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Plastic Surgery
> Procedures > Face
About The Facelift Procedure
Before & After
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
About The Facelift
Procedure
Looking younger and more energetic begins with your facial
appearance. Facelift surgery is designed to rejuvenate your
face, combating the effects of time, stress, sun exposure,
and environmental damage. For the best results, Dr. Snyder
customizes the facelift procedure according to your
individual bone structure and skin elasticity.
By removing fat and tightening facial muscles, facelift
surgery allows the skin to be smoothed and stretched more
tautly. A face lift can diminish wrinkles, lessen folds, and
remove hanging skin from the jowls. Some patients choose to
combine facelift with other facial procedures in order to
achieve more dramatic results. Dr. Snyder can help you
decide what approach is best in your case. If you are
interested in facelift please contact
us to find out more.
As people age, the effects of
gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life
can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the
nose and mouth; the jaw line grows slack and jowly; folds
and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A facelift (technically known as Rhytidectomy) can't stop
this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock,"
improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess
fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping
the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done
alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a
forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
If you're considering a facelift, this brochure will give
you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help,
how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It
can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on
the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your
surgeon about anything you don't understand.
The best candidates for a face-lift
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose
face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has
some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and
well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties,
but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their
seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may
enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can't
give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the
health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have
surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss
them with your surgeon.
BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FACE LIFT PROCEDURE
Am I a good candidate for a facelift?
Any one or combination of the following conditions may
indicate that you are a good candidate for a forehead lift:
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a deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your
nose to the corner of your mouth.
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jowls, or loss of a well-defined jawline associated
with youthfulness.
-
deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging of the
"highlight" areas of the cheekbones.
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loose skin, wrinkles, vertical "cords" or excess fatty
tissue in the neck.
A facelift can improve all of these problems. It cannot,
however, correct conditions such as sagging eyebrows, excess
skin and fatty deposits in the upper and lower eyelids, or
wrinkles around the mouth. Your plastic surgeon can provide
further information if you have an interest in other
procedures to treat these areas.
How will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for facelift
surgery?
In evaluating you for facelift surgery, your plastic surgeon
will assess the thickness, texture and elasticity of your
skin, and the severity of wrinkles and folds. Your hairline
will be examined to determine where incisions can be
discreetly placed. All of these factors, as well as your
bone structure and underlying tissues, will be considered in
developing an individual surgical plan.
Your plastic surgeon may discuss with you additional
procedures that can be performed along with a facelift in
order to address all the concerns you have identified. For
example, a facelift is frequently combined with a forehead
lift, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping or skin treatments such
as a chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.
Where are the facelift incisions placed?
Although there are many variations to the facelift
procedure, generally an incision is hidden in the natural
contour of your ear, then extends around the earlobe and
back into the hairline. Following surgery, incisions can be
easily concealed by your hair or with makeup. There may also
be a small incision hidden underneath your chin.
How is my plastic surgeon able to restore a firmer,
fresher look to my face?
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.
How should I prepare for surgery?
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well
in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory
drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid
taking these medications for a period of time before
surgery. your surgeon will advise you and provide additional
preoperative instructions. If your hair if very short, you
may want to let it grow enough to cover your incisions while
they heal. If you are overweight and you have a realistic
desire to lose more than 15 pounds, you should discuss this
with your surgeon.
If your facelift will be performed on an outpatient basis,
be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and to stay
with you at least the first night following surgery.
What will the day of surgery be like?
Your facelift may be performed in a hospital, free-standing
ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the
surgical procedure. You and your plastic surgeon will have
decided in advance what type of anesthesia is to be used,
either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. For your
safety during the operation, various monitors are used to
check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of
oxygen circulation in your blood.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery
area where you will continue to be closely monitored. A
bandage may have been wrapped around your face to be closely
monitored. Sometimes small tubes will have been inserted
beneath the skin to drain away fluids that might otherwise
accumulate, but you will not feel these at all. It fact,
there is surprisingly little discomfort from the surgery.
You probably will be permitted to go home after a few hours,
although some patients may stay overnight in the hospital or
surgical facility.
How will I look and feel initially?
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes
for recovery varies greatly among individuals.
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.
Remember, you must not take aspirin or certain
anti-inflammatory medications, and you should not smoke or
be exposed to heavy secondary smoke for a while.
Any bandages and drain tubes will usually be removed in one
or two days. At that time, you will notice puffiness and
discoloration which may be more pronounced in some portions
of your face than others. Do not be alarmed by any
unevenness or temporary asymmetry caused by this variance in
swelling and bruising, which is perfectly normal. 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.
After a few days, you will be permitted to wear makeup which
will help conceal any discoloration. 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.
When can I resume my normal activities?
Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the
early postoperative period. In many instances, you will be
able to resume most of your normal activities within two
weeks and begin to exercise three to four weeks after
surgery. You will be instructed to temporarily avoid
exposure to direct sunlight and, for the long-term, to be
conscientious about the use of a sunblock to protect your
skin.
Results of Your Facelift
The results of your facelift may be dramatic or subtle,
depending on how you look before surgery as well as the
specific goals that you and your plastic surgeon have
established. 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, or
settling, may occur over several months.
For more information on any of these
services or to make an appointment,
please click here to
contact us or call
us at:
512-533-9900
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