The facelift, also known as a facial rhytidectomy, improves the appearance of the face by removing wrinkles and tightening the skin. A facelift can correct these signs of aging, helping you to attain the natural, youthful appearance that we associate with beauty and energy. Many people seeking facelifts are in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, with an aim to rejuvenate the way they look.
Your Consultation
During a facelift consultation, you and your surgeon will decide together if facelift surgery is the best treatment option for you. This will depend on factors such as your skin type, your goals and expectations, your desired results, and your medical history. Dr. Steinsapir will take time to review with you the reasons for your consultation, listen to your questions, recommend the procedure best suited for you, provide essential education, and ask about your medical history.
For your health, Dr. Steinsapir will also ask that you stop smoking for a minimum of two weeks before and after the surgery, as smoking can slow down the process of healing. It is important for you to follow this advice.
Dr. Steinsapir will want your facelift to have the best results possible while ensuring your safety. For this reason, if you have significant medical issues or are unable to commit to smoking cessation, you should expect your surgeon to discuss the appropriateness of surgery given those health concerns — however, there may be other options, including nonsurgical treatments, which can help.
You and Dr. Steinsapir will discuss your aesthetic goals in order to prepare a treatment plan that is personalized to your unique concerns. The type of anesthesia to be administered during the operation will be chosen based on this conversation. Dr. Steinsapir will explain how the surgery works, the technique employed, and what to expect during the recovery process. You will have Dr. Steinsapir’s support every step of the way.
The Facelift Procedure
Dr. Steinsapir offers a variety of facelift techniques and variations based on your individual needs and unique profile. Types of facelifts include the MACS lift, the S-lift, the deep-plane lift, the SMAS facelift, the short-scar facelift, the endoscopic facelift, the neck lift, and lower face and neck platysmaplasty. During your consultation, Dr. Steinsapir will help you learn about your options and will provide his best recommendation for the technique that is optimal for you.
The major goal of the facelift is to correct age lines and sagging skin around or under the chin, jowls, mouth, cheeks, and eyes. First, a general and local anesthesia is administered, and then an incision is made. The incision placement and type will vary according to the facelift technique chosen, as well as your individual features. The incision is carefully designed to provide access to the underlying tissues of the face and hide as inconspicuously as possible once healed.
The skin is then gently lifted to a higher position. Excess fat and skin are removed, and the surrounding muscles and deep tissue are tightened. The skin is redraped, and the incisions are closed using medical sutures. Next, Dr. Steinsapir will assist you through the recovery process, and you can expect to see positive results soon.
The Recovery Process
After surgery, the treated area is wrapped in a bandage. Along with the bandage, you may be given a drainage tube to wear for 48 hours. This tube will allow any excess fluid or blood to drain out, which is natural after a surgery of this nature.
Dr. Steinsapir will typically see you the first and second post-operative day. After this, your schedule will be adjusted depending on how you are healing. Sutures are removed beginning on the sixth post-operative day, and by the 10th post-operative day, all sutures will have been removed. Most patients are amazed at how comfortable they are during recovery and how rapidly the process goes.
Temporary side effects that are common to all surgeries may also be present in a facelift. These include swelling, bruising, and puffiness. There will be some skin discoloration as well, and skin dryness and temporary numbness are quite common. Many of these post-procedure effects resolve within the first two weeks. This permits many people to return to work after two weeks. Dr. Steinsapir will provide individual guidance regarding this time frame.
Most people find that they only need narcotics the day of surgery and possibly that following night. Complete healing takes time, but for most, it is difficult for others to tell that you had a recent surgery after three weeks of recovery.
It is important for you to feel comfortable communicating with Dr. Steinsapir both before and after surgery. Please follow his advice, and be sure to ask any questions that arise along the way. Your recovery process is just as important as your planning process, and you and Dr. Steinsapir will continue to closely collaborate.
Results
After your facelift recovery process is complete, you’ll find that your face appears more vibrant, refreshed, and youthful. The sagging will be minimized, and the wrinkles and age lines will be significantly reduced.
The improvements are often quite long lasting, with many patients reporting that they are still improved even 10 years after the original procedure. These results vary with the individual, but the facelift continues to be one of the most powerful cosmetic surgeries performed.
Learn More During a Consultation
Dr. Kenneth Steinsapir is a skilled and experienced surgeon who specializes in facelifts and other facial cosmetic procedures. To visit Dr. Steinsapir and discuss your options, contact our office and schedule your personal consultation to learn what a facelift can do for you.