Face Lift Surgery
As people age the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. A face lift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can't stop this aging process. A face lift can "set back the clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
Facelift is a procedure where a person's face skin is tightens to give a younger looking appearance. Because of aging and gravity the skin on a person's face can tend to sag and feel droopy. It is in this moment when a facelift surgery becomes a great option to look younger. A facelift in concept is a very easy procedure. A facelift surgeon makes incision on a person's forehead and neck mainly. These incisions are regularly placed in areas where they will not be visible so that the facelift patient has a natural appearance and people cannot tell that the patient had a facelift done.
Because a facelift is a surgery where the patient needs to be put under, it is necessary that after a facelift the patient maintains at least 2-3 days of bed rest. It is also recommended that the patient stays out of the sun for the amount of time suggested by their facelift surgeon. Also it will only be after about 10 days that the patient's facelift stitches will be removed from the patient's forehead, neck or behind the ears.
A facelift is today a great way for men and women of different ages to look younger in one surgical procedure with long lasting results.
Today’s facelifts usually extends below the skin to reposition underlying facial muscles, tighten saggy skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and reduce excess skin. A facelit can be tailored to meet the patient’s needs so that he or she can achieve a rejuvenated and natural look.
There have been many advances developed to make facelifts look more natural. Facelift surgeons today are able to achieve incredible results with minimal scarring.
A facelift is very detailed surgery that requires the skills of a board certified facelift surgeon. A facelift that is well done will not be obvious and will give take away years from the patient’s appearance.
A facelift is complex surgery that goes beyond just tightening skin in order to rejuvenation the patient’s appereance.
True masters of the procedure do even more. Fat and tissue contribute as much to facial appearance as the underlying muscle and the overlying skin. A truly complete and comprehensive facelift with the most natural outcome will reduce, redistribute and in some cases add fat to the face.
The modern facelift has moved away from using skin tension to contour the face. As a face ages the changes include fat loosening and descending to sit lower in the face. The result is that the face looks longer and more square in shape. Young faces tend to be tapered or angular. Thus, the most important aspect of a facelift is to improve facial shape while limiting signs that a surgical procedure has been performed.
The Best Candidates For A Face Lift
The best candidate for a face lift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but a facelift can be successfully performed on people in their seventies or eighties.
The Face Lift Procedure
A face lift usually takes several hours or somewhat longer if you're having more than one procedure. For extensive procedures two separate sessions may be scheduled. Cosmetic surgeon moves back and forth between the sides of the face. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure. Cosmetic surgeon will discuss this with you. Incisions for a face lift procedure usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin.
To best determine what is right for you, consult a plastic surgeon who is not only qualified and experienced in these procedures, but one who also has an artistic vision. The difference between a good facelift and great facelift is the difference between a plastic surgeon who can simply restore youth versus one who can visualize and create youthful beauty. This means a plastic surgeon must look at each feature individually as well as at the face as a whole. Then he or she can define what to correct, how much to correct and how it will all work together to make you look 10 or more years younger, without appearing like you've had facelift surgery.
In general, Cosmetic surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and tissue, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube is temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain fluids that might collect there. Surgeon will also wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
A facelift can be performed on an outpatient basis in a hospital, ambulatory surgical facility or office-based surgical setting. However, in some cases, your facelift surgeon may recommend an overnight stay in a special care facility or hospital may.
Usually, facelifts are performed under general anesthesia, though local anesthesia with sedation may be used in some cases. Facelifts are performed by board-certified plastic surgeons and facial plastic surgeons.
There are many facelift techniques available today that address different problems. A facelift surgery is a procedure that is tailored to each patient's specific needs and may include a browlift, eyelid surgery, as well as laser skin resurfacing. In some cases the facelift procedure may also include the neck area in order to give the patient better results. In addition, fat may be added to certain areas of the face to restore loss volume and refine results.
A facelift begins with carefully placed incisions. These incisions are made in most cases just inside the hairline at the temple, extending down along the natural curve of the ear, back behind the ear and horizontally into the hairline. These scars are position behind the hairline in order to help hide them although they are not very noticeable.
The incisions made during your facelift surgery take into account your natural hairline and any sideburn pattern. A shorter or limited incision is possible in cases where a full facelift is not necessary and excess skin in the jowls or neck is minimal. In a limited incision facelift, your facelift surgeon will analyze the rates of aging over the different areas of your face and place the incisions where you need them.
Facelift incisions allow the plastic surgeon to visualize the underlying facial structure and fat as well as to reposition muscle and redistribute fat during facelift surgery.
After the incisions are made, the facelift surgeon will then proceed to reshape and sculpt the face. The facelift surgeon will then return muscles to their original position and restore fat to where it has diminished.
In some cases the neck may be addressed during a facelift. Through an often very small incision concealed underneath the chin, your facelift surgeon will manipulated vertical bands in the neck, just beneath the chin, for a smoothing and complete effect. If necessary, fat pockets are also corrected during this step in the facelift surgery.
The final step in the facelift surgery is to drape the skin over the new foundation, to reduce the excess skin and close the incisions. The facelift incisions are closed with stitches or staples and in some cases with skin adhesives.
It is very important that your facelift surgeon only removes the right amount of excess skin. Even with the best underlying facelift technique, if too much skin is reduced the results can be an unnatural and tight look.
After The Face Lift Procedure
There isn't usually significant discomfort after face lift surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication prescribed. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to us immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down.
If you've had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed one or two days after your face lift surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Don't be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you'll be looking normal.
Getting Back To Normal After Your Face Lift
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after your face lift surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first. Dr. will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities.
They will likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing. At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you'll probably be self-conscious about your scars.
Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first. By the third week, you'll look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work two weeks after face lift surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.
As a person ages, the effects of gravity and time cause a loss of elasticity and sagging of the skin, especially deepening of the smile lines and forming of marionette lines (vertical lines that can form on either side of the mouth). When these changes are still minimal (especially when the person is in the late 30s, or late 40s), a mini face lift can be performed to tighten and reposition the skin producing a more rested, refreshed look. After a mini face lift, patients will notice diminished smile lines and diminished of marionette lines.
Facelifts have become more popular as the Baby Boomers are reaching the prime of their lives. Patients desire to look youthful, vibrant and natural. Gone are the days of the “tight†face and "pulled" look. A short scar facelift can help patients achieve very natural results with minimal incisions, light anesthesia and fast recovery.
Short Scar Face Lift (S-lift, MACS Lift or Minimal Incision Face Lift)
A MACS lift repositions the skin and tissues that are affected by aging. The primary difference between the MACS lift and the traditional facelift is that the scar is greatly minimized. The scar behind the ear and hairline is eliminated. With the scar eliminated women can wear their hair up in a pony tail or French twist and men can keep their haircut short.
What is a Mini Facelift / Mid Face Lift?
The incision starts at the temporal hairline and extends in the natural curves in the front of the ear and ends just below or behind the earlobes.
It is generally for the younger patient usually under the age of 60.
Since the facelift has minor incisions it can be performed under local anesthesia combined with twilight anesthesia. Patient's wake up immediately after surgery and recover more smoothly as compared to a general anesthesia.
It is approximately 10-12 days at which time patients can return to work and wear some makeup.
Facelift Results
A facelift is a surgery that will give long lasting results. This is not a procedure that will need several sessions. In general there will be some swelling after a facelift procedure and some mild pain. A facelift patient will be asked to wear special bandages that will protect the places where the facelift incisions where made.
Also, about one week after the facelift surgery the patients should return to their facelift surgeon for a follow up consultation. Usually in this consultation they surgeon evaluates the evolution of the facelift patient and may take out the facelift stitches.
A person who has had a facelift may easily take away 10 years from their appearance just by having this surgery. Because of their safety and good results facelifts are now one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the US and around the world.
Facelift Cost
The cost of a facelift depends greatly on the facelift surgeon, the type of facelift performed and if the patient is getting the facelift in conjunction with other procedures. Many facelift surgeons offer payment and financing plans that make the facelift surgery affordable to everyone.
Types Of Facelift
There are many type of facelift. These types of facelift target different problems in a person's face and are performed depending a patient's individual needs. Facelift is also a surgery that everyday becomes more and more popular amongst men and women.
Some facelift methods target the forehead area, while others target the cheeks and neck too. There are even mini-facelifts that target specific areas on a person that many only show signs of aging on specific areas of their face.
A Good Facelift
The best way to tell how successful a facelift is when the patient is completely healed and their face does not look stretched out. Right after the facelift surgery the patient may experience a tightening sensation on their face. Since a person's skin is flexible, after the facelift surgery and as the patient's heals; this sensation will go away and the person's skin will look more natural and younger.
What is a short scar facelift?
The incisions for a mini face lift are smaller compared to a traditional face lift. They begin in the hairline and extend along the natural line in front of the ear and stop just behind the earlobe. The mini face lift procedure is done more quickly (usually only about 3 hours), and the recovery time is also shorter (most patients are back to work in a week).
With a mini face lift, only the isolated areas of the mid section of the face (such as nasolabial folds) will be addressed. For many patients who feel that these isolated areas are the most significant, a mini face lift is a great solution. On the other hand, a full face lift will improve areas like the neck-chin angle, and restore tighter jawline definition. While a mini face lift rejuvenates the mid-face area (which is what the term "Mid Face lift" refers to), a full face lift may be suggested to patients with sagging or droopiness in the jowl area, or to tighten up the neck muscles.
What is the difference between a Face Lift and a Mini Face Lift
The phrase "weekend face lift" is used in a variety of ways depending on the doctor. Some surgeons advertise a mini face lift as a "weekend face lift" because the recovery time is quick when compared to the traditional face lift procedure. Other procedures (cheek lift, vertical cheek lift, endoscopic forehead lift, or microsuction of the neck) have also all been described in similar ways by advertisers as a "weekend facelift". There is another procedure that some doctors perform as a "weekend face lift" in which a laser is used on the inside surface of the face, along with liposuction.
If you have any questions regarding Face Lift Surgery, or wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tabriz in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, please call the Jeunederm Cosmetic Surgery center.
Learn About Facelift
Facelift Guide has helped prospective facelift patients like you learn about the facelift procedure, latest trends and developments in facelift and find a facelift surgeon near you. Right from our home page, all you need to do is click on "Find a facelift surgeon" and choose your location. You'll then see a list of facelift surgeons in your area. You can read their credentials, visit their website, learn about the facelift procedure they perform and see pictures of their office and patients. You can also take advantage of the different facelift related sections on our site to answer questions about the facelift procedure that you may have.
Facelift is performed for the purpose of enhancing a person's appearance. Everyday facelift techniques are improved to give patients better results with less downtime and inconvenience.
Today, the power of the Internet lets you keep up with everything you ever wanted to know about facelift. Find out if you are a good candidate for facelift now!
Finding The Right Facelift Surgeon
Facelift involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. Our doctors are medical professionals who are trained and experienced in facelift procedures. They operate only in accredited medical facilities, adhere to a strict code of ethics and fulfill continuing facelift and medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in facelift and patient safety.
Finding the right facelift surgeon is key in your facelift process. The first step is always to make an appointment for your initial consultation.
In the initial consultation the facelift surgeon will analyze your case, let you know if you are a good facelift candidate. You can also talk to him or her about what to except, how will the facelift be performed, how long is the recovery time. Your facelift surgeon will also give you the cost of the procedure and present to you payment options if needed.
In the initial consultation you can ask your facelift surgeon questions such as:
For how long has he or she been performing facelift?
Benefits of Facelift
The benefits of facelift can be enormous! When we improve our physical appearance, we tend to feel more confident, whether in social interactions or career paths, and this is true of both males and females. Facelift can improve a person's overall look and how they are also perceived by others to give a stronger confidence.
Am I Eligible to Receive Facelift
As with all medical procedures, a facelift consultation with a local facelift surgeon will help you find out if you are a good facelift candidate.
Planning Your Facelift Procedure
Are you considering facelift? Make sure that all your facelift questions are answered before getting this procedure. Click on our different sections to learn more about facelift and to find facelift surgeons in your area.
When meeting with your facelift surgeon, make sure that you are aware of any pre-facelift recommendations, recovery time, care and recommendations after your facelift procedure.