Face Lift

Face-lift surgery helps eliminate wrinkles and sagging skin that results from age, sun exposure and the use of facial expressions. This procedure is often coupled with other facial surgeries to improve appearance, such as chin augmentation and/or eyelid surgery. Good candidates for face lifts are in good health, have skin that retains some measure of elasticity, and are not planning to lose any substantial amounts of weight after the surgery.

Procedure
Skin lifting face lifts are performed using either local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes incisions that create an outline of the face: across the hairline, in front of both temples, in front of each ear, around the earlobes, behind the ears, and ending at the scalp on both sides of the head. The skin is gently undermined from the underlying tissue and excess skin is removed. If needed, fat deposits beneath the neck and chin may be removed directly or using liposuction. The surgeon tightens loose muscles and soft tissue around the face and closes the incisions with small sutures. Depending upon the type of face lift procedure being performed, the surgery generally takes between 2-8 hours.

Contour ThreadLift: A ContourLift™ is an innovative facial rejuvenation procedure designed to gently elevate sagging brows, cheeks and jowls. Due to the unique design of the delicate filaments used in the procedure, the surrounding tissues act to hold them in place without the need for visible scars. The surgeon will make a tiny notch, usually hidden behind the hairline or tucked behind the ear, and the fine Contour Threads™ are then advanced along the previously marked contours so they create a firm hold on the underlying tissues. The delicate filaments do the work of holding, by becoming fixated to tissue as they are softly smoothed into place. Once they are gently positioned, your body generates new collagen bundles that surround each filament to maintain the lifting effect. The result is a refreshed, rejuvenated and natural look without the telltale signs of major surgery.

Midface Lift: The area of tissue beneath the eye down to the naso-labial fold can be elevated to restore a youthful face and decrease the fold formed when we smile. Some surgeons may use endoscopic technology to perform a mid-face lift, making small incisions above the ear and by the temple. Additional incisions are made inside the mouth and over the cheek bone. All of the incisions made in an endoscopic mid-face lift procedure are very small-usually around one inch long. Permanent stitches secure the fat pads of the cheek to the tissue in the temple, and the surgeon performing the mid-face lift will insert several strategic sutures to achieve the desired look. Whether the mid-face lift is accomplished through endoscopic or traditional surgery, the process complements a full face lift, as mid-face tissue is elevated in a med-face lift procedure to restore volume in the malar areas and a more youthful look.

Minimally Invasive Face Lift: Two of the most obvious areas of facial ageing are the cheeks and the neck. A clear jaw line with a smooth neck devoid of sagging skin looks younger. This can often be achieved by sculpting the neck with liposuction, tightening the neck muscles and removing excess skin with an “S” shaped incision around the ear. This mini-lift is very safe, heals quickly and the recovery time is shorter.

MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) Lift: Small incisions are made in front of the ears extending upwards in front of the hairline to the level of the eyebrow. Only a short incision is made behind the ears. A small area of skin is lifted off the cheek and the underlying SMAS (the fibrous layer that sags with aging, contributing to tired appearing lower eyelids, jowl prominence and loose tissue in the neck) is gathered upwards with three sutures that are firmly attached to strong tissue at the temple. This further tightens the neck, redefines the jawline, and elevates the cheeks to a more youthful position in relation to the lower eyelids. The excess skin, which has been moved upward because of its attachments to the SMAS, is trimmed at the incision and closed under minimal tension with fine sutures.

Rhytidectomy: This procedure is designed to address problems in the lower face and neck, and will not correct wrinkles at the corners of the eyes or the creases of the lips. There are a growing number of options for the techniques and technology used in performing a rhytidectomy, but the basic procedure makes incisions just in front of the hairline, then lifts and repositions the sagging soft tissue, removes excess skin and closes the incisions with sutures.


Recovery
Following the surgery, the head is bandaged to reduce swelling. A support dressing is applied for the next 3 weeks. Swelling, bruising and numbness are normal and will subside over time. It is important to sleep with the head elevated during the recovery period. As healing begins, patients may encounter some temporary discoloration of the skin as well as temporary hair loss around incisions. Sometimes a nerve may be bruised during the procedure, which may cause the temporary loss of function or sensation. However, this side effect is rarely permanent. Healing is gradual after a face lift. Patients must avoid bending and heavy lifting for the first 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.