Facelift

Facelift

A facelift / “mini” facelift / short-scar facelift is surgery to remove excess skin from the neck and lower jaw line and jowl to give the lower two-thirds of the face a more youthful and rested appearance. A facelift treats loose, sagging skin. Facelift incisions are well hidden behind the ears in the hair and sometimes under the chin depending on the extent of skin laxity and muscle banding in the neck.

Facelifts are most commonly performed on people age 40 to 80, but can be performed on younger or older patients depending on their needs and medical fitness. The results of a facelift can range from subtle to dramatic, depending upon aging changes that were present prior to surgery.

A person may be a candidate for a facelift if any of the following conditions are present:

A deep creases in their face with tissue atrophy and skin laxity.
An undefined jawline with excess skin or loose jowls.
Loose skin, excess fatty tissue and muscle banding in the neck.
A facelift can help you feel better about how you look. How long the effects of the procedure last is influenced by such factors as exposure to sun and tobacco products, as well as your genetic makeup.

Key Facts

Anesthesia: Twilight anesthesia with IV intravenous sedation.
Length of facelift procedure: 2 to 4 hours.
Length of stay: Outpatient or 1 night observation depending on patient.
Anticipate: Minimal swelling and possible minor bruising is possible.
Discomfort: Mild and controlled with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications
Duration of results: Typically 10 years with normal aging.
Recovery: Back to work in 1 to 3 weeks. Exercise in 3 to 4 weeks.
A facelift is often combined with rejuvenation procedures of the eye (blepharoplasty or chemical peel) or forehead (brow lift) region and fat grafting. A facelift will not remove fine wrinkles that are part of natural aging, such as those around the lips and eyes – that requires laser or chemical peel. These are best treated at the same time or another time with skin resurfacing procedures such as chemical peel or laser treatments such as fractionated laser such as CORE fusion CO2.

What to Expect

A facelift is usually done under twilight/IV anesthesia but can be done under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. The surgery is performed through incisions made in existing skin creases and hair-bearing areas surrounding the ear. The goal is to hide incisions so they are not visible during healing. Minimal or no hair is trimmed from the scalp along the incisions. The facelift surgeon may adjust underlying tissue to create a smoother and more defined contour to the neck and jawline. Excess skin is then removed.

If necessary, the surgeon will trim or remove with liposuction localized deposits of fat along the jawline or under the chin to create a nice contour. Sometimes an incision under the chin is necessary to create a better contour and to remove the neck bands. This incision can also be used to place a chin implant if more projection is desired. The surgeon tightens the tissue by moving the skin and often the deeper subcutaneous tissues and muscles to achieve the best possible symmetry. Excess skin is removed and the incisions are closed with sutures and sometimes staples.

They Can Help You

At Stay Beautiful, our goal is to attain the highest level of patient satisfaction. We are here to help you reach all your goals. From the time you enter our beautiful waiting room expect to receive the highest level of care. Our facilities are equipped with the latest and safest technologies in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.