Facelift
In a rhytidectomy or facelift, an incision is made along the hairline at the top of the face that continues down in front of and around each ear and ends in the hairline in back of the ears. The skin is then carefully raised over over the sagging tissue. Next, the sagging tissue is repositioned to its more youthful state, in doing so, improving the cheek bones and jawline. Lastly, the skin is pulled over the muscle to give a rejuvenated and youthful appearance, with excess fat is being liposuctioned away when needed over the jowls and under the chin.
Doctor Vallecillos’s Facelift Philosophy: Undergoing a facelift is a personal decision and one that requires careful considerations of the surgeon and the desired outcome. My role is to guide you through the process of decision making, arming you with the necessary information to make the best decision possible. Not all facelifts are alike, and accordingly, understanding your goals with the available techniques will give you the best chance of being satisfied after surgery. My ideal facelift outcome is one that appears quietly natural and refreshed, never looking over pulled or ” windblown “. A facelift, at the end of the day, should provide you with a better, more youthful version of you.
What Are The Benefits of Facelift?
Key Benefits
A rhytidectomy or facelift procedure is an essential component of a multi-modal approach designed to reverse the signs of aging from a patient’s face and neck. The surgery will tighten the facial skin, remove deep wrinkles, lines and creases, eliminate fatty deposits along the jawline and underchin, and also firm the neck area. Additionally, facelifts are commonly performed in conjunction with micronized facial fat transfers which aim replenish age-associated facial fat loss, most commonly around the eyes, temples, tear troughs, and nasolabial folds. When combined with complimentary procedures such as Fraxel, Fractora, the facial skin will appear younger, firmer and smoother. Facelift patients are amongst the most satisfied of all aesthetic surgery patients, typically experiencing a boost in confidence and self-esteem as a result of such an improvement in the facial appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Recovery Time of Facelift?
Recovery time for a facelift will vary with each individual. There is a certain amount of swelling that may take up to 4 months to go down completely. The majority of the swelling is gone by 6 weeks however. Patients are typically ” street ready ” within two weeks, at which point all sutures have been removed.
Do I need Anesthesia for Facelift?
Local anesthesia with sedation is used by many doctors for a rhytidectomy. General anesthesia may also be used, which is especially helpful with anxious individuals. Doctor Vallecillos will discuss which options are best for you during your consultation and pre-operative appointments.
Is Facelift Safe?
As with any surgery, there are risks to be considered, such as infection, scarring, bleeding, discoloration, loss of sensation and fluid accumulation such as seromas and hematomas. Patients should sit down with Doctor Vallecillos and discuss all possible risk factors. It is always helpful to come prepared to the consultation with a list of questions to review with Doctor Vallecillos.
Do I need to Prepare for Facelift?
There are always steps that a patient needs to take before the surgery to prepare for the procedure. Labwork, and ECG and an evaluation with Doctor Vallecillos will be done. There may be the need to take certain medications, and prescriptions that the patient is currently on may have to be stopped temporarily or adjusted. There should be no smoking for a period of time before the procedure, preferably 1 month. Anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal supplementals and aspirin should be stopped two weeks before the surgery to decrease the incidence of bleeding.
How Long Does Facelift Last?
The majority of facelifts can have results that will last for a maximum of eight years. If the patient does his or her part to keep her skin healthy, such as using sun protection, exercising and eating a healthy diet, she will have a beautiful, youthful face for many years after the surgery. Age is a critical part in determining how long a facelift will last. Typically, the younger you are when you have your facelift, the longer the results will last, as the quality of your skin and soft-tissue are better.
