During the aging process, the soft tissue in your face loses its elasticity, and you will notice this by the appearance of wrinkles and changes in the overall shape of your face. Most people also lose bone and soft tissue volume which further accentuates these changes, resulting in signs of facial aging and a tired appearance.
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is performed to improve the signs of facial aging. You don’t have to be a celebrity or excessively vain to desire a more youthful look. Most people are working a lot longer than they used to, and it is necessary to look youthful and rested to maintain competitiveness in the workforce.
A full facial analysis will be performed during your consultation. We will evaluate your forehead, eyes, cheeks, jowls, neck, and skin quality. This is important to create a balanced, favorable result. To balance the upper and lower face, you may also benefit from eyelid surgery. To really get that youthful glow, you will also need to take good care of your skin by beginning a skin care program, have a facial peel, or get a laser treatment.
During a facelift, an incision is hidden around the ear and along the hairline. These scars usually hide very well and most people will not see the scars during normal interactions, unless they are specifically looking for them or you point them out. The extra skin is removed and redraped without an unnatural, overly tight look. Under the skin, the SMAS, or facial muscles are elevated to a more youthful location. Different vectors are used to reposition the facial tissues. If you have a significant amount of soft tissue volume loss, fat can be transferred to your face to restore this volume loss. The fat is harvested from your body through liposuction techniques from stubborn areas that don’t respond to exercise.
You will have a dressing on for the first few days and then you will need to wear a chin strap for about 2 weeks. You can expect facial bruising and swelling, and the recovery time is about 2 weeks. After surgery, we recommend that you begin walking the same day to reduce your risk of complications. Light cardio exercises may be resumed after about 2 weeks, and strenuous exercise and lifting may be resumed after about 4 weeks.
Facelift is real surgery and carries a small risk of complications. Risks of surgery include bleeding, infection, scars, contour irregularity, asymmetry, numbness, and injury to the facial nerve. Dr. Dass performs surgery in an accredited surgical facility to maintain the highest standards for safety. During your consultation, we will discuss your specific risks of surgery.
Call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dass to determine if you are a good candidate for a facelift.