What is a facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:

• Relaxation of the skin of the face causes sagging

• Deepening of the fold lines between the nose and corner of the mouth

• Fat that has fallen or has disappeared

• Jowls developing in the cheeks and jaw

• Loose skin and excess fat of the neck that can appear as a double chin or “turkey neck”

The loss of youthful contours in the face can be due to a variety of factors, including thinning of the skin, loss of facial fat, gravity, sun damage, smoking, as well as heredity, and stress.

Other procedures that might be performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lifts and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes. Fat transfer or fillers may be suggested to replace the lost fatty volume. Skin treatments such as IPL, dermabrasion, peels, or laser may be offered to improve the quality and texture of the skin.

What facelift surgery can’t do

As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.

A facelift can only be performed surgically; minimally invasive rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery.

Some minimally invasive treatments, such as stem cell facelifts, are of unproven benefit.

Who is a good candidate for a facelift?

Facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

In general, good candidates for a facelift include:

• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing

• Nonsmokers

• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

What are the steps of a facelift procedure?

A facelift procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

A variety of other procedures can further enhance the outcome of a facelift. They include:

• Facial implants or fat transfer to improve the contour

• Resurfacing techniques to improve the tone and texture of facial skin

• Wrinkle reduction by injection of fat or fillers

Step 2 – The incision

Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your facelift choices include a traditional facelift, a limited incision facelift, or a neck lift.

A traditional facelift incision often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear, and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls, and neck and underlying tissue is repositioned, commonly the deeper layers of the face and the muscles are also lifted. 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.

Traditional Facelift

An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear. “Mini-lifts” is usually reserved for patients with less skin relaxation, as the results are less rejuvenating than a full facelift.

Limited Incision

A neck lift addresses the sagging jowls, loose neck skin, and fat accumulation under the chin. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear, and ends in the posterior hair behind the ear.

Neck Lift

Step 3 – Closing the incisions

The incisions will be closed with sutures that may dissolve or may need to be removed after a few days. Some surgeons use skin glues to seal the incisions. Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.

Step 4 – See the results

The visible improvements of a facelift appear once 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. Get more information about facelift results.

What should I expect during my facelift recovery?

Following the completion of a facelift, a bandage might be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising. Small tubes may be present to draw off any excess blood or fluid.

You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

What results should I expect after a facelift?

While most people are presentable to the public within 10-14 days, it will take 2-3 months for the face to feel “back to normal” in terms of texture, sensibility, and loss of tightness.

Continuing daily sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of your facelift.

As swelling and bruising subside, the visible improvements of a facelift appear. Your final result should not only provide a more youthful and rested appearance but also help you feel more confident about yourself.

Although good results are expected, there can be no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Follow your physician’s instructions to ensure the success of your surgery.