When considering a facelift, consultation is done with the surgeon to determine your qualifications and type of procedure appropriate for you. You will be asked about your history, be given a physical exam and administered a blood test. Be forewarned, many doctors will not do a facelift on people who smoke or have smoked, as this may have serious complications.
Sometimes the best results of the facelift procedure are attained by combining several surgical procedures, such as liposuction, brow lift, fat transfer, blepharoplasty, laser, or chin and cheek implants—all depending on the patient’s needs.
During a simple facelift procedure, the surgeon will make incisions that follow the contours of the ear, but hidden in your hair. This will produce modest, permanent scarring in most cases. The best improvement with a facelift is seen in the jowl area and under the neck, while the folds around the mouth, commonly known as nasal-labial folds, are not usually improved much with a simple facelift.
During surgery, after the ear contour incision is made, the skin is undermined—pulled upwards and back toward the scalp line. The excess skin is removed and is stitched or stapled into place. This is a typical, simple facelift.
A newer technique is the ‘deep plane facelift’, which involves going under the muscle of the face and pulling it along with the skin to essentially make the facelift last longer. Some doctors choose a laser or chemical peel before the surgery is performed, however it should be a light treatment only—anything too deep adds serious risks. Recovery and risk for deep plane facelifts are more extensive than for a classic facelift.
Because the muscles and skin are being manipulated, it is common for there to be some bruising, and the deeper the procedure, the more bruising will occur. For deeper and more complex surgeries, the pain, swelling and risks can also rise. However, it has been shown that some of the deeper procedures produce a longer-lasting result, which may be favorable to some patients.
Facelifts can provide excellent and dramatic results. They can reduce the appearance of age and increase self-esteem in many people. Healing times vary and it is important that you enter into your surgery knowing that the full results can take weeks to appear. But rest assured, when healing is all said and done, you will present a younger and smoother looking face to the world—with the results apparent years after your facelift surgical procedure.
Women tend to have better results than men do in a facelift; however, men are sometimes good or even better candidates for the procedure than women are. Sometimes after surgery, men may have to shave in new places, as beard growing skin may be slightly repositioned.
The effects of a facelift will not last forever—your skin will continue to age and be affected by gravity. You may want to have another facelift surgery five or ten years later for maintenance or improvement.
Information is consistent on facelifts across the board. As with all surgical procedures, there are risks involved that you must discuss with your doctor before surgery. Your own health record and practices can and will affect your candidacy for surgery. Be sure to be truthful with your physician to avoid as many side effects and risks as possible.
