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Facelift Surgery
A facelift alone will not remove forehead wrinkles, crow's feet or bags under your eyes. These areas can however, be treated at the same time as your facelift. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will discuss your particular condition, your expectations, and the probable outcome of your various treatment options. You will be shown several before and after photographs of patients having similar conditions, and we will explain the details of your procedure. Before and after photos may be taken of your face to document your results.
What happens after my surgery?
There will be bruising and swelling that will persist for a few days. Pain is normally minimal and can be controlled with oral medication. We will take off your bandages in our office in a day or two after surgery. You may then go home take a shower and wash your hair. Sutures may be removed in stages to minimize scarring.
The procedure
A facelift procedure may be performed in your doctor's office or in an outpatient surgical facility. Premedication is generally recommended to relax the patient. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia with the patient asleep, but can be performed using a local anesthesia. Your surgeon will operate on one side of the face at a time. The incision is placed in the natural crease of the facial skin and begins inside the hairline, in the temple area above and forward of the ear. It continues in front of the ear around the earlobe and behind the ear. The skin is lifted outward and the surgeon tightens and repositions the underlying muscles and tissues. Excess skin and fat may be removed. The incision is then closed with fine sutures and/or metal clips. If metal clips are used, shaving hair from the incision site may be avoided. A facelift can take between two to four hours depending on the extent of the procedure.
Patient Examples
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