Facial Procedure: Face Lift

A facelift procedure firms facial and neck tissue to enhance youthful appearance in patients. The process includes removing excess skin, tightening facial tissue and smoothing folds. The aging process comes with loss of skin elasticity. This can cause a sagging appearance that makes many people feel self-conscious. A facelift can remove the self-consciousness of the patient through a refreshed look.

A facelift is not intended to change basic appearance and cannot slow the aging process but patients can see youthful results that will improve confidence.

What happens during a facelift?

Your surgeon will recommend the best course for facelift surgery based on the patient's wants and anatomy. The procedure consists of skin separating from the tissue and muscles beneath so they can be repositioned. From there, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is smoothed back into place.

There are two types of facelifts: a mini-facelift and a standard facelift. The mini-facelift is less invasive and uses shorter incisions to achieve the desired results. Those incisions take place along the hairline above the ear and in the creases near the ear. Once the incisions are made, the face tissue is lifted to correct jowling and other signs of aging. A mini-facelift can be completed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.

A standard facelift has more dramatic results than a mini-facelift and is usually the best option for more advanced signs of aging. Incisions are located behind the hairline, beginning near the temples of the head, and around the front of the ear. Repositioning of skin and eliminating jowling are possible through these incisions.

Another option is a neck lift to improve overall appearance. The incision starts at the front of the ear lobe and wraps back towards the ear, ending in the hair line located behind the ear.

Other additions to a facelift can help improve the outcome even more — including facial implants, wrinkle reduction through injectable fillers and resurfacing techniques.

What happens during facelift recovery?

The recovery period for a facelift is usually two weeks for normal activities and four weeks for more strenuous ones like exercise. Mini-facelift patients can expect recovery time to be even shorter. Swelling and bruising are usually most apparent two days after the surgery but then both will reduce, with little sign of either by 14 days after surgery.

Sun protection for the face, including a hat, is recommended to keep sunburn at bay and allow scars to heal. Facelift results are designed to be permanent, and a proper skincare regimen will help maintain results.