Facial plastic surgery is an art form dedicated to correcting age-related imperfections of the lower face and middle of the face. A facelift is the general term for any procedure that works to restore a youthful appearance in these areas. While there are many different techniques, the aesthetic goals are always very similar:
Goals of Facelift Surgery
- Excellent cheek volume
- Smooth, angular jawline with no jowls
- Neck without excess fat or muscle laxity
- Complete absence of an “operated on” look
With the right plastic surgeon and a suitable patient, these goals are achievable. So how do you know if you’re a good candidate for facial plastic surgery?
How to Know if a Facelift is Right For You
If you are concerned about loose skin and fat around your neck and jaw area, sagging tissue around the middle of your face and deep folds around the nose and mouth, you may be a good candidate for a facelift. Being a healthy, mentally stable, non-smoker is also required.
To get the best results possible, Dr. Rand advises patients to prepare for surgery by maintaining their ideal body weight and using high quality skin care products to promote skin elasticity.
The Procedure: How a Facelift is Performed
Anesthesia
A general anesthetic administered by a Board Certified anesthesiologist is safe and effective for the proper performance of a facelift. The procedure takes time and some patients, especially those with an anxious personality, are better off asleep for a facelift.
Local anesthesia is also an option, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You would be awake but relaxed, and your face would not be sensitive to pain. It is possible to feel some tugging or slight discomfort.
Ask Dr. Rand what the major differences are between general and local anesthesia.
Basic procedural steps
1. Incisions are made above the hairline, in front of the ear and along the lower scalp, following the natural contour to remain hidden.
2. Separation of skin, tissue and muscle of the neck and face is performed. Fat can be suctioned and underlying muscle tightened.
3. Deep tissues are tightened and excess skin is trimmed or lifted
4. Sutures or stitches are placed to maintain the new form and fixate the results during healing.
Facelift Incisions and Techniques
The incisions will vary: some go up into the temple, some along the hairline and some stop right at the top of the ear. Facelift surgery requires an ability to create inconspicuous scars around the ears. Dr. Rand uses a careful design and technique, a post-tragal approach in women, incision closure under no tension, and a meticulous eye regarding the "aesthetic units" of the area. Dr. Rand believes that a multi-plane technique such as a SMAS lift gives the best results without looking operated upon.
After Your Facelift: What to Expect
You should plan to relax for your recovery period and arrange for someone to help you for the first few days. Recovery time is approximately ten days and you should be presentable in about 2 weeks. Specific postoperative instructions will be provided to help you expedite the recovery process and medications will be prescribed to help manage discomfort. Most of the stitches are removed during the first week of recovery.
Branded Facelifts: Do they get predictable results?
You may have heard about or seen advertising for a branded facelift such as the Lifestyle lift, Smartlift and countless others. It is easy to assume that a designed procedure such as this would give you more predictable results, but unfortunately that is not the case.
Facelift surgery has no standardized technique. Experienced surgeons do it differently for each patient because each patient presents different anatomical variations. It is therefore always up to each surgeon to interpret each procedure and each patient - and aim for the best results possible.
Top Facelift Doctor 2010
LinkedIn