What Exactly is a Facelift?
Facelifts remove and tighten excess skin and reposition fat deposits and muscles that have sagged or warped over time. Facelift procedures can remove deep-set wrinkles, sagging jowls, fatty deposits or banding on the face and neck. This is accomplished by removing or repositioning fat to areas which will fill in wrinkled or sagging skin, as well as reducing and tightening skin around the lower jaw.
Facelifts fall into several categories: Full, lower, and mini lifts:
- Full facelifts: A full facelift is the most complex type of facelift because it is a combination of separate procedures that work together to rejuvenate the overall appearance of the face. Because everyone ages differently, the procedures that work for one person could be completely inappropriate for another. The surgeries generally included in a full facelift target the lower face, mid-face and neck.
- Lower facelifts: Lower facelifts target only the lower portion of the face and are used to sculpt the skin and tissue around the mouth, jaw and neck. Lower facelifts help to remove the signs of weariness and falsely expressed emotions (sadness, anger, fatigue) which can look permanent on aging skin.
- Mini facelifts: Mini facelifts generally involve a single incision site along the ear. This tiny S-shaped incision is designed to be virtually invisible once healed. Also known as the “weekend facelift,” this procedure is popular among women aged 40-50 who have only just begun to show signs of aging. Skin that has severe deep wrinkles and signs of aging would not generally benefit much from a mini facelift.
About the Facelift Procedure
General anesthesia is almost always used for full facelifts so that patients are unconscious and immobile for surgery. Local anesthesia combined with sedation may be used for less complicated procedures such as lower or mini facelifts. In this instance, the area surrounding the surgical site will be numbed and you will receive intravenous sedation to relax you and keep your body still. You may fall asleep as a result of the sedation, but many patients remain awake throughout their procedures.
The surgeon will make incisions necessary to access the targeted areas of the face. Through these incisions, the doctor will reposition and tighten the facial muscles and skin for a smooth, youthful appearance. Fat may be repositioned to fill in facial hollows and promote symmetry. Excess skin and fat will be removed before the incisions are closed and dressings are applied.
Facelift Recovery
Swelling, bruising and bleeding at the incision sites are typical after a facelift. Patients should focus on resting with their head elevated for the first week after surgery to maximize healing and prevent unnecessary strain on the body.
Initially, patients may have a surgical drain placed at the incision site to reduce swelling. This drain must be emptied and reset frequently to prevent a fluid buildup. Drains are typically removed a few days after surgery. The sutures will either dissolve in a couple of weeks or be removed along with any drains.
Most patients return to office jobs within one to two weeks following surgery, depending on the extent of the facelift. Bending, lifting and strenuous exercise will be off-limits for several weeks following a facelift. Patients should take great care to follow all recovery instructions to enhance the results of the procedure and help prevent complications.
Swelling will subside over the weeks and months following surgery and patients can expect to see final results in about six months to a year. Preliminary results will be visible after about six to eight weeks.
Are You the Right Candidate for a Facelift?
Ideal candidates for a facelift are in general good health, have a positive self-image and attitude, realistic expectations, and the ability to devote time to the healing process.
Below are characteristics a facelift patient commonly has:
- Fat deposits in the face which have shifted or fallen to create hollows or wrinkles
- Sagging skin along the jawline or fatty jowls
- Creases or folds extending from the corners of the mouth to the nose
- Marionette lines which extend from the corners of the mouth down to the chin
- A double chin resulting from fallen fat deposits or excess skin
- Creases or banding along the neck
- Any loss of muscle tone in the lower face leading to an aged appearance
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, facelift results last seven to 15 years. How long you get to enjoy your facelift depends on several factors, including sun exposure, skincare, lifestyle choices (i.e., smoking), and genetics. Remember that while a facelift can turn back the clock, it can’t stop it.
Honestly, every facelift should produce natural-looking results. Skilled and experienced surgeons like ours have a thorough understanding of various surgical techniques and know how to avoid mistakes like pulling the skin too tight. Currently, the most common facelift techniques are the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) and deep plane lifts.
The SMAS lift is more than skin deep, addressing issues with the structural components of the face. The SMAS is a portion of tissue between your subcutaneous facial fat and the facial muscles. Smoothing and recontouring it allows for moderate skin tightening. The deep plane facelift goes even deeper than the SMAS, releasing ligaments as needed to recontour the face. Fat pads and muscles may also be altered during this procedure. By working deeply in the structures of the face, surgeons allow the skin to drape over the new facial contours more naturally without as much tightness.
Unfortunately, every surgical procedure, including facelifts, has potential risks. Although rare, you could experience permanent numbness in your face and hair loss at your incision sites. Hematomas and infections can also occur. Some people also report an unnatural, overly tight, or pulled look after a facelift. The best way to reduce the risk of all these issues is to choose an experienced plastic surgeon and follow all of your post-op care instructions closely.
Facelift pricing can vary significantly, even within the same clinic. One factor is, of course, the complexity of your case. But location, anesthesia fees, and facility fees all have an impact. The experience level of your plastic surgeon also plays a role. The more experienced and well-known the surgeon, the more they might charge.
Yes! Facelifts can be and often are combined with other plastic surgeries. Eyelid lifts, neck lifts, and brow lifts are commonly added to facelifts. Technically, any plastic surgeries can be combined as long as doing so is safe.
Most people seeking facelifts are between the ages of 40 and 60, but there are no specific age restrictions. The most important factor in determining facelift candidacy is the condition of your skin. If your skin is elastic enough to conform to your new facial contour after surgery, and if you’re healthy enough to undergo surgery, then you can get a facelift regardless of your age.
Yes, you will. A facelift can erase some of your current signs of aging, but it can’t stop the clock. The aging process will continue after your facelift. A facelift essentially gives you a new starting point. Time will continue to march on and you will still age, but a facelift can reset the clock, so to speak.
Botox can smooth out fine lines, and dermal fillers can help correct issues like hollowed cheeks. For some people, these interventions are sufficient. But both require ongoing maintenance and upkeep, making the longevity of a facelift more desirable to some patients. A facelift is also necessary when you have deep lines, loose skin, or significant jowling. In these instances, Botox and fillers are inadequate.
This is an excellent question, as facelifts do have limits. Unless you add a brow lift to your surgery, a facelift will not correct forehead wrinkles or drooping eyebrows. Facelifts also fail to address:
- Poor skin quality
- Fine, dynamic wrinkles
- Facial volume loss
- Eyelid issues
- Neck creases or banding
You can add other procedures, such as an eyelid lift, neck lift, or fat grafting to your facelift if you wish to address these problems. A facelift alone, however, does not fix these issues.