Face Lift Cosmetic Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

Our face changes as we age, our skin loses its' elasticity and begins to fold in several locations. This loss of "snap" is secondary to sun damage, emotional stress, large weight gains or losses, smoking and any health related problems.

The following is a description of normal facial aging by decade:

• 30's - extra upper eyelid skin becomes obvious and crow's feet start to form at the outside of each eye
• 40's - nasolabial folds become more prominent, lines form across the forehead and between the eyebrows
• 50's - lines develop in the neck skin, the jaw line becomes less distinct with the development of jowls, the tip of the nose starts to droop
• 60's, 70's, and 80's - the facial skin and fat atrophies yielding increased wrinkles and sagging skin.

A facelift restores the look of your youth by helping to alleviate those features which indicate signs of aging. The cheeks are elevated, facial folds are flattened, jowls are tightened, the neck is lifted and redraped, and excess skin is removed. Your appearance is not replaced, but a younger appearance is re-established.

What can a face lift do for me?

Facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomies (literally, "removal of wrinkles"), rejuvenate the mid- to lower face and neck. Facelifts are most effective for patients who want to correct:

• Midface sagging
• Deep creases under the eyes
• Deep creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
• Jowls due to loss of muscle tone
• Sagging areas of fat
• Loose skin and fat under the chin and jaw

What won't a face lift correct?

Facelifts can produce a dramatic improvement in appearance for patients with the problems mentioned above. However, facelifts do not stop the aging process; in time, signs of aging will gradually appear once again. Furthermore, facelifts will not rejuvenate the brow, eyelids, nose, and some of the midface. Patients who want to improve these areas may consider combining a facelift with a brow lift or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Injectable soft-tissue fillers, facial implants and skin resurfacing can also enhance the effects of a facelift.

Am I a good candidate for a face lift?

The best candidates for a rhytidectomy procedure:

• Wish to improve one or more of the signs of aging indicated above
• Are men or women whose faces have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity
• Are generally healthy
• Do not smoke
• Have realistic expectations
• Are considering a facelift for personal reasons, not because someone else is pressuring them to do so

How is a rhytidectomy performed?

The way a facelift is performed varies depending the patient's facial structure, and the extent of correction desired. The three most common incision techniques are:

• Traditional facelift: The "full" facelift for rejuvenating the face and neck includes fat repositioning and skin redraping. The incision begins at the temples, travels down to the front of the ear, around the earlobe, and behind the ear to the lower scalp at the hairline. Sometimes, another incision is made under the chin when additional work is necessary in this area.

• Limited-incision facelift: For limited rejuvenation around the eyes and mouth, including nasolabial folds and other deep creases. Short incisions are made at the temples and around the ear, and possibly in the lower eyelids. 

• Neck lift: A neck lift concentrates on jowls, loose skin on the neck, and fat under the chin. The incision is made around the ear lobe and behind the ear to the lower scalp.

In all three methods, incisions are closed with sutures and scars are hidden in the hairline and natural contours of the face.

What is the recovery from a face lift like?

After your rhytidectomy, incisions are wrapped in bandages and drainage tubes may be placed in the area. These drains will be removed one or two days after your procedure. Sutures will be removed over the first one and a half weeks post operatively. You may experience facial weakness, swelling, numbness, bruising, and a feeling of tightness or tension in your face and neck. Your facial appearance may look uneven and your facial muscles may feel stiff. Most of these symptoms usually resolve within 3-6 weeks. Scars become less red, raised, lumpy or itchy over time. Many patients return to work by the second week post operatively. Camouflage cosmetics can be used to minimize the appearance of bruising. You should be gentle with your skin and hair as you recover.

How long do the effects of a face lift last?

Results of a facelift do not last forever. Gravity is a constant force acting on all of the tissues in the face and body. Therefore you may want to retighten your facelift after seven to ten years. However, in another sense, the effects will continue to look better than if you had never had a facelift, as if setting back the hands of time.

Why choose Body Cosmetica for my neck lift procedure?

Our patient coordinators will introduce you to a variety of Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, all of whom are exceptionally trained and are renowned within their fields. Whether it is before and after photos, or bedside manner, a state of the art facility, a necessary price point, Body Cosmetica will find you the right plastic surgeon for your face lift – free of charge!

The Benefits of a Face Lift

• Corrects sagging skin
• Tightens facial muscles
• Improves your facial contour
• Restores a more natural and youthful appearance to your face