In your reflection, do you see the self you feel on the inside or a face you don’t recognize? Time changes the face you see in the mirror into a stranger, betraying your youthful spirit. A facelift bridges your spirit and body, unifying the engine and vehicle of your soul’s beauty. Your face is the portrait of your confidence, and a facelift helps to bring them into harmony.
Learn everything you need to know about facelifts in 2022. Discover how patients benefit from facelifts and the treatments available. Find out what is involved in a facelift and what to expect during your procedure and recovery. And get answers from professionals for all your questions about facelifts.
Your Total Facelift Guide 2022: What is a Facelift?
Rhytidectomy or a facelift is a surgical procedure that reduces and softens the visible signs of aging on your face and neck. Facelifts are performed by Facial Cosmetic Surgeons and involve removing and repositioning skin, muscle, and fat to restore and rejuvenate the youthful aesthetic of your face. A facelift can improve:
- Sagging skin on your face and neck
- Smile and frown lines between the corner of your mouth and nose
- Drooping fat on the face and neck
- Jowls or sagging skin around your cheeks and jaw
- Neck fat and flabby skin
What doesn’t a facelift treat?
A facelift is a cosmetic procedure aiming to improve the visible signs of aging. But the procedure does not address aging in general and cannot correct wrinkles from sun damage, color variants in the skin, or other superficial wrinkles around the face and neck.
Facelifts typically address the lower face and neck. Although performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, facelifts do not address the cheeks, around the eyes and forehead.
A facelift reflects the joy, energy, and youth you feel in your soul, bridging the gap between how you look and feel. A facelift will not change the natural process of aging, which every human must face and come to terms with in their own way. It is not a substitute for accepting and finding peace in your own mortality.
What are the different types of facelift procedures?
There are several types of facelifts from which to choose, including:
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift treats moderate to significant signs of aging in the face and neck. The surgeon creates incisions at the upper hairline, around the ears, and under the chin, separating the skin from muscle tissue and the supporting facial structure. The SMAS is the muscular layer of tissue on the lower two-thirds of your face and neck. Tightening the SMAS addresses the drooping skin around the jowls, neck, and under the eyes. During this procedure, the muscles are tightened, and excess skin is removed Once the excess fat is removed around the neck and cheeks, the structural layer over the muscles (SMAS) is resuspended, the skin is repositioned, and the excess skin is removed.
Deep Plane Facelift
A deep plane facelift procedure is similar to that of the traditional facelift but involves undermining the structural layer above the muscles (SMAS) and repositioning it to suspend it in a rejuvenated position. The benefit of a deep plane facelift is that it involves less stretching and tightening of the patient’s skin, creating a more natural aesthetic. Deep plane facelifts are thought to last longer than traditional facelifts because the underlying tissue remains intact during the procedure.
Mid-Facelift
A mid-facelift addresses drooping and flabby skin around the cheeks and jowls. The surgeon will smooth and tighten the skin around the cheeks by repositioning and removing fat and excess skin.
Mini-Facelift
A mini-facelift is the least invasive and fastest type of facelift procedure. It is typically a skin tightening and trimming procedure. This type of procedure is common for younger adults whose faces and necks show premature signs of aging.
Other Cosmetic Procedures You Can Combine with a Facelift
Many patients get a facelift in combination with other cosmetic facial procedures, including:
- Nose job (rhinoplasty)
- Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)
- Facial implants
- Eyebrow lift (brow lift)
- Laser skin resurfacing
- Dermal fillers (injectable)
- Chemical skin peel
- Jawline rejuvenation
What to Expect During a Facelift Procedure
Your doctor will provide detailed pre-surgery and post-operative care instructions during your initial consultation. During a facelift, the patient is sedated by IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the procedure and patient preference. While sedated, patients are monitored by their surgical team. After the surgeon closes the incision points, the patient is moved into a recovery ward where they are monitored while the effects of sedation wear off.
What to Expect After a Facelift Procedure
The effects of general anesthesia and IV sedation take a few hours to wear off. When you are stable, you will be discharged into the care of your guardian or chaperone. Before discharge, your surgeon will provide after-care instructions detailing how to manage swelling and bruising. Patients often receive prescription pain medication to be used if necessary. Finally, you will schedule a follow-up appointment.
The total recovery time for facelift surgery is different for every patient. Most patients require about two weeks of time off before they can return to daily life. After about ten days, the majority of swelling will subside. Swelling and bruising will dissipate after about four weeks post-operative. For the first six weeks of recovery, patients should avoid strenuous exercise and direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. When spending time in the sun, patients should wear sunscreen around the healing incision sites and avoid direct exposure. Your face will continue to heal for up to 12 months post-operative when the final results will be fully evident.
Are you a good candidate for a facelift?
Good candidates for a facelift are patients with moderate or significant signs of aging on their face and neck. Most patients who get a facelift are middle-aged, between 40 and 70 years old. Younger and older patients might also be good candidates for a facelift if they are in good general health. Mental health is also a significant consideration for any cosmetic surgery, and patients should have realistic expectations for the results of facelift surgery.
A facelift can’t make you younger, but it can help you look more youthful and feel more like yourself. Age doesn’t have to dictate how you see yourself in the mirror or how the world sees you. Call our office to schedule a consultation to determine if a facelift is the best cosmetic treatment for you.