What is a facelift?

A Facelift, or Rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as sagging of the cheek, deep creases below the lower eyelids, jowls, and loose skin and fatty deposits under the chin and jaw. It involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles as well as the removal of excess skin and fat. Rejuvenation procedures that may be performed with a facelift are a browlift to elevate the forehead, blepharoplasty to rejuvenate aging eyes, laser resurfacing to smooth wrinkles, and soft tissue augmentation to restore facial volume. A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results. The procedure generally takes between 3 and 4 hours and is performed in an outpatient surgery center. An overnight stay is usually recommended. Incisions are hidden in the hairline. Patients typically are socially unacceptable for 7 to 10 days following surgery. Normal activity and exercise may be resumed after 4 weeks.

What are the objectives of facelift?

Youthfullappearance! A facelift will not "stop the aging clock " but it will set the clock back a good 15 years.

What is the basic procedure of Facelift?

The procedure is generally done with twilight or general anesthesia. Incisions are made around the hairline and soft tissue is repositioned. Extra skin is removed and a support garment placed after the skin is sutured. Healing takes about 5-7 days.

What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?

Skin is tightened and facial soft tissue is repositioned to produce a refreshed and youthful appearance. Sagging cheeks, loose necklines, and jowls are corrected during a facelift. This will eliminate most of the lines and wrinkles in the lower face and neck.

Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?

All surgeries have risks associated with them. If you are healthy, the risks of surgery will be extremely low. Bruising and swelling are expected after the procedure. Scarring is variable but can be controlled with scar management techniques such as silicone scar gel and fractional laser treatments.