 2 kinds of voice lifts: One is where implants are inserted through an incision in the neck to bring the vocal cords closer together while the other option is to use fat injection, either by lipofilling or by fat transfer. By pricples of anatomy, this will allow the vocal cords to close properly like when you were still at the prime of your youth.

As simple as it may sound, one of the major risks is over filling the vocal cords, closing it 

A Raspy, Hoarse Voice

By the time Bob Anzidei reached 66, he found himself struggling to speak. Now 75, the retired construction superintendent underwent voice lift surgery several years ago.

"When I spoke, many times the person I was speaking to would not hear me as clear as they should," Anzidei said. "I had to repeat myself because it was very raspy and hoarse."

To produce sound, the vocal cords must meet each other at a rate of between 120 and 220 times a minute, and that high level of usage takes its toll. Unlike skin, the surface of vocal cords don't sag as we age — they get stiffer. "Over time, from the use of the voice, they actually decrease in pliability," Zeitels said. "They become stiffer, which makes it more difficult for them to vibrate."

Singing, smoking and just day-to-day speaking can make vocal cords less limber and speech less recognizable.

Vocal Changes a Red Flag

Even so, a changing voice shouldn't be ignored or written off as just "old age." Vocal changes can be the first signs of polyps, a paralyzed voice chord, or even cancerous tissue in the voice box. Physicians can use everything from traditional surgery to lasers to treat these kinds of disorders.

In Anzidei's case, one of his vocal cords was paralyzed, and the second one was becoming partially paralyzed. Injections of fat have allowed him to speak normally, so that his voice can be heard.

Dr. Robert Thayer Sataloff, chairman of the otolaryngology department at Philadelphia's Graduate Hospital, performed the surgery.

"I'm happy," Sataloff told Anzidei. "You don't sound like a 75-year-old man with a completely paralyzed vocal cord at all."

Though he does not know if he sounds any younger, Anzidei does say that he sounds clearer.

"Friends and family who knew that I was having this problem heard me speak for the first time. They spoke with me after the surgery and were very impressed," Anzidei said. "They said, 'Wow, you sound great! '"

There may be some safer ways to treat aging voices on the horizon. Researchers are looking at new chemicals and new materials which can be injected safely into aging vocal chords.