Facelift
Looking to take years off? A facelift may be the solution to your problem by reducing sagging skin on the face and neck, helping you to appear firmer and fresher. Your bone structure, heredity, and skin texture all play a role in how many “years” a facelift can “remove” and, to an extent, influence how long it will last.

A typical candidate for a facelift exhibits one of the following characteristics:

• a deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth.
• jowls, or loss of a well-defined jawline associated with youthfulness.
• deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging of the "highlight" areas of the cheekbones.
• loose skin, wrinkles, vertical "cords" or excess fatty tissue in the neck.

before the facelift surgery
It is important for the doctor to have a clear understanding of your expectations for the facelift procedure. Make sure to point out what portions of your appearance you would like to change and what you hope to achieve from the facelift procedure. To meet your expectations, your surgeon may also recommend procedures such as a brow lift, eyelid surgery, or a related procedure to go along with a facelift surgery.

Because each person’s facial features and expectations are different, not all patients will attain the same results or have the same surgical technique. Your plastic surgeon will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will best meet your expectations.
Prior to the face lift surgery, the physician should provide a list of guidelines for preparation for your surgery.

the facelift surgery
The surgeon performs the facelift operation one side at a time, working through incisions that are placed in the hairline, in front of or partially within the ears as well as behind the ears. Although there are many techniques that you surgeon may choose, typically the incision is hidden in the natural contour of your ear, then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline. By limiting the incisions to these areas, your surgeon can limit the exposure of any resulting scars from the procedure.

Through these facelift incisions, your skin will be separated from the underlying tissues to the extent necessary and than the excess skin will be removed. After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed. When necessary, removal of fatty deposits beneath the skin and tightening of sagging muscles is also performed.

after the facelift surgery
The healing process for a facelift is a gradual one and varies depending upon each individual. Temporary skin discoloration is common and some tightness or numbness in the face and neck are usual post operative signs. Your skin will remain somewhat sensitive for a period of time after the facelift surgery. Make sure to ask your doctor about precautions such as exposure to sun and the use of make-up.

As with any surgery, you can help to help shorten the recovery period by following the advice and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after the facelift surgery.


The information presented on this site is intended to be used for informational use only, it is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If you are planning on having a procedure performed or if there is anything you don't understand about your procedure, please consult one of our physicians.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons click here or call (800) 505-3627.