During the natural aging process, the skin on the face begins to relax and lose elasticity. As a result, the skin begins to take on a sagging appearance. When this happens, typically between the ages of 40 and 60, many men and women seek out different ways to maintain or regain a more youthful appearance for their face. Facelift surgery can be an excellent option for those people looking to reduce facial wrinkles and have excess and sagging skin removed.
What Is a Facelift Exactly?
A facelift, medically known as a rhytidectomy, is an elective cosmetic procedure that improves the signs of aging in the face and neck; this surgical procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient setting. During the surgery, your chosen board-certified plastic surgeon will make an incision in or at the hairline that will extend downward in front of the ear and continue behind it. The skin is then stretched, and the appropriate amount of excess skin is removed. Before closing the incision, your surgeon will determine if the underlying muscle and connective tissue need to be tightened with sutures as well. The incisions will then be closed with sutures or skin staples, and a dressing will be applied to cover these areas. Depending on your individual surgery, a drain may be placed so excess blood can drain from the wound.
Can I Get Another Procedure Done With a Facelift?
Additional procedures to supplement a facelift are sometimes needed to achieve the desired results. When the skin on the face ages, it not only loses elasticity but may also lose fat and muscle tone. Fat transfer injections or implants for the cheeks and chin can restore lost volume to complement a facelift and provide further enhanced results. Patients may also choose liposuction of specific areas, a neck lift, or eyelid surgery to obtain the results desired.
What Is the Recovery Process?
In the first one to two days after surgery, rest is encouraged, though we urge against complete bed rest. Pain medication is usually prescribed for managing discomfort and pain, but it is usually not needed after the third day. Bruising and swelling will peak about four days after surgery and will slowly dissipate over the next two weeks. Your surgeon will give you detailed information on how to properly care for your sutures on a day-to-day basis; this will help minimize itching and discomfort as the areas heal. Sutures and staples are usually removed seven to 10 days following surgery. While sutures are in place, the area will be raised, but after the sutures are removed, the treated area will begin the settle down. Most patients will return to work within two to three weeks.
When Will I See Results?
Recovering from a facelift procedure takes time. It is normal to not see a marked improvement within the first one or two months following facelift surgery due to the bruising and swelling on the face; however, after this resolves, the areas of the face will tighten, and the results will begin to appear. Final results may take up to one year to show clearly.
To see if facelift surgery is right for you, schedule a consultation by calling our office at 909-291-4900.
