Face / Neck Lift
If you have ever looked at yourself in the mirror (or a phone screen!) and pulled back the skin at your cheeks or jawline just a little, a facelift may be worth discussing. Over the past several years as we have seen an explosion of less invasive facial rejuvenation treatments, facelifts fell out of favor as “too extreme” and patients sought treatment with anything that would avoid a need for surgery. If we learned anything from this trend, it was that while these many tools could allow us to achieve results we couldn’t in the past without surgery, there is nothing more powerful than a surgical facelift to address loose skin at the jawline and neck. Often performed in conjunction with fat grafting, eyelid or brow surgery, or with resurfacing procedures for the skin, a facelift can be transformative without making you look unnatural or “done”.
Dr. Owens will fully assess your needs and will take the time to educate you about your options to tailor treatment to suit your specific goals. It is helpful to bring a photo of yourself when you were younger. After a thorough examination of your facial structure and skin quality, Dr. Owens will determine the best approach to start the journey to a more youthful and refreshed appearance.
As we age, volume is lost from the bony and soft tissue structure throughout the face, in addition to elasticity lost from the skin. For some patients the damaging effects of a lifetime of sun exposure requires attention to skin surface quality in addition to those other factors.
A facelift will address looseness of both the skin and the underlying structure, repositioning tissues in a natural way that respects normal anatomy, minimizes appearance of surgical scars, and leaves earlobes and hairlines in appropriate positions. By appropriately stabilizing the deeper tissues, the effects can last many years, but this longevity is impacted by the quality of the skin and if it has been damaged by the sun or the effects of massive weight gain and weight loss, results may not be as lasting.
Modified Facelift/”Short Scar” Facelift
Some patients benefit from a more limited approach, commonly known as a “short scar” facelift. This is somewhat of a misnomer, as the scar is very similar to a full traditional facelift but doesn’t go as far into hairline both at the temple and behind the ear. The approach primarily allows Dr. Owens to smooth the jawline in cases where there is less loose skin of the cheek or neck. It is most often performed under local anesthesia in an office setting quite comfortably, and may be combined with fillers or skin resurfacing treatments to optimize results. Because the deeper tissues are not significantly addressed, results are not as lasting as a more comprehensive facelift but this technique can be the perfect solution when you want a refresh but not ready for a major surgery.
Preparing For Your Facelift
Stop smoking and vaping at least 4 weeks prior and plan to abstain for 6 weeks after surgery. Please avoid taking Advil, Aleve, aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, and Naprosyn for two weeks prior to your surgery. High dose vitamins and herbal medications should also be avoided. Most other medications that you take regularly can be taken before your procedure. It is especially important if you are prescribed blood pressure medication to take that as normal so that your blood pressure remains controlled during surgery. Occasionally additional blood pressure medications will be prescribed after consulting with your primary care doctor. You will receive prescriptions for your post op meds and Dr. Owens will thoroughly review your medications with you at your pre-surgical appointment; we recommend you fill prescriptions and have them available at home for immediately following surgery.
Your Facelift Surgery Day
Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery. You will arrive at the surgery center and meet the nursing and anesthesia team that will be taking care of you. Dr. Owens will see you to mark the surgical sites and review the plan with you and your caregiver. Surgery takes between 3 and 5 hours under general anesthesia depending on the full scope of what is planned. You will wake up with soft dressings in place, and if drains are required they will be secured. After initial surgical recovery, the nursing staff will review instructions with you and your caregiver prior to discharge. Plan to have someone who can drive you home and stay to assist you for the first day or two.
Recovery from Facelift Surgery
It is normal to notice swelling, bruising, tightness, itching, and perhaps significant numbness of the cheeks. Ice and pain medications may be used to manage discomfort, but it is common to progress to over the counter pain relievers in the first few days. You should sleep on your back with your head elevated at least 45 degrees, and many patients find that a recliner or reading pillow allows them to stay comfortably in the right position to help minimize swelling and bruising. If drains are used you will monitor output for a day or two until they are ready for removal. Bland ointment like Vaseline or Aquaphor should be applied to the suture line in front of and behind the ear until sutures have been removed and healing is progressing. You will have several office visits for suture removal within the first 1-2 weeks after surgery. You should not drive for about a week, and should avoid strenuous activity including exercise or anything requiring a head-down position for at least 4 weeks after surgery. You may walk all you like, and lighter exercises may be performed as you heal. You will see results immediately, but remember that it takes a few weeks for incisions to heal and a few months for scars to mature, and stabilized results may take 3 to 6 months to be fully realized.
If you are bothered by sagging or loose skin at the eyelids, cheek, or jawline, it may be time to consider facelift surgery. Contact Avalon Plastic Surgery today to set up a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Owens!
