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Face Lift

Our face is our most visible feature, onethat through expression and appearance conveys what and how we feel.  Facial aging includes a loss of skin elasticity and firmness, sagging tissue and wrinkles.  These visible signs of aging can greatly impact how we feel about ourselves and how others see us.  Even a person who is energetic and excited about life can appear tired or sad due to aging in the mid face, jaw line and neck.  The loss of youthful contours in these areas is due to a variety of factors including heredity, gravity, environment conditions and stress.

If your are bothered by the signs of aging in your face, a facelift may be right for you.  In general, a facelift corrects sagging facial skin and muscles, removes excess fat and restored firmness to create a more youthful, rested and vibrant appearance.

This brochure presents an overview of facelift through plastic surgery.  The best way to learn how a facelift can help fulfill your personal goals is a consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgeons or The Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada.

What is a facelift?

A facelift, technically know as ryhtidectomy. is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck.  Sagging in the mid face can create a deep crease below the lower eyelid (called a tear trough) and between the nose and mouth (nasolabial fold) that may make you appear tired and sad.  Fat that has fallen or is displaces and loss of muscle tone in the lower face may create jowls (a jaw line that sags into the neck).  Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a "double chin".

A facelift is designed to correct all of these aging features, restoring a more youthful, rested appearance with uplifted contours and improves tone in facial skin and underlying muscle.  Where desired improvement can be isolated to the mid facial region and where excess skin is less a factor, a limited incision lift may be an alternative to a traditional facelift.
As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.  although you will continue to age naturally, aging will progress from the more youthful version of yourself that has been restored by a facelift.  Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes.

A facelift is best performed on adult men and women who feel that their outward facial aging no longer reflects the youth and vigor they feel physically and emotionally.  Good candidates are:

Where do I begin?

A consultation with your plastic surgeon is the first step to learn how a facelift can improve an aging face and neck.  A consultation is designed to fully educate you about facelift in a non-pressure environment, and will include:

Your plastic surgeon will also answer all of your questions.

Evaluation

Overall health and personal outlook can greatly impact the outcome of a facelift.  These will be carefully evaluated in consultation with your plastic surgeon.  the success of you procedure, safety and overall satisfaction require that you:

Safety

By making the decision to consult with a plastic surgeon and following all the instructions given, you are taking an important step in assuring your safety.

Your plastic surgeon is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada.  The certification designated surgeons who are specifically trained in plastic surgery of the face and entire body.

My facelift

A facelift is a highly individualized procedure.  Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your skin, muscle and bone structure and the specific conditions that contribute to your aging appearance.  These factors are the most significant considerations in determining the appropriate technique or combination of procedure to best achieve your realistic goals.  A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate.  Most patients are reassured to know that a facelift will not change their basic appearance, but will restore it to a younger version of itself that will then continue to age naturally over time.

A traditional facelift restores the mid face, jowls and neck, allowing excess skin to be removed.  Where improvement is desired in the mid face region alone an where excess skin is less a factor, limited incision techniques may be an alternative to a traditional facelift,  Your goals, anatomy and your plastic surgeon's surgical judgment are all factors in determining the best approach to your individual case.

Procedure 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 muscle fully relax before repositioning and tightening) or after ( to help maintain results).

Preparing for Surgery

Your plastic surgeon will carefully explain the facelift procedure you will undergo.  Prior to your procedure, you will be given specific instructions that may include:

In addition, you will be asked to sign consent forms to assure your plastic surgeon that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.

Risks associated with a surgical facelift include infections, bleeding beneath the skin (hematoma), correctable 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 discusses prior to your consent.

It is important that you address all you question directly with your plastic surgeon.  It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether from excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress.  Discuss these feeling with your plastic surgeon.

What to expect

A facelift may be performed in your plastic surgeon's accredited office-based surgical facility, an ambulatory surgical facility or hospital.  The decision for anesthesia will be based on the requirements of your specific procedure and considerations of patient and surgeon preference.  Your plastic surgeon and the assisting staff will fully attend to your comfort and safety.

Following surgery

Once your procedure is completed, a bandage will gently be placed around your face to minimized swelling and bruising.  A thin tube may be present to drain any excess blood that may collect under the skin.  Before being released, you and an accompanying family member, friends or caregiver will be given specific instructions that may include:

Progress and healing

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.

Your plastic surgeon will instruct you to keep your head elevated at all times until swelling has subsided.  You will be provided specific postoperative instructions including cleansing of your face and hair.  Follow all instructions carefully; this is essentially to the success of your outcome.  A return to light, normal activity is usually possible within a few days of surgery.

For the most part, facelift incisions are well healed within a week.  You will be ready to return to work and light, normal activity sometime between 2 to 4 weeks.  cosmetics can usually camouflage and 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 protections until the healing process is fully complete.  Continue to follow your plastic surgeon's instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.

Results and outlook

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.

Your surgeon, your choice

Choosing to have cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery is an important decision; so is selecting a plastic surgeon.  Consider these important guidelines:

Board Certification - Not all physicians who perform plastic surgery or who use the title plastic surgeon are board certified is plastic surgery.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certify physicians in plastic surgery of the face and entire body.  To be certified by either board, a plastic surgeon must:

Privileges -Your surgeon should have operating privileges at an accredited, local hospital for the same procedure you plan to have performed - even if the surgeon suggests your procedure be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility or at an ambulatory surgery center.

This educational brochure is designed to supplement a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  Plastic surgeons with this certification have completed extensive surgical training and rigorous examinations in plastic surgery; this uniquely qualified them to perform cosmetic and reconstruction procedures of the face and entire body.

Copyright © 2006 Dr. Yalamanchi, M.D., F.A.C.S., PA