While there are now more options than ever for people aging into their 40s, 50s, and beyond looking to minimize signs of aging affecting the face and neck, there is simply no substitute for the classic facelift. This is why facelifts have continued to gain popularity as a staple of cosmetic surgery for more than 50 years, evolving into several more effective (and less invasive) iterations since then.
But how exactly does a facelift work, you might be wondering? How can you know if you’re the ideal candidate? How much time should you anticipate taking off of work? Read on for a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the facelift, brought to you by our team at The Mack Center. When you’re ready to commit to a truly transformative cosmetic procedure, contact us for a consultation and we will get the process started.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that involves removing excess skin, tightening underlying tissues and muscle, and redraping the skin on the face and the neck. Through the years, changes in the face are secondary to aging, hereditary, fluctuations in weight, sun exposure, gravitational effects, personal habits, and exposure to other elements. Facelift surgery is performed as an outpatient, typically under IV (MAC sedation) with local anesthesia.
What Benefits Does a Facelift Provide?
The facelift is among the most popular cosmetic procedures because it is highly comprehensive, able to produce more dramatic (yet still natural-looking) changes than most alternatives, and produces long-lasting results in most cases.
The widespread applications and benefits of this procedure include the following:
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines: By strategically tightening and recontouring the underlying tissues, facelift surgery dramatically improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Enhancing natural facial contours: An experienced provider can enhance jawline definition, cheekbone prominence, and other key features with a facelift.
- Powerful anti-aging effects: The anti-aging effects of facelifts are highly multifaceted, including tightening and toning the skin of the face and neck, restoring facial contours and volume, and more.
- Producing long-lasting results: Both the nature and duration of your results depends on several unique factors, but generally, facelifts produce results that can last for 10-15 years or even longer.
- Customizable and targeted: Both full facelifts and mini facelifts can be customized to target specific aesthetic concerns and enhance specific areas.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Facelift (Rhytidectomy)?
A good candidate for a facelift (rhytidectomy) is a patient who presents with aging changes in the face, either from hereditary, exposure to the sun or other elements, or gravitational effects on the face. Patients may notice laxity in their neck or jowls forming with the loss of a distinct jawline.
As for who qualifies for a facelift medically speaking, this procedure is for patients in reasonably good health, and with enough skin elasticity to accommodate the effects of the surgery on the underlying tissues without issue. There are no hard limits when it comes to age, but generally, patients in their 30s, 40s, and 50s will best meet the above parameters.
There are several health- and lifestyle-related factors which may impact your eligibility for a facelift treatment, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Poorly controlled chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.)
- Impaired immunity and/or wound healing
- Obesity
- Certain medications and supplements
- Bleeding disorders
- Smoking
Finally, even for those who medically qualify for a facelift, it’s important that the patient’s expectations align closely with the capabilities of the procedure.
What Are Realistic Expectations?
Realistic expectations would be an improvement in the jawline as well as improvement with neck laxity when a necklift is performed. There should be an improvement in the contour of the neck. Patients at The Mack Center experience a youthful, refreshed appearance that appears very natural.
When a patient’s expectations do not map neatly over the above effects, then even with a successful procedure, they may still feel unsatisfied. This is why it’s very important to voice your expectations in a consultation with our team at The Mack Center. We will actively partner with you throughout the whole process to ensure that you are confidently informed as to the potency and effects of this anti-aging surgery.
Where Is the Incision for a Facelift Surgery?
The incision for a facelift surgery begins in front of the temple hair, which is just above and in front of the ear. The incision then continues along the ear below the earlobe and behind the ear where it blends into the hairline. During the surgery, the underlying muscle and connective tissue is tightened, and the skin is gently lifted and excised as necessary along the incision line. Following the excision of the excess skin, the incision site is closed with sutures.
The surgery typically takes from 2 – 3 hours to perform, and is typically performed under MAC anesthesia (twilight anesthesia), which is a combination of IV sedation with local anesthesia. We find that our patients experience very little discomfort with this procedure. After the surgery, a dressing is applied to the face, and this is typically removed on the first day following surgery.
What Type of Anesthesia Is Typically Used for Facelift Surgery?
At The Mack Center, IV sedation (MAC anesthesia), which is also termed twilight anesthesia, is used where IV sedation is used in combination with local anesthesia. This surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, and the patients at The Mack Center find this to be a very comfortable procedure.
What Is the Recovery Time Following Facelift Surgery?
Following facelift surgery, a dressing will be placed on the face, and usually drains will be placed as well. This dressing is removed on the first day following surgery. It is also recommended that the patient keep the head elevated when lying down, and avoid any bending, lifting, or straining. Sutures are typically removed from 7-10 days following surgery. Patients can typically return to work from 1-2 weeks following surgery, depending on the extent of the facelift surgery.
Scars are typically not noticeable with time as the scars mature. The scars are typically hidden in natural skin creases on the face. It is very important to have a natural approach to facelift surgery to avoid the stigmata of unnatural facelift surgery. We find that patients at The Mack Center note improved self-confidence with their natural appearance following facelift surgery.
What Should I Do After a Facelift?
As it also goes with the pre-surgery phase, your specific post-treatment guidelines will be determined between you and your provider. That said, there is a general set of practices commonly recommended to most patients following a facelift. These are intended to help you navigate the early, middle, and later stages of recovery while preserving your results and comfort as much as possible.
For example, you will be instructed on activity modification, positioning (especially when going to bed), wound care, and acute after-effect management. It’s important to keep the head elevated and rest for several weeks following your procedure, avoiding intense exercises (and typically, bending over). Follow all instructions related to wound care, which will include guidance on how to clean the incision, apply any ointments or other topical agents as instructed, keep the area protected from the sun, and so on.
Cold compresses and prescribed pain medications are typically recommended to manage any post-surgical discomfort and swelling you have. During the initial recovery window, it’s best to only eat softer foods that don’t require excessive chewing, and always drink plenty of fluids. Avoiding smoking, as this can impede the healing process. Finally, it’s important to maintain a consistent skin care routine, keep the skin hydrated, and wear sunscreen regularly as the months (and years) go by to preserve your results for as long as possible.
What Are the Common Reasons Why a Patient Wants a Facelift?
Patients typically present with volume loss and volume shift in their face in combination with aging and thinning of their skin, along with loss of skin elasticity. Patients also notice the lack of a distinct jawline, and also laxity in their neck region.
Can Facelift Surgery be Combined With Other Surgery Procedures?
At The Mack Center, many times patients undergoing facelift surgery will also undergo other procedures at the same time, including facial fillers. This will augment and improve the results of the facelift surgery. Patients oftentimes will also undergo eyelid (blepharoplasty) or browlift surgery at the same time as facelift surgery as well.
Whether you pair facelift with a surgical or non-surgical treatment, and whether or not you have the treatments done concurrently, integrating them together will allow you to lean into more targeted applications and/or achieve more powerful results. For example, the above-mentioned pairing of facial fillers and facelift surgery will allow you to enhance your facial contours, address lost volume, and target wrinkles much more effectively.
Will I Look Natural with a Facelift?
It is our goal at The Mack Center to have all of our patients look natural following rejuvenation procedures and surgeries. This particularly applies to facelift surgery, as it is imperative to achieve natural results. This is why we invest extra time and attention into assessing your natural facial geometry and proportions. This will ensure that all changes we make work with your contours, not against them, to enhance your overall facial structure.
Achieve a Stunning, Natural-Looking Transformation With Facelift by The Mack Center
Our physician-led team at The Mack Center is here to partner with you throughout every step of the facelift process, whether or not you’ve ever had a cosmetic surgery before. From the first point of contact, we are committed to making sure you are confident and well-informed with every decision you make.
We adhere only to leading standards of safety and quality with each customized procedure we provide. For more information on facelifts, contact our office to schedule a consultation today. Are you ready to turn back the clock and embrace a naturally younger-looking you?
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Be sure and visit ourBefore & After galleryfor this procedure.
