What Is Facelift Surgery?
Our facial skin is often the first and most obvious area of our bodies to show the effects of age. Wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin develop over time, causing us to look older than we want and negatively affecting our self-esteem and confidence.
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic procedure that corrects lifestyle- and age-related aesthetic concerns in the lower two-thirds of the face. With this procedure, facial tissue is repositioned and tightened, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened to give patients a more contoured facial aesthetic.
A facelift addresses sagging cheeks, jowls, fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity in the neck. After facelift surgery, patients can achieve defined cheekbones, a stronger jawline, improved definition, and better balance between their faces and necks. Additionally, skin in the lower and midface will be tighter and smoother, and deep wrinkles and lines (including nasolabial folds) will be minimized to help you look your best. In fact, these corrections can help you look 10 years younger!
At PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we pride ourselves in our dedication to each of our patients. We offer a comprehensive approach to facelift surgery that is customizable to your cosmetic needs.
What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?
- Can be customized to your specific anatomy and goals
- Creates balance among the facial features
- Lifts the neck and lower face with a natural appearance
- Restores youthful facial definition and contours
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Often provides a boost in confidence and reverses low self-esteem
“…The appointments are always on time, quick, and friendly! They always make me feel comfortable and happy with my results! “
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What Are the Types of Facelifts?
Depending on the extent of correction needed in the face, PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery offers multiple facelift options. Your plastic surgeon will evaluate your condition to help you decide which procedure is best for you and your goals.
Traditional Facelift
A traditional rhytidectomy will likely be recommended if a patient experiences severe facial sagging around the mouth, cheeks, jawline, and neck. A traditional facelift is the most comprehensive option and addresses aesthetic concerns from the cheeks to the neck.
Limited (Mini) Facelift
Some patients may only require limited correction to the lower face (such as skin laxity along the jawline and neck). Patients with these concerns may prefer a “mini” facelift. As the name implies, this procedure is less extensive than a traditional facelift. Because of this, a mini facelift is an ideal choice for women and men who want subtle results and a facelift with less downtime.
Neck Lift
A traditional facelift incorporates cosmetic corrections to the neck; however, a neck lift can be performed without a facelift. A neck lift can reduce the signs of aging in the neck and contour a defined jawline by eliminating excess skin and fat under the chin. Additionally, a neck lift involves tightening muscles that have become lax to effectively correct neck skin banding, “turkey neck,” and a double chin.
What Are the Procedure Steps for Facelift Surgery?
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Step 1: Consultation
During your consultation, you can discuss your aesthetic concerns, and your cosmetic surgeon will evaluate your facial anatomy and overall health to determine which technique is right for you. Your surgeon will also create a surgical plan specific to you and your cosmetic goals.
Additionally, you will have the chance to review before and after photos of previous patients to see what results you can expect with your procedure, and you can ask any questions you may have about the procedure and/or your recovery.
Step 2: Preparation and Anesthesia
Your cosmetic surgeon will carefully mark the surgical area on your face. Once complete, you will be given numbing medication before administering anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia or intravenous sedation for the surgical procedure to ensure your comfort. This will provide a relaxed and pain-free surgery. Local anesthesia also can control blood loss and may be used in specific situations.
Step 3: Incisions
The incision placement and length will vary depending on the type of facelift being performed. With a traditional facelift, an incision will be made at each temple, where the hairline begins. This incision will extend behind the ears and end in the lower scalp. With this incision technique, your surgeon can easily sculpt or redistribute tissue and muscle to lift and tighten your facial appearance.
Because a mini facelift is a less invasive procedure, the incisions will be shorter than with a traditional facelift. These incisions will run behind and extend slightly in front of the ear.
Step 4: Reposition Tissue
Once the necessary incisions have been made, your cosmetic surgeon will lift and reposition soft facial tissue. In addition to repositioning the facial tissue, the underlying facial muscles will be tightened with internal sutures. If needed, some tissue may be removed to help give the face a more contoured and defined appearance.
Step 5: Skin Excision
After the tissue and muscle have been repositioned and tightened, your cosmetic surgeon will surgically remove excess skin from the sides of your face. After the skin is removed, the remaining skin is redraped and pulled tightly to the contours of your face, and the incisions will be closed. Once this process is complete, you’ll be ready to begin your facelift recovery.
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Are you looking to discover the benefits that elegant contours and chiseled angles can provide for your self-confidence? Get premiere facelift results by contacting our office for a consultation at (813) 400-1465 or by filling out our contact form.
Facelift Recovery and Results
How Long Is Recovery From Facelift Surgery?
Full recovery from rhytidectomy generally takes six to eight weeks, at which point you can see your final results. The majority of bruising and swelling will resolve after two weeks. Your surgeon will provide a more specific recovery timeline based on your unique circumstances and procedure.
How Painful Is Recovery From Facelift Surgery?
After surgery, patients will experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort that will continue for a couple of weeks, with minor swelling that may last for several weeks. Prescribed medication will help you manage pain and heal comfortably.
Bandages will be placed around your face to reduce swelling and bruising and promote a more comfortable facelift recovery. Your surgeon may also place the bandages with small tubes that draw excess blood and fluid.
What Will My Facelift Recovery Be Like?
Facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can return home after your surgery. You can expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the surgical area. These side effects will generally resolve after two weeks. Additionally, prescribed medication can alleviate pain; however, notify your surgeon if you experience prolonged or increased pain after your procedure.
Bandages will be placed around your face to reduce swelling and bruising and help you have a more comfortable recovery. These bandages will also help improve your results. Some patients may have small drainage tubes attached to their faces to draw out excess blood and fluid — these tubes will be removed after a few days.
You will need to ensure that you have someone to drive you home after your procedure, as you will still be groggy with the anesthesia and will not be able to go until you have full mobility of your neck and shoulders. You should also ensure someone can help you during the first 24 hours — or longer.
You must sleep with your head elevated and refrain from strenuous activities until you are cleared to do so by your surgeon. Most women and men can return to work after one week, depending on the type of job.
How Can I Speed Up My Facelift Recovery?
Most patients experience a facelift recovery period of six to eight weeks. It is necessary that you follow all of your post-op instructions closely. Additionally, taking slow, short walks as soon as you can after your procedure helps increase blood circulation, speeding up your recovery. Taking your prescribed medications, eating healthy food, and drinking plenty of water can also help to shorten your recovery period.
What Will My Facelift Results Look Like?
It generally takes several months until your final facelift results set in completely; however, once you are fully recovered, you can look forward to a rejuvenated facial appearance. You will no longer need to worry about loose and sagging skin on your lower face or unsightly wrinkles that make you look much older than you actually are. Instead, you can smile at your more contoured and youthful appearance in the mirror. Most patients can’t wait to show off their stunning results.
How Can I Maintain My Facelift Results?
Your results will last for many years to come. However, without the proper care for your skin and health, facelift results can succumb to the natural aging process much more quickly.
Healthy habits like eating a nutritious diet, exercising consistently, and refraining from excessive alcohol and tobacco use can significantly slow aging and prolong your facelift results.
Our philosophy is to create the most natural results and never do more than is necessary.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ideal candidates for facelift surgery have realistic expectations and understand the limitations of the procedure. Rhytidectomy cannot make you look like another person. Instead, your facelift can give you a youthful appearance and improve confidence and comfort.
Both women and men can benefit from this surgery. Patients should be in generally good health and avoid drinking alcohol and smoking for at least two weeks before the procedure.
While facelift surgery is the longest-lasting option for improving the aesthetics of your face, non-surgical procedures are available to help you achieve a more youthful facial appearance.
The platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facelift is a minimally invasive injection-based treatment that can significantly improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and facial sagging. You can read our blog about PRP vs. traditional facelift for more information.
Other non-surgical options for facial rejuvenation of wrinkles and hollow areas of the face include injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers such as JUVÉDERM®. You can get more information about these options by reading our blog about BOTOX® vs. facelift surgery.
Many surgeons suggest that patients in their 40s and 50s are at the ideal age for facial plastic surgery. However, there are cases of younger and older patients who are also excellent candidates. Rather than being in a specific age range, ideal facelift candidates have certain facial characteristics like sagging skin, jowls, and deep wrinkles in the lower face that qualify them for the procedure.
Patients in their 20s may be too young for successful results. Aging will continue after surgery, so patients who undergo the surgery when they are too young will likely need another surgery later. However, patients in their 30s may qualify for a mini facelift to address more minor concerns that cannot be treated with other options.
The national average surgeon’s fee for facelift surgery is $7,467, according to 2019 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The price of facelift surgery in Tampa, Florida, will vary based on your individual needs and the techniques used for your procedure. Operating room fees, anesthesia fees, and the amount of correction required will also affect the final cost of your rhytidectomy. Your surgeon will provide a more exact cost estimate during your consultation.
At PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we offer various plastic surgery financing options and are committed to helping our patients find the most appropriate payment method.
Incisions are hidden within the hairline to make scarring easy to conceal. Patients should follow their surgeon’s instructions regarding how long bandages should be worn to reduce the appearance of raised scars. Additionally, ensuring that your incisions heal completely before undergoing any strenuous activity can help minimize the appearance of resulting scars.
Protecting the incision site from the sun allows the scar to heal more favorably. For example, using sun protection, such as sunblock and a hat over your scars, can reduce the development of hyperpigmentation. Fading creams can also speed up the scar-fading process.
Although men and women often experience similar facial aging concerns, men generally wish to maintain their strong features and bold contours. The surgical techniques for men reflect this.
A male facelift will address and amplify masculine beauty ideals such as a strong jawline and sharp facial edges. This “squared-off” appearance can also be accentuated by combining cosmetic procedures. Alternatively, women prefer softer, rounded edges that accentuate their femininity.
A facelift cannot provide substantial improvements in facial volume. Even after a facelift elevates your tissues and smooths your skin, you may want to consider injectable fillers to restore volume and fill hollow depressions throughout the face.
Absolutely! Because facelift surgery only addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, women and men looking to correct the entire face must combine other procedures with their facelifts.
For example, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can restore youth to the upper and lower eyelids for a rejuvenated and alert appearance. Chin implant surgery can further balance the facial features with a more defined chin. A brow lift (forehead lift) can address aging in the forehead and brows.
Although all surgery comes with some possibility of risk, facelift risks are rare. Some of these potential complications include:
- Facial nerve injuries
- Skin sensation loss
- Unfavorable scarring
- Infection
- Prolonged swelling
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Cardiac or pulmonary complications