|
|
| Before |
After |
| (Click picture to enlarge) |
(Click picture to enlarge) |
|
Face & Neck Lift
|
|
A facelift-necklift improves the signs of aging through tightening the underlying face and neck
muscles and removing sagging skin and by redistributing excess fatty deposits. The standard
facelift addresses the lower 1/2 of the face and the upper neck. With age, skin of the face
and neck lose elasticity and the underlying muscles lose their tone. Factors such as sun exposure,
weight gain or loss, gravity and stress may excarcebates the problem. Procedure choice such as
mini vs an extended face and neck lift, depend on patients needs and must be discussed with
your cosmetic surgeon. Other facial procedures including nose surgery / rhinoplasty, forehead
lift, eyelid surgery / blepharoplasty, neck muscle tightening / platysmoplasty, chin and cheek
implants, chemical peel, laser resurfacing and fat transfer, and injection of synthetic fillers
may be performed at the same time.
|
|
Who is a Candidate?
|
|
|
| Before |
After |
| (Click picture to enlarge) |
(Click picture to enlarge) |
|
|
Patients with sagging skin and poor facial tone who have jowl formation (the lower cheeks and
jaw line are saggy) or have poorly defined jaw line are the routine candidates. Men and women
with wrinkled, saggy and fatty neck are candidate for a face and neck or neck lift. Those
patients who desire a less tired and more youthful look will benefit from this procedure.
Patient with facial trauma might benefit from partial lift to correct any asymmetry; however,
skin surface defect and discoloration as well as lines around the mouth is not corrected by
this procedure.
|
|
|
| Before |
After |
| (Click picture to enlarge) |
(Click picture to enlarge) |
|
Procedure Description
|
|
Face Lifts are usually performed in an office facility under oral sedation and local anesthesia
as well local within a tumescent solution. If necessary, an outpatient surgical facility or in
the hospital may be used to administer conscious/IV sedation or general. After administration
of the local anesthetic and the tumescent causing what is known as hydro-dissection, an
incision is made in front of the ear extending to behind the ear. Once the facial and neck
muscle are exposed and tightened, the excess skin is removed. The skin is then closed with a
running suture and dressing including a light compression facial garment is placed around the
face and neck.
|
|
Recovery-Recuperation and Healing
|
|
|
| Before |
After |
| (Click picture to enlarge) |
(Click picture to enlarge) |
|
|
Recovery is generally dependent on the extent of the surgery. In majority of the cases the
patient is sent home with a responsible adult. For the first 3 days, stiffness in the neck
and some soreness with swallowing and eating may occur. Patients should keep their head
elevated for the first 5 days post operatively. It is crucial to maintain a clean wound site.
In most cases the patient is asked to clean the incision site on a daily bases. Facial creams,
make up or other products may be used on day after surgery but not on or near the incision site.
Noticeable swelling and bruising typically lasts 3 to 7 days; however, it is common for some
residual bruising and swelling may take several weeks to resolve. The compression garment
needs be worn for approximately one week. In most cases, your cosmetic surgeon will use an
absorbable suture; however any non absorbable suture will be removed in one week.
|
