Facelift
Who is a candidate for a Facelift Surgery?
Faces age in many different ways and at different rates. Massive weight loss patients—regardless of age may notice their face has lost substantial volume. Today, there are a myriad of facial rejuvenation paths available to you, both surgical and non surgical. Sometimes a combination of procedures is necessary to achieve the results you desire. A full facelift (beneath the eyes to the neck) is indicated if you are noticing sagging, hollowing, or sinking of your face. Loss of facial contours and definition, puffiness, and deep lines and folds can also be improved through facelift surgery.
New facelift techniques offer beautiful, natural looking results replacing the tight, expressionless, “overhaul” looks of years past.
How is Facelift Surgery done?
A facelift is most commonly performed under general anesthesia. It is a very detailed operation and specifically tailored to your desires. The most successful facelifts involve more than what many visualize as “pulling and tightening.” Techniques in suspending, plumping, resurfacing and sculpting are artfully applied. It primarily addresses layers beneath the skin. Achieving the best overall look sometimes necessitates a combination of procedures be used. See Other Options below.
Incisions are carefully made inside the hairline and around the curve of the ear. These incisions are precisely placed to allow the surgeon to visualize your underlying facial structure and fat deposits. Repositioning, redistributing and reshaping are the three key elements of returning you to a more rested, youthful appearance. The final step is to drape the skin over the newly sculpted foundation and reducing just the right amount of excess skin—a critical part of the surgery in avoiding the “tight” look. Incisions are closed using a combination of stitches and staples.
Recuperation after Facelift Plastic Surgery
Immediately following surgery you will experience swelling, bruising and numbness. Your head will be wrapped with a bandage. You will have a drainage tube that comes out near the hairline behind the ear. You may be uncomfortable, but there is no severe pain associated with a facelift. You will stay overnight at our facility for supervised care. Medication and resting upright will keep you comfortable. The drain will be removed the morning following the surgery. It is recommended that you have help the first couple of days as you begin to heal. Post operative use of herbal supplements such as arnica and bromelain are useful in counteracting swelling and bruising. These are available through our office. Dr. Peters will see you three or four times in the first two weeks following surgery.
Some of your stitches will be removed within a week. The remaining stitches and staples will be removed by 10-12 days after the surgery. You should be able to resume routine activities two weeks after surgery. In three to four weeks most of the swelling and bruising should be gone, but it could take up to 6 months to be completely healed. Be mindful of protecting your skin from the sun for several months following the surgery. .
Other Options
Surgical: Minimal Incision Facelift, Minimal Incision Necklift, Minimal Incision Browlift, Eyelid Surgery, Rhinoplasty, and Dermabrasion
Non surgical: Soft tissue augmentation in conjunction with surgical rejuvenation.
A word about financing…
Facelifts can be made very affordable through our partners at Capital One. Visit them at www.capitalonehealthcarefinance.com Yvette would be happy to answer any of your questions or assist you with the necessary paperwork.
More information on financial planning and payment options
Facility and Associated Fees
Dr. Peters provides for his patient’s comfort and safety by using Physicians Surgical Specialty Hospital in Houma, LA. All procedures are done in their surgery center and recovery and aftercare is on site. The hospital staff is familiar with all the procedures Dr. Peters provides and you can expect excellent care at a reasonable price.
Your surgical fee will include:
- Pre operative lab work
- EKG
- Use of the operating room and supplies
- Intravenous antibiotics
- Anesthesia
- Overnight stay with nursing care
- Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis (to prohibit the formation of blood clots in the legs)
Your fee will not include:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Chest X-ray reading(if necessary)
- Additional night in the hospital
- Prescribed medications
- Pathology(for tissue specimens, if necessary)
Insurance Notes
A facelift is considered a purely aesthetic procedure and as such is not covered by insurance.
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Ask Dr. Peters about Facelift Plastic Surgery
How long will my facelift last?
There is no way to give a definitive answer here because no rejuvenation will completely stop the aging process. A successful facelift can help you look younger than your years for more than a decade if you take very good care of your skin.
I have heard endoscopic facelifts have fewer incisions and heal better. Why do a full facelift?
There is quite a menu of face “lifting” procedures available and the patient must be educated as to their effectiveness and application. For younger patients, a limited or mid-facelift procedure may be fine if only a small degree of correction is needed. An endoscopic facelift can only address muscle and is best reserved for browlifts since facelifts must take into account muscle, fat and skin. A minimal incision (MAC-S Lift) lift is a relatively new procedure and could be appropriate for younger patients who need an interim step before a full facelift. During the consultation, we can determine the best approach to your facial concerns.
What is a suspension (or feather) lift? My dermatologist does them in her office in one hour.
A suspension lift, sometimes erroneously called a “lunchtime” lift uses minimal incisions and barbed sutures which are threaded and tightened to suspend the skin. Even in the most capable hands, there is swelling and bruising with this procedure and associated aesthetic and medical risks as well. The results are very limited and I am not recommending this procedure at this time.
What about scars?
You will have scars from a facelift because incisions are necessary if the surgeon is to get familiar with your facial “foundation.” Telltale scars are not as common as they used to be. I typically place incisions inconspicuously and use fine sutures to approximate the incisions so only your hairstylist will notice.
Will a facelift take care of all my wrinkles?
A facelift is not the solution for all wrinkles. While it will minimize deep lines and folds, wrinkles are best attended to with non surgical alternatives that can be treated by other means such as laser resurfacing or dermabrasion.
How can I be sure I won’t look like I came out of a wind tunnel?
A great facelift is dependent upon your anatomy, your choice of surgeon and his or her artistic sense. Make sure you see plenty of before and after pictures of the surgeon’s work. You cannot control your DNA, but you can choose wisely and carefully. A board certified plastic surgeon with a good reputation will minimize the chances you will look unnatural.
I am in my thirties and have lost 100lbs. I don’t want to look younger…I just want this extra skin gone.
Often times the skin has been irreversibly damaged with massive weight loss requiring a facelift to address the excess skin. Again, each surgery is individualized to achieve the best result for you and the surgical plan will be thoroughly reviewed during your consultation. I will always meet with the facelift patients a second time to finalize the operative plan and answer the patient’s questions.
If I gain or lose weight, will that affect my facelift?
Any significant gain or loss of weight will change your facial appearance. Remember that plastic surgery is meant to refine your appearance once normal weight is accomplished and maintained. Significant changes may result in revision or secondary facelift surgeries.
What other MWL aesthetic surgery can I have along with a facelift?
I commonly perform eyelid surgery, browlifts, or dermabrasion with a facelift surgery. Occasionally, a rhinoplasty will be done at the same time. I avoid doing any body surgeries with a facelift. Limiting surgical time to a maximum of 6-7 hours is best for the patient.
