1.What is the average cost of face lift surgery?

There many different types of face-lift surgery, depending on the work performed the time of surgery will be different. One type: the short scar face-lift involved work at the skin level and some kind of suture suspension of the cheek tissues without much undermining, this can be performed under straight local anesthesia with PO sedation or with IV sedation and local or with general anesthesia. This is important because if general anesthesia is used the cost will be more. Full face lift (cheek and neck) will require general anesthesia or IV sedation ( meaning an outpatient surgery center, meaning higher cost) depending of the type plication of the SMAS or SMAS dissection the type of surgery will be different, studies are very difficult to show differences on the techniques, but as a general rule, the more surgery usually mean longer lasting results. Another important factor is the patient selection, everybody is not a candidate for the more limited procedures.


2.Do you tighten the drooping muscles?

Again it will depend on the type of procedure performed. In the neck there is a muscle (plastysma) which is commonly sutured together for a better definition of the cervical-mental angle. In the cheeks there is a layer of fascia and muscle (SMAS) that can be sutured tighter (plication ) or dissected and then moved tighter. Some of the shorter procedures do not perform adequate tightening of the muscle, the most important factor is determining who is an adequate candidate for the procedure.


3.Will a face-lift help the dark circles and bags under my eyes?

Usually not, these problems are improved with a blepharoplasty (eye lift), again usually these procedures are performed together. Your board certified surgeon ( American Board of Plastic Surgery) needs to discuss all of these concerns with you.


4.Why is a revision face lift more difficult than a first-time facelift?

The reason is because you will have scar tissue and also the tissues had been moved with the previous procedure, distorting the normal anatomy of your face, making damage to important tissue somewhat easier.


5.Do I go home after plastic surgery?

Most patients will go home after a face-lift surgery, some patients will be candidates for overnight stay. It will depend on many factors, if a decision to stay overnight is made, this will increase the cost slightly.


6.When can I "work out?

Like any surgery, time for healing is required. Usually we recommend our patients not to perform any heavy lifting or exercise for 3 weeks.


7.How long will bruising and swelling last?

Bruising is common in face lift surgery, if this happens it will take up to 3 weeks to resolve. There are some camouflage techniques performed with make up, that helps patient to early return to social activities. Usually patient will be black and blue for 5-7 days, then it change to greenish discoloration 10-14 days and finally to a yellowish discolor up to 21 days. The last 2 weeks is relatively easy to mask.