As we age, the effects of gravity, sun exposure, and the stresses of our daily lives can be seen in our faces. Supportive structures tend to stretch and deep creases form between the nose and mouth, the jawline droops (jowling), and the neck becomes fatty and loose (turkey gobbler). Sometimes creases begin to form between the nose and the mouth. A facelift can "reset the clock" on the aging process, enhance your appearance and restore a more youthful and refreshed look. In order to have a more complete balance, a facelift is commonly performed in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift (brow lift), eyelid surgery, fat injection or nose reshaping.

Surgery

There are a variety of incision locations, depending on the problem areas, and they are usually very well hidden above the hairline at the temples, in a natural line in front of the ear, and behind the ear to the lower scalp. Through the discreet facelift incisions, your plastic surgeon is able to free the skin from the underlying tissues to the extent necessary for the particular surgical technique selected. After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed. In some instances, the deeper tissues may also need to be repositioned in order to restore a more youthful contour to your face. If necessary, a small incision beneath the chin permits the removal of fatty tissue in that area and smoothing of the cord-like structures of the underlying muscle in the neck. By redistributing the fat and tightening these structures, a fresher, more youthful appearance can be restored.

Facial liposuction is used to treat sagging jowls, a double chin and "turkey neck" by removing excess fat. For those with less severe signs of facial aging, a mini-facelift, can achieve a significant amount of improvement with fewer incisions and less recovery time. If your problem areas are limited to the neck, a more conservative procedure, known as a "platysmaplasty" will be recommended. 

Some of the potential complications include hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin that may require removal), infection, reactions to anesthesia and injury to underlying structures, though it is usually only temporary. Facelift incisions are most often inconspicuous, but this is not entirely predicable due to individual variations in healing.

Post surgery

After surgery, you will be asked to restrict your activities and simply relax for a few days. Elevating your head when you sleep will help to minimize swelling and bruising.

You might notice puffiness and discoloration which may be more pronounced in some portions of your face than others. Generally, the greatest amount of swelling occurs 24 to 48 hours after surgery, but it may take several weeks before all puffiness is resolved. Most bruising will disappear within two weeks.

You will also experience some numbness in the facial area, which may be present for several weeks or longer. Your stitches will be removed from four to seven days after surgery. You will be able to resume most of your normal activities within two weeks and begin to exercise three to four weeks after surgery.

Result

The results of your facelift may be dramatic or subtle. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks for an accurate picture of your "new look." Additional minor changes may occur over several months.