Facelift

Fine lines, wrinkles, and displaced or lost facial fat are caused by age, sun damage, and environmental factors. Facelift surgery targets signs of aging on the middle and lower regions of the face, including the jowls and around the mouth. This procedure allows individuals to regain natural-looking, youthful facial contours that will result in more confidence and higher self-esteem.

Candidates

Facelift surgery is customized to meet your needs and desires. Candidates for a facelift are in good overall health, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations of their results. This procedure is ideal for individuals with lines and wrinkles on the lower face, sagging skin on the face and neck, displaced fat on the cheeks and around the mouth, significant jowls, and a prematurely aged appearance.

Procedure

General anesthesia is used during a facelift. Once administered, incisions are made within the hairline that run from the temples to around the ears. The length of these incisions will depend on the degree of correction needed. The incisions are hidden in the hairline to minimize visible scarring. Facial tissues, fat, and muscles are adjusted through the incisions and returned to their original, youthful positions. From here, loose and sagging skin is lifted and tightened over the new facial contours. The incisions are then closed.

Facelift surgery targets visible aging on the middle and lower regions of the face. Some patients choose to combine their surgery with a neck lift to remove additional laxity on the jowls and neck, or a brow lift or eyelid lift to target aging on the upper regions of the face. Additionally, fat grafting, lip augmentation, or facial liposuction can be applied as needed to restore or maintain facial balance and harmony.

Recovery

Facelift surgery is performed using anesthesia, so you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first night. Patients are sent home wrapped in facial bandages that will facilitate proper healing. Drainage tubes may be placed to prevent fluid accumulation. Bruising and swelling are common after facelift surgery. We suggest that patients sleep and relax in an upright position initially to ensure that blood flow is consistent. Most patients return to work within 10 to 12 days. You should avoid bending and lifting anything during the first few weeks. You should be able to safely resume all activity after two and a half weeks.

Results

Your facelift results become apparent as soon as the bruising and swelling subside, typically within a few days or weeks. At this time, patients can expect to see more youthful and rejuvenated facial contours. The results should be long lasting but no surgery can stop the natural aging process. Patients can extend the longevity of their results with a good skincare routine, including a broad-spectrum sunscreen, as well as following a healthy diet and not smoking. Non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures like soft tissue fillers and fractional lasers can lengthen your facelift results by maintaining facial volume and smoothness.