Facelift

Laxity of the platysma muscles develops in the upper neck, resulting in visible vertical bands and severe sagging of the skin in the submental region, commonly known as “turkey gobble.”

Patients considering such a procedure often complain of appearing sad and tired.

Contrary to popular belief, a face and neck lift does not attempt to stretch sagging skin but rather to tighten and restore the compromised tissue to its original, more youthful position.

The goal, then, is to achieve a harmonious, natural, refreshed appearance rather than the impression that the skin has been pulled tight.

Patients usually report looking several years younger, and satisfaction with the procedure is high.

Benefits of Facelifts & Neck Lifts

The virtual absence of visible scars can erase any outward signs of a medical procedure.

You can keep your youthful skin plump and flawless without having to use makeup to hide a long-lasting scar.

Removes deep wrinkles

Over time, deep wrinkles and lines can form on your face due to excess skin and loss of volume in tissue structures.

A facelift can be used as a cosmetic tool to address these deep wrinkles and volumize the tissue structures of your face.

A side effect of aging is the loss of tissue structure and elasticity in the face.

Cosmetic surgeries, such as facelifts, help to restore the deep tissue structures to their proper position.

Surgery can recreate the effects of skin elasticity that a younger face would naturally have.

Enhances Your Natural Features

Few people think of a facelift as a way to improve your natural facial features.

There are many negative stigmas associated with cosmetic surgery that give people an operated or “plastic” appearance.

Facelifts are a tool to help you rediscover the natural facial features you already have.

Facelift scars are easy to hide, and facelift techniques build on the facial structure you already have.

Instead of reshaping you, facelifts help you enhance your facial features.

Risks of Facelift Surgery

Prior to a surgical procedure, your skin should be in good condition and have some degree of elasticity. By being somewhat elastic, the skin should be able to recover after manipulation during surgery.

Ideal candidates are in good health and have no underlying conditions that would interfere with wound healing. Smokers are encouraged to refrain from smoking.

Patients with underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, etc., are strongly advised to have these under control.

Patients ideally have a stable weight and maintain a balanced diet. Mental and spiritual well-being are also desirable for individuals seeking face and neck lift procedures.

A positive attitude and realistic expectations can only increase the likelihood of a satisfactory result.

Let’s say your skin has some damage from years of smoking or sun exposure.

In this case, this may affect the success of a facelift. During a consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will also look at your underlying bone structure.

Your bone structure is the foundation for any facelift. It must be considered when planning a surgical procedure.

Surgeons use the patient’s face to outline markers for the surgical path.

Although your age won’t prevent you from undergoing surgery, your overall health could play a role.

If you are going to undergo cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift, make sure you are in good health.

Be sure to get a clearance from your primary care physician.

During the consultation, you need to have an open and honest dialog with your plastic surgeon.

During an endoscopic procedure, surgical tools and a camera with an endoscope are inserted into an incision site. This allows the surgeon to perform the procedure without fully opening the surgical site.

The surgeon can view the surgical site through a monitor and guide the instruments through the small incision in the patient’s face.

At Wave, this is done with a small incision site behind the patient’s ear in their hairline.

This procedure takes only an hour and uses small incision sites to move tissue and tighten skin that may be losing its elasticity.

Face and Neck Lift

This procedure is a quick, outpatient procedure that produces long-term results.

After years of stress and aging, the skin on the neck and jawline can begin to sag.

This procedure tightens these areas by penetrating deep into your tissues.

A face and neck lift naturally repositions the deeper tissues. This surgery removes excess fat and helps tighten the jawline. It can help fight aging while ensuring that the results look natural.

This procedure has a quick two-week recovery time and can be performed under local anesthesia.

High Extended SMAS Face and Neck Lift

The High Extended SMAS Face and Neck Lift is a comprehensive procedure that addresses all of the sagging skin in your mid to lower face.

This surgery tightens the tissue under your skin and repositions your facial structure to give you an age-appropriate appearance.

This facelift procedure will help address your jowls, smile lines, and sagging skin in your neck and jawline. This surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia.

The plastic surgeon will make incisions at your hairline to reach the subdermal tissue.

See more in our Before and After Gallery.

Preparing for Surgery

Make Incisions

Surgical incisions are made to allow the surgical team access to the subdermal tissues on the face.

Depending on the degree of changing the patient desires, the incision site may vary.

Generally, the incision begins at the temples in the hairline, continues down and around the front of the ears, ends behind the ear, and finally runs along the back of the hairline.

The skin flap is elevated, and the underlying muscle layer is addressed.

This layer is commonly referred to as the SMAS, a fibrous fatty structure that surrounds and supports the facial muscle.

By tightening this layer, the facial tissues are restored to their proper anatomical position.

The facial skin is then stretched over the repositioned facial contours, and excess skin is removed.

Depending on how extensive the procedure is desired by the patient, smaller incisions may be made.

An incision may also be made under the chin to remove fat and tighten the supporting neck muscles.

For a moderate or less dramatic facelift, surgeons may make a limited incision.

This incision would run along with the ear, giving the surgical team access to tissue located in the center of the face.

The biggest changes from this surgery will be seen along the cheekbones.

Closing Incisions

After the operation is completed, the surgical team closes the areas with sutures, which may have to be removed or dissolve after a few days – the incision areas of the facelift are well hidden in the patient’s hairline and facial folds.

A moderately tight bandage is applied after surgery to reduce swelling and post-operative bleeding. Drains are also used by most surgeons to remove tissue fluid from under the skin flaps.

This results in less bruising and consequently less swelling and a faster recovery.

Once you are stitched up, you can be on the road to recovery.

Patients are usually discharged home under supervision on the day of the procedure. Patients are encouraged to rest in a comfortable environment with their heads elevated to reduce swelling.

We usually see patients again a day or two after surgery to remove drains and apply fresh dressings. The compression garment is worn regularly for two weeks or longer.

Patients can begin to resume modest public activities after one to two weeks. Swelling will be present for up to four weeks. Full recovery occurs after four to six weeks, but you may continue to notice changes for up to six months.

Endoscopic and outpatient procedures usually have a short recovery time. It is normal to experience short-term symptoms immediately after any type of surgery.

Immediately after the facelift procedure, you may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Moderate pain
• Skin irritation
• Drainage at the incision sites
• Skin sensitivity
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Numbness

Be sure to contact your surgical team if any of these symptoms become unbearable or persist after the first few days of recovery.

Your surgical team will likely give you medications or suggest treatment to curb the side effects and help you deal with irritation after surgery.

The day after surgery may be the most difficult for you. Once the residual anesthesia wears off, you may feel very sore and need pain medication to manage the discomfort.

It is likely that you will feel weak and drained for a few days after surgery. It is important that you keep your head in an elevated position and take any medications your doctor specifies.

Stay in touch with your surgical team to schedule follow-up appointments. They will get in to change surgical dressings, remove sutures, assess incisions, and make sure the healing process is going well.

After the first few days have passed, you should no longer need pain medication and should feel back to normal. If your pain remains at a high level, it is important that you contact your doctor.

You will not be able to see the final results of your cosmetic surgery until bruising and swelling have subsided and the healing process is nearly complete.

Defy Aging With a Face and Neck Lift

While you may not have discovered the fountain of youth, you have found a way to defy age and keep your skin looking youthful and beautiful.

With a facelift, you can restore your skin and feel more confident and more like yourself. By tightening your skin, you can resist the tests of time.

Contact us for a consultation to begin planning your facelift.