FACELIFT
(RHYTIDECTOMY)

WHO IS A CANDIDATE

• A facelift is designed to remove the major folds or wrinkles of the skin on the face and neck, which naturally occur with aging.
• Areas that can be improved by face-lift are the nasolabial folds (the folds between the nose and mouth), the jowls, the mid-face and the neck.

INTENDED RESULTS

• A facelift done on an appropriate candidate should refresh the facial appearance and remove major folds and wrinkles that are of concern. The neck and jaw-line should have more youthful definition.

PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION

• Your facelift will be done in our accredited surgery facility under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. There are several variations of the facelift requiring different incisions and different amounts of surgical and recuperation time.
• Mini-facelift: This facelift is designed for the younger person that sees a general loosening of the face but no major folds or wrinkles. This procedure does not address neck problems or jowls. It is intended to tighten the cheeks to upper jowl areas. The incision begins in the temple and continues in the natural lines in front of the ear and is partially hidden in the tragus of the ear. It may be extended slightly around the bottom of the ear. No muscle lift is done in this procedure so post-operative swelling is minimal.
• Facelift: There are many variations of the facelift procedure, some that do not need muscle correction and some where muscle correction is extensive. All regular facelifts start with the incisions described in mini-facelift. The incision then continues behind the ear and up into the hairline behind the ear. This facelift addresses all areas of the lower face and neck. Frequently, another incision is made under the chin in a natural skin fold. This allows fat removal and tightening of the platysma muscle in the neck (the muscle that causes banding). The procedure that will best address your concerns will be determined at your consultation.

Before	After

RECUPERATION AND HEALING

• A compressive dressing will be wrapped around the head immediately post-surgery and will be changed the next day by Dr. Hand. You must wear the 2nd dressing for another 3 days at which time it may be removed and you may shower and gently wash your hair. You will then be given a special garment to wear at home and at night for 2 weeks. The garment provides compression where needed and helps with swelling and healing.
• Swelling and bruising will occur. Generally, the more extensive the facelift, the longer the swelling continues. Very minimal swelling or bruising should be expected from the mini-facelift. A skin only face and neck lift may take only 2 weeks for the swelling and bruising to subside. A facelift with substantial muscle work will probably be free of bruising within 2 weeks but may take up to 3 months for all swelling to subside.
• Post-operative pain is usually minimal and can be easily controlled with oral pain medications.
• Sutures are removed in front of the ear at 4 days after surgery. Sutures behind the ear will dissolve and sutures in the hairline will be removed at 10 days to 2 weeks.
• Camouflage makeup will be dispensed as soon as the incisions are healed and sutures are removed.

Before	After

OTHER OPTIONS

• Facelift can be combined with several other procedures in order to achieve an aesthically pleasing result. It is frequently done with blepharoplasty since the aging process is usually apparent in this region also and forehead lift to elevate the eyebrows and remove deep creases. Fine wrinkles, particularly those about the mouth, may require additional treatment, such as laser skin resurfacing or fat graft.