What is a facelift?

A Facelift (rhytidectomy) addresses the cheeks, jawline and neck. An average standard facelift normally costs $10,000.00+/-. Expenses increase if additional procedures, such as eyelid rejuvenation or browlift, are being performed. Aging facial features and underlying muscles, fat and fibrous tissue, migrate in a downward and toward the mid-line direction. Part of the facelift is to restore these foundational tissues. We do this by elevating these deep tissues and suturing them to the bony framework of the face or areas of strong fibrous tissue that are fixed in place. Once the deeper tissues have been returned to their original positions, we elevate the skin and trim the excess. The foundational tissues must be restored to their original positions for a natural appearance and long-lived result. Simply tightening the skin gives an artificial appearance and any improvements that have been achieved won't last. Eyelid surgery is not part of a facelift and an isolated facelift will not affect dark circles or fatty fullness of the eye lids.We can talk about these concerns in a future discussion. The reason a second facelift is more challenging? Scarring from previous surgery(ies) adds to the technical difficulty of defining the tissue planes that are developed during the procedure. An overnight stay with a nurse trained in post-operative care specifically for the facelift patient is recommended. The first few hours after surgery are critical. At this time, controlling the patient's blood pressure is paramount and the risk of bleeding complications greatest. We recommend waiting for 3 weeks before gradually getting back into physical exercise. Proceed with caution as you gently make your way back to your normal routines. Bruising and swelling can last up to several weeks. More extensive techniques of face-lifting may require several months for swelling to resolve. Although swelling may last several months, the patient doesn't appear swollen to the casual observer after approximately 4 to 6 weeks.Internal healing may go on for the better part of a year. Most bruising can be hidden with makeup two weeks after surgery.