Facelift
Face procedures
Facelift
Facelift in in California and Florida (Beverly hills, Newport beach, Orange County, Miami)
Over time, our facial bones shrink. Also, the sun causes skin to lose elasticity, and gravity causes ligaments of the underlying soft tissues to stretch. As a result, the skin develops wrinkles, and gravity causes the muscle and fat overlying the facial skeleton to sag and droop, forming jowls and a double chin (loss of the horizontal jaw neck line). These changes can create discordance between how active people feel and what they see in the mirror. Therefore, people who are engaged in life often feel a desire to have a more youthful outer appearance that reflects their inner energy.
Facelift surgery is one of the most popular surgical facial enhancement procedures available. This effective treatment has undergone many advances over the years, and can help both women and men turn back the hands of time and achieve a more youthful aesthetic with natural-looking results. A good facelift should always look natural with a rejuvenated appearance.
What is a Facelift?
A facelift, medically known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce signs of aging of the face, sagging skin and smooth out lines and wrinkles along the mid- to lower face and upper neck area. A facelift essentially eliminates excess, inelastic skin and tightens underlying muscles, then redrapes the remaining skin for a more youthful appearance. Facelift surgery is one of the most effective ways to provide lasting facial rejuvenation for women and men who would like to diminish common signs of age.
What Can Facelift Surgery Do?
Unfortunately, we all age. The good news is however that a facelift can correct signs of aging along the face in a natural and aesthetic manner. Some of the concerns of the face that can be addressed with facelift surgery include:
- Skin laxity
- Jowls
- Deep wrinkles and folds around the mouth
- Displaced fat along facial areas
- Excess, loose skin and fat under the chin and in the upper neck area
Who is a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?
Ideal candidates for facelift surgery are typically:
- Individuals who are in relatively good general health
- Patients with realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure.
- Non-smokers
- Sign of facial aging
With a good facelift, you can expect a 10-15 year age reduction in the face and sometimes even more. The ultimate goal is to provide results that meet your needs and look both beautiful and natural.
What’s the right age for a facelift?
It truly depends. While individuals in a variety of age ranges can benefit from the procedure, facelift surgery is often a particularly good option to contemplate when you start to see aging of your face. There are however, other treatments that could be done prior to performing a facelift to not only slow the aging process but also less dramatically reverse it.
How is the Facelift Procedure Performed?
Facelift surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis under either moderate sedation or general anesthesia. In most cases, the plastic surgeon will make an incision just above the hairline, following from the temples to behind the earlobe. This typically makes any residual scarring virtually unnoticeable as it is well-concealed by the hair. If necessary, an incision will also be made under the chin to address neck laxity and to perform a neck lift. The plastic surgeon will then carefully remove excess skin, tighten- or redrape the underlying muscles, and redrape the remaining skin for a smoother appearance.
The newer techniques in facelift surgery address the deeper structures of the face and the musculature of the neck in order to increase the longevity of the results. Addressing these deeper structures in addition to the skin can make a good facelift last 15 years. The sagging of the cheek tissue, jowls, and neck cannot be addressed by just pulling the skin. Skin is like a rubber band and it will stretch back in a year to its original shape if the deeper structures are not addressed. This is the reason why some of those quick-recovery “lunchtime” procedures do not have lasting results.
What is Facelift Recovery Like?
The recovery from a facelift is not as bad as it used to be. You can expect to be very presentable in two weeks after facial surgery. Some degree of swelling and bruising can be expected for several days after facelift surgery; however, these effects should fade significantly within the first couple of weeks. Pain medication can typically be prescribed to control discomfort during the recovery process. Most individuals are able to resume normal daily routines after the first two to three weeks. Close to full healing is usually expected by 6-8 weeks.
It’s important to note that smoking is a contraindication to this surgery. Nicotine decreases skin circulation and causes poor healing, skin loss and less desirable results. It is recommended to discontinue all nicotine products, including the patch and the gum, for two months prior to considering this surgery.
How Long Does a Facelift Last?
With some good lifestyle habits and consistent attention paid to skin care, the results of facelift surgery should last many years into the future. Naturally, the aging process will continue; however, a facelift essentially “turns back the clock,” resetting it in a way. Therefore, it’s possible to always look more youthful than one would have looked if the surgery was never performed. With this in mind, the effects of facelift surgery can be maintained for as long as possible by staying on a healthy diet, keeping your weight stable, using an effective sunscreen each time you go out in the sun, and employing a daily skin care routine.
Will My Facelift Scars Be Visible?
A good plastic surgeon knows where to make the incisions in a careful and diligent way in areas that will be virtually undetectable to others. In most cases, facelift scars can be concealed beneath the hairline or behind the ears. It’s important to follow all post-operative instructions regarding the care of your incisions in the days after surgery so that irregular scarring or infections do not develop.
What Are My Facelift Alternatives?
There are a variety of facelift alternatives that can achieve good results for patients who are not candidates for a full facelift procedure, or for those who want a less invasive treatment. These include injectable dermal, peels, laser skin resurfacing, and other non-surgical options at our practice. For those who may be experiencing prominent signs of aging in regions of the upper face that they would like to address, procedures such as eyelid surgery or brow lift may be more beneficial. After a consultation, the plastic surgeon can talk with you about all of your options during the initial consultation and help you determine the best treatment for your needs.
How Do I Choose the Best Facelift Surgeon?
Determining the best facelift surgeon to perform the procedure is a decision that is as critical as the facelift surgery itself. Ensuring that you are giving your trust to an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who has produced excellent results in the past is very important. Prospective patients should consider the following before choosing a facelift surgeon:
- Is your surgeon board certified?
- How much experience do they have performing facelifts?
- Can your surgeon produce examples of their past work?
- Have you viewed online testimonials and reviews about the surgeon and the level of care they provide?
Once you have narrowed down your selection, you should met with your surgeon in person to evaluate your level of confidence in their abilities and approach to care.
These considerations are crucial, and they can ultimately give patients the peace of mind they need before heading into surgery. Board certification is a key factor in choosing a surgeon because it ensures that they have had extensive education and experience when it comes to plastic surgery. However, board certification will not guarantee they have a particular abundance of experience specifically performing facelifts, so finding out just how much experience they have will also be an important task. Lastly, referencing a surgeon’s history and examples of their previous work will give a prospective patient a better idea if their expectations can be met. You should always feel that the surgeon you are considering is actively listening to your questions and concerns and providing you with thorough details as to what you can expect.