face lift procedures

Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a major procedure to treat severe facial skin laxity and sagging. The procedure often provides a benefit for more than 10 years.

It's a popular procedure: Americans spent more than $1 billion on facelift and facial surgery in 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The Facelift Surgery Procedure

There are many variations of facelift surgery. You should ask your doctor about facelift variations, which may include the deep plane lift or composite lift, SMAS lift, subperiosteal lift, skin lift, mid facelift, and feather or thread lift.

Facelift plastic surgery may be performed by making an incision at the temples behind the hairline. The incision typically extends downward, along the natural creases in the skin, in front or on the edge of the ear, in the crease of the ear lobe, and behind the ear. Making the incision in the natural creases helps hide scarring after surgery.

The surgeon then separates the skin and muscles of the face from the deeper facial tissues.

In some cases the skin is removed, while in others the skin and muscle tissues are reshaped. The underlying muscle may be tightened with the skin, or separately. After the tightening or removal of excess skin, the skin is re-draped and sutured or stapled in place.

Facelift patients normally undergo general anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the procedure, a facelift may be performed under local anesthesia — while you are numbed and sedated, but awake, or a light general anesthetic, where you are lightly sleeping.

Time in surgery is approximately 90 to 120 minutes. In some cases, drainage tubes are left in place under certain areas of the skin for several days to reduce post-surgical swelling.

Recovery After Facelift Surgery

After surgery, patients may experience moderate swelling of the eyelids and other facial areas. Immediately after surgery a large fluffy dressing is usually applied. Typically within one day after surgery it is removed and may be replaced with an elastic wrap.

Normally you would feel some discomfort following facelift surgery, which can be managed with medications.

You should avoid strenuous activity until the swelling has subsided. This can take four to six weeks; however, within two weeks the swelling should be reduced enough to engage in some social activities. Many patients prefer to delay significant social activities for four weeks after surgery.

The skin may feel dry and feel rough for a few months.

Facelift Does Not Affect All Facial Areas

The treatment plan for a facelift patient may include other plastic surgery procedures and minimally invasive procedures to provide a full facial rejuvenation.

The facelift itself involves improvements to the jaw line, cheeks, and nasiofold area, but not necessarily the neck, brow, forehead and eyelids. During the consultation Dr Goodman will evaluate your face to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.

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