What is Face Lift Surgery?
A face lift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure aimed at reducing the visible signs of aging on the face and neck. The procedure involves removing excess skin and tightening the underlying muscles and tissues to restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia, and recovery time can vary depending on the extent of the surgery. While facelift surgery can provide dramatic and long-lasting results, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with a board-certified face lift surgeon to determine if it is the right option for you.
We Tailor the Procedure to You
As we age, skin loses elasticity, and facial tissues descend and lose volume. This results in wrinkles, sagging skin in the face and neck, loss of cheek volume, and “jowls” on the lower face. Some patients feel self-conscious about how their face or neck looks as the aging process occurs. A face lift improves these visible signs of facial aging. Depending on the patient, a neck lift is commonly performed during a facelift to create a harmonious result.
Goals of a Face Lift Surgery:
· Re-suspend deeper facial tissues to more youthful position
· Restore jawline and neck contour
· Smooth deeper folds of face (e.g. nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls)
· Enhance cheek volume using small amounts of your own fat (i.e. fat grafting)
· Re-drape and remove redundant skin
A facelift can give you a more healthy, athletic look and an energetic glow. Our goal is to restore and enhance your natural beauty, and keep you looking yourself, just years younger. After surgery, many patients feel more self-confident, which can improve their quality of life and confidence.
About the Procedure
A face lift is performed through small incisions that are well-concealed underneath the chin and within the natural curves of the ear and hairline. Through these incisions, the deeper facial tissues are lifted and the neck muscles are tightened (i.e. platysmal bands). This restores a more youthful facial volume and allows for a refined jawline and slender neck contour. Depending on the patient’s exam, augmentation to different parts of the face can be performed with fat grafting, where fat is liposuctioned from the patient’s lower abdomen or thighs and injected in small increments in the areas of the face that are deficient.
Some patients with early and mild signs of aging are candidates for a procedure commonly known as a “mini-face lift,” where a less invasive approach is performed through slightly shorter incisions.
Face Lift Surgery Recovery
A face lift is typically done in the operating room with the patient asleep. After the procedure, you will have small dressings over your incisions. Small, flexible tubes (i.e. drains) may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid, and minimize swelling. Recovery time is about minimizing swelling and bruising, this is different for each patient, but usually patients feel comfortable attending social events with light make-up two weeks after surgery.
As Part of the Recovery Process, You Receive:
· Instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains
· Medications to apply or take
· Areas to watch with your doctor at the surgical site or in your general health
Speak with an Expert Face Lift Surgeon
Learn more about our face lift and find your new and better state of normal. Schedule a consultation with a Pinnacle Dermatology face lift surgeon today to start the process.