Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

As we age, the effects of gravity, environmental damage and stress can become apparent on your face and down through your neck. Many people consider getting a facelift to improve the appearance of jowls and creases or wrinkles that run from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth. By removing excess skin and fat and also tightening the facial tissues under the skin, the appearance of the face can be dramatically smoothed and will appear more rested and youthful. Facelifts are often combined with other facial rejuvenating procedures such as eyelid or brow lift. After a facelift, you will continue to age at the same rate, however the final results may make you look up to 10-15 years younger!

What it won't do:

As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.

A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery.

Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:

• You are physically healthy
• You don't smoke
• You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance

The risks include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Anesthesia risks
• Correctable hair loss at the incisions
• Facial nerve injury with weakness
• Facial asymmetry
• Skin loss
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation
• Pain, which may persist
• Skin contour irregularities
• Skin discoloration, sensitivity or swelling
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
• Unsatisfactory results may include asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location, unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions (It may be necessary to perform additional surgery to improve your results)
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Possibility of revisional surgery

Results

It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to 6 months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.

If you aren't ready for surgery, non-surgical rejuvenation treatments may be for you. They include:

• Botox or Dysport
• Fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane
• Fraxel Restore Laser Skin Rejuvenation
• Chemical Peels such as the Obagi Blue Peel
• Microdermabrasion
• Professional Skin Care Products

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