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 Our face appearance and how it ages is a large factor in how we feel about ourselves and how other people see us. Often, due to the loss of elasticity and firmness, we begin to focus on sagging tissue and wrinkles. This appearance in the midface, jaw line, and neck can make even the most enthusiastic person appear tired or sad. A variety of factors such as heredity, gravity, stress, and environmental conditions can also contribute to visible signs of aging.
If any of these conditions bother you, a facelift, and/ or a mid facelift may be the right option. Generally, a facelift creates a more youthful look by correcting sagging facial skin and muscles and removing excess fat. It restores firmness which creates a more rested and vibrant appearance.
Facelifts are best performed on adult men and women who have any of the following feelings or conditions:
- Feelings that your outward facial appearance does not reflect your physical or emotional youth or vigor
- A desire to improve the visible signs of aging on your face and neck
- Sagging in the mid face that has created a deep crease below your lower eyelid or crease between the nose and mouth
- Loss of muscle tone in the lower face (typically called “jowls”)
- Loose skin or excess fatty deposits under your chin (double chin or turkey neck)
- Healthy individuals who do not have a medical condition that will impair healing
- Non-smokers
- People who have realistic goals in mind for the improvement of their appearance and have a positive outlook
It is important that you fully disclose to Dr Stevens your current and past health conditions and history including previous surgical procedures, current medications, and use of vitamins, herbal supplements, nutritional supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. It is also imperative that you disclose medical conditions such as thyroid disorders (such as Graves’ disease), un-active or over-active thyroid, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, circulatory disorders, or diabetes.
A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering a facelift. During this meeting, Dr Stevens will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for surgery.
During the consultation, you will learn about the options available for face lifts and how those options can improve the appearance of your face, midface, or chin area. You will also share your goals and discuss likely outcomes of surgery. You will share your health history, discuss the potential risks and complications, and all your questions will be answered.
You will receive a recommended course of treatment based on your anatomy, the condition you wish to have corrected, what is causing the condition, and your realistic goals for improvement. Dr. Stevens will help you understand the factors that may affect your results. For example, gaining or losing a significant amount of weight may change your facial appearance.
A facelift is a highly personal and individualized procedure. Dr. Stevens will evaluate your skin, muscle, bone structure, and other specific conditions that may have contributed to your aging appearance. He will consider these significant factors in determining the appropriate technique or combination of procedures that are best for you to achieve your realistic goals. Although facelifts will not change basic appearance or stop the aging process, it will restore a younger version that will then continue to age naturally over time.
A traditional facelift restores the midface, jowls and neck, allowing excess skin to be removed. Where improvement is desired in the midface region alone and where excess skin is less a factor, limited incision techniques may be an alternative to a traditional facelift.
Procedures that may further enhance the outcome of a facelift may include: facial implants or soft tissue augmentation to recontour the facial structure, and resurfacing techniques to improve the tone and texture of facial skin. Wrinkle reduction by injection (Botox®) may be recommended prior to your procedure (to help underlying muscles fully relax before repositioning and tightening) or after (to help maintain results).
Facelift incisions often begin in the hairline at the temples, continue around the ear and end in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls and neck and underlying tissue is repositioned. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.
An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, within the lower eyelids or under the upper lip. An endoscope, or surgical telescope, may help to reposition tissues and elevate mid-facial muscles. Skin resurfacing techniques may be performed in conjunction with the surgery or as a separate procedure to improve skin tone and texture.
Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear. The visible improvements of a facelift appear as swelling and bruising subside. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.
Risks associated with a surgical facelift include infection, bleeding beneath the skin (hematoma), hair loss at the incisions, facial nerve injury with weakness, facial asymmetry, skin loss with scarring, numbness, and risks associated with anesthesia. These and other potential risks and complications will be fully discussed prior to your consent.
It is important that you address all your questions directly with Dr Stevens. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether from excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress.
Initial healing will include swelling and may include numbness and discomfort that can be controlled with medication. Your skin will likely look bruised or discolored. In addition, facial movements may be temporarily restricted. These are common conditions. You will be wrapped in a soft cotton compression dressing that is removed on the third or fourth postoperative day. At that time you will be allowed to wash your hair.
Dr Stevens will instruct you to keep your head elevated at all times until initial swelling has subsided. You will be provided specific postoperative instructions including cleansing of your face and hair. Follow all instructions carefully; this is essential to the success of your outcome. A return to light, normal activity is usually possible within a few days after surgery.
For the most part, facelift incisions are well healed within a week. You will be ready to return to work and light activity sometime between 2 to 4 weeks. Cosmetics can usually camouflage any bruising that remains.
Healing will continue for at least several more weeks as swelling resolves and incision lines continue to improve. You must practice diligent sun protection until the healing process is fully complete.
It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to 6 months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. Most patients find that the benefits of their initial facelift results are long-lasting, even as they continue to age. |
