As we age, our skin goes through changes, especially the skin on our face. Facial skin and muscles experience greater loss of volume and elasticity as the years go on. Many factors such as gravity, sun, and stress can take a toll on our face, contributing to the effects of facial aging. We may begin to notice folds, creases, and contours that make us appear older, tired, or stressed. A facelift is a facial procedure that helps to reduce these aging changes and restore a youthful facial appearance by smoothing lines and restoring volume to the neck and face.
As we age, skin begins to lose elasticity and volume which may cause "jowls" on the lower face, deep wrinkles, and loose skin on the neck. While this is a natural part of growing older, if you are bothered by these signs of aging a facelift may be the right choice for you. While some aspects of aging can be improved with non-surgical procedures such as neuromodulators, dermal filler, or facial fat grating, some patients may need more. Dr. Stiller is highly skilled in making sure your facelift is natural, giving you the perfect amount of lift without giving you that "operated" appearance.
It is not uncommon to hear the term “facelift” when referring to some form of operation for facial rejuvenation, and oftentimes there is a misconception that a facelift includes operating on the whole face, eyes, brow, cheeks, and chin.
However, a facelift on its own tackles only the lower portion of the face and neck, which rejuvenates the appearance of the skin from the cheeks down to the neck. This is why some patients also desire a more complete facial rejuvenation, combining a facelift with a mid facelift (lifting the cheeks), brow lift or upper/lower eyelid surgery. The skin, muscles, and underlying tissues surrounding the neck, brows, and eyes are distinct and require different surgical techniques. However, a combination of these procedures can be performed at the same time as your facelift. No matter what you want to achieve, Dr. Stiller will guide you to make the decisions that are right for you.
A facelift procedure is tailored to the individual depending on your own skin elasticity, structure, and extent of facial wrinkles and folds. A facelift procedure begins by making incisions just inside the hairline, starting near the temples, following the natural fold along the front of the ear, and continuing behind the ear lobe to the lower scalp. Once the skin is lifted from the underlying tissue, the facial muscles and tissues beneath are pulled and tightened with sutures. The skin is stretched and delicately re-draped over the improved facial structure to ensure a natural look. Any excess skin is removed and the incisions are closed. With these incisions, tissues are lifted and tightened to correct jowling and refine the jawline and neck, giving the face a smoother more youthful contour without over-tightening the skin.
For your Cosmetic Surgery, cash pay procedures, your surgery will be performed at our own on-site AAAASF accredited surgery center at our Stiller Aesthetics office. Our operating room is fully equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment.
A facelift is an outpatient procedure, so after a short period of recovery time, you will go home the same day. Recovery after a facelift can vary between patients however, most patients recover very well. When you awake from your surgery, your head will be wrapped in a compression garment to prevent swelling, which we recommend wearing around 2 weeks. There will be deep dissolvable stitches; however the top stitches will be removed in 1 week along with the staples along the hairline. It is normal to experience bruising, swelling, and a feeling of tightness for about 2 weeks. Even so, many patients feel comfortable going out in public about a week or so after the procedure. Most patients return to work after 10-14 days, however some may take longer or return sooner depending personal preference. As you ease back into your routine, it is especially important to apply sunscreen to the face for protection. Several weeks after surgery, you will be more vulnerable to sunburn, plus staying out of the sun will help scars heal as inconspicuously as possible.
You will be provided with detailed post-operative instructions upon completion of your procedure. If at any time you should have any questions or concerns after surgery, please contact our practice immediately.
A facelift is designed to produce results that not only look natural now but will also naturally age with you when carried out by an experienced, board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Even though nothing will stop the natural aging process, you can still look years younger than you would have without the facelift. However, in order to keep your results looking their best, there are some things you can do. Neurotoxins like Botox or Dysport can be a great addition in helping smooth out wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming. Additionally, maintaining a healthier lifestyle can help you keep your results looking better such as wearing sunscreen on a regular basis, no smoking, a regimented skin care routine and exercise regularly.
