Facelift Surgery
First impressions are formed around your appearance. When the first thing people look at is your face, it is important that your face portrays a favorable image of who you are. Even the most youthful, attractive face will begin to show signs of aging over time. Wrinkles and sagging skin can make your face look tired, worn, and lacking in definition and shape. A facelift can trim and tighten your face to create slender, youthful contours so that your face creates a lasting, positive impression.
How can a facelift help?
A facelift can completely transform the contours of your face. This surgical procedure removes excess, drooping skin to eliminate wrinkles and to tighten and smooth your face. The facelift procedure also enhances your face shape to improve its definition. No more will you look rundown and aged; rather, you will look youthful and revitalized with a more refreshed and pleasing appearance.
Full-Facial Rejuvenation
Full-facial rejuvenation can be achieved with a combination of upper and lower eyelid surgeries, a brow lift, and/or fat injections.
Benefits:
- Restores the upper, mid, and lower face to a more youthful appearance
- Tighter facial tissues
- Fewer fine lines, wrinkles, creases, and folds
- More appropriate for older patients
Short-Scar Facelift
A short-scar facelift can improve mild to moderate skin laxity and facial wrinkles, primarily in the midface and lower face. This technique is often preferable for younger patients who desire minimal correction.
Benefits:
- Less extensive and expensive than a traditional facelift
- Minimizes many signs of aging before they are noticeable
- An excellent alternative for younger patients
- Less scarring due to smaller incisions
- Eliminates wrinkles and fine lines
Traditional Facelift
The traditional facelift tightens the facial tissues and eliminates sagging skin on the face and neck to create a more youthful appearance.
Benefits:
- Fewer fine lines, wrinkles, folds, and creases
- Tighter facial tissues
- Elimination of sagging skin and jowls
- Reduction of visible muscle banding in the neck
- More defined facial contours
What Do You Desire?
A Younger Appearance
The whole purpose of facelift surgery is to help you look younger. This is accomplished by removing sagging, excess skin and tightening the tissues and structures of your face. Wrinkles are removed, your skin will be taut, and your face will look as much as 10 years younger.
Reduce Turkey Neck/Jowls
Sagging jowls and excess neck skin are another reason people undergo facelift surgery. This procedure removes excess skin from the lower face to eliminate jowls and create more youthful definition along the jawline. A facelift also gets rid of muscle banding in the neck so that you do not have a turkey neck.
Improved Facial Definition and Contour
Aging leads to skin laxity and diminishes facial definition. Sagging jowls are a classic example of how youthful facial contours are lost as a result of aging. The facelift procedure improves facial definition and contour by eliminating sagging, excess skin and tightening the remaining skin.
Fewer Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a common sign of aging and can occur anywhere on the face. Tightening the facial skin leads to reduced wrinkles and can help your face to look more youthful and natural. A facelift will create a smoother appearance for your whole face from your forehead to your neck.
Facelift Concerns
Recovery
After the procedure, patients are asked to stay overnight for observation. Once they are sent home, recovery lasts a few weeks. Most patients return to work within two weeks. You may experience tightness, numbness, swelling, bruising, and discomfort for a few days to a few weeks. It is best to keep your head elevated and use a cold compress to minimize swelling. Avoid smoking for at least four weeks after surgery, avoid aspirin for one week, and avoid normal exercise for at least three weeks. It is also recommended that you avoid any hair dyeing for two months and that you are vigilant about skin care and sun protection for at least one full year after your facelift.
Scars
Facelift incisions are hidden so that they are inconspicuous. Each patient should keep his or her face and head well-protected from the sun to ensure that the scars heal well and do not darken. Scars from facelift surgery will naturally fade over time.
Pain
General anesthesia prevents the patient from feeling any pain during the procedure. Patients may experience some tightness after facelift surgery. The procedure does not usually cause pain.
Risks
Despite being a very safe and common procedure, there are occasional complications after facelift surgery. Some of these risks include bleeding, numbness, infections, difficulty healing, injury to nerves, and skin loss. However, complications are rare, and the effects are usually temporary. Complications are even less likely when patients follow instructions and quit smoking for at least six weeks before and after the procedure.
Cost
The cost of a facelift is determined by various factors including surgical fees, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and procedural fees. If you choose to combine your facelift with other procedures, these will also factor into the cost. A customized quote will be provided for you once you have met with the surgeon.
Before & After Photos
66 year old female had a facelift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, endoscopic forehead lift, and fat grafting to her cheeks and lips.
View Photo GalleryFacelift Frequently Asked Questions in Huntsville, AL
Who is a good candidate for a facelift?
Good candidates for facelift surgery have extensive signs of facial and neck aging, including jowls, sagging cheeks, deep facial creases, severe wrinkles, “turkey necks,” and the like. Ideal candidates will also be non-smokers with realistic expectations about their results.
What is a good age to undergo facelift surgery?
The common age range for facelift patients is between 40 and 60 years old. Patients younger than 40 are not likely to need facelift surgery and may experience positive results from less-invasive treatments. Patients with good skin elasticity will see the best results, which is why patients over 60 may not be good candidates as they are more likely to have pronounced skin laxity. Those who undergo a facelift before age 50 will likely see the best and longest-lasting results from their procedure.
How do I know if I need a facelift or if I need another procedure?
Individuals with more severe wrinkles and sagging skin over their whole faces will likely need facelift surgery. Those with aging in limited areas may benefit from a short-scar facelift. In some cases, dermal fillers or more localized facial procedures such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift can provide pleasing results. During your consultation, Dr. Wilson will help you determine which procedure is best for you.
What procedures can I combine with my facelift?
It is common to combine a facelift with a forehead lift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, or fat transfer to the face. Dr. Wilson can recommend the best procedure(s) for your needs.
How can I minimize scarring?
Scarring after a facelift will already be well-hidden. Nonetheless, you can minimize scarring by avoiding sun exposure and using a good skin care regimen. Scar massage techniques will be discussed with you at the appropriate time and will also help minimize your scars. Your facelift scars will be inconspicuous and will fade over time.
How long will my facelift results last?
Facelift results can be long lasting, though your face will continue to age naturally after the surgery. To maintain your results, use proper skin care and protect your face from sun exposure.
