FACELIFT

With aging, the volume in the face and laxity of the skin tend to decrease, leaving saggy, wrinkled, hallow appearance. A facelift uses careful surgical techniques to lift and tighten the skin and underlying tissues of the face to restore a more youthful contour to the face and eliminate sagging around the mouth, jaw line, midface, and neck. 

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, involves removal of excess skin and underlying tissue to restore the contour of one’s jaw and neck lines. This may be accomplished with an incision which starts above one’s ear, curves around the ear, and follows your hairline behind your ear. Most people benefit from a full facelift to better rejuvenate one’s facial features compared to removing skin and tissue from either the face or neck. 

If you desire a refreshed more youthful appearance, a facelift removes the sagging skin from your jawline and neck line. The tightening of these areas will take years off your appearance without dramatically changing your facial features. You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you are a relatively healthy adult at a stable weight who is looking to rejuvenate one’s facial features. It is vital that you have realistic expectations and a positive outlook. Achieving a facelift is impossible without a scar. Patients typically have an incision that heals well and can be hidden underneath one’s hairstyle. Most patients feel the scar is well worth the benefits of surgery.

BENEFITS OF SURGERY

• Eliminates saggy, excess skin
• Restores a tighter, smoother contour to the lower face and jawline
• Creates a more youthful appearance

WHAT TO EXPECT

Once the decision is made to move forward with surgery, our team will schedule a pre-procedure visit and help you select your surgery date. A facelift can performed under oral sedation, meaning you would be sleepy but awake, or general anesthesia, meaning you will be asleep for the operation. Surgery typically takes about two hours to complete. You will have a scar which starts above and in front of your ear, travels around your earlobe, and follows your hairline behind your ear. Most patients find the benefits outweigh the scar. You will go home the same day as surgery to recover. You will have a bandage around your head and neck that will be removed in the office 24-48 hours after your procedure. We recommend you plan for extra help around the house for the days following your procedure as you adjust and recover. Recovery for each patient varies and depends on your lifestyle.

YOUR CONSULTATION FOR FACELIFT

If you are considering a facelift or wondering if it may be the right procedure for you, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Szymanski to review your goals and desired results. It is important that you understand and have realistic expectations for the procedure before moving forward. 

Deciding if a plastic surgery procedure is the right choice for you is your individual decision. We want you to feel comfortable and confident throughout the process. Before your first consultation with our office, we recommend you write down any questions you have and bring your list with you. It can also be beneficial to bring someone with you who is supportive and a good listener. If you find you have a lot of questions after your consultation, a second appointment to address your questions with Dr. Szymanski is always an option.