Are you considering a rhytidectomy (facelift) to rejuvenate your face and look as young as you feel? In 2022 alone, 72,668 people opted for a facelift in the United States. A facelift is a highly popular form of cosmetic surgery that restores your face to its youthful state. Here at Modern Surgical Arts, we offer natural and transformative facelift results to help you look and feel your best.
What is a Facelift?
As you age, your skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag, and the tissues underneath the skin (such as facial muscles and fat pads) fall downward with gravity. All of this causes your facial skin to droop and form deep creases around areas such as the mouth and nose, while also creating jowls below your chin. A facelift is a surgical procedure in which excess skin is tightened and removed in order to create younger-looking skin and a more youthful appearance overall.
A rhytidectomy can be combined with other forms of facial cosmetic surgery, such as a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or rhinoplasty, in order to achieve the maximum beneficial effects.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you identify with the following:
- You have loose skin and wrinkles, muscle laxity, and excess fat.
- You have loose skin around your jawline, also known as jowls.
- You have deep creases around your nose and mouth that exaggerate the look of aged, tired skin.
- You have extra fat deposits below the chin and in other pockets of the face.
Healthy adults who want to improve the appearance of their facial skin can likely benefit from a facelift. Our team led by Dr. Kamran Dastourywill fully assess your health history to determine if the facelift will be safe and effective for your needs.
How to Prepare for a Facelift
A facelift is a fairly complex procedure as it involves recapturing your younger face. Our team takes a conservative approach to the facelift with the understanding that less is more and small changes can bring about big results. We recommend following this preparation process for your facelift:
Thoroughly Research Your Plastic Surgeon
Our team offers combined decades of experience in facial cosmetic surgery. When it comes to your face, we recommend choosing the most qualified plastic surgeon you can find. During a consultation, Dr. Dastoury will help you learn more about his unique qualifications and what you can expect under his care.
Review Your Medical Information
Our team will require a full medical history from you prior to your procedure. The goal of this is to assess your fitness for the surgery. Please disclose any past surgeries you have undergone, any medical conditions and allergies, your list of medications, and your history of substance use, including alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. You may also need to undergo bloodwork to provide a baseline confirmation that you’re healthy enough to undergo surgery.
Discuss Your Expectations
You likely have an idea of what results you want from your facelift. Make sure to discuss these at length during your consultation so we can help you understand what’s possible from your procedure. The best facelift results are a younger version of you, not somebody else. We’ll take photos and use editing software to show you possible results so that you and Dr. Dastoury understand each other.
Consider Other Facial Surgeries
While a rhytidectomy does an excellent job of creating a younger, tighter appearance, there are several other procedures that you can include for an even more enhanced look. For example, a lip lift, brow lift, eyelid lift, and neck lift are some of the most popular options included with a facelift. You may also consider non-surgical alternatives to avoid the need for surgery, such as injectable fillers, Botox, and laser skin treatments.
New Facelift Techniques
There are several modern techniques that can be part of your facelift procedure. They include:
- Laser-assisted surgery involves cutting a tiny entry point beneath the chin and using laser energy to melt and extract the excess fat. This process can also prompt collagen regeneration and tighten skin over time.
- Endoscopy is a surgical technique that has gained popularity in cosmetics — this involves the use of a small camera attached to a thin tube for greater precision during surgery. This also means that smaller incisions are needed, which results in faster healing time.
- Liposuction can be used to extract pockets of fat from the neck. It can be done separately or along with a rhytidectomy.
The Facelift Procedure
A facelift is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home afterward in the care of a trusted adult. A typical facelift usually involves the following steps:
- Our team administers intravenous sedation or general anesthesia to put you to sleep for the duration of the surgery.
- Incisions are made for fat, tissue, and skin to be removed. Typically, incisions start at your hairline and then extend downward. They may be larger or smaller as needed.
- Excess skin and tissues are removed, and the deeper layers of the face are resuspended.
- The incisions are closed with sutures, and bandages are applied over the wound for support and protection. You can then return home.
Facelift Results and Recovery
Typical recovery from a facelift takes about 1-2 weeks, although it may be an additional week before you feel comfortable returning to public. During this time, it’s important to keep your head elevated and avoid strenuous activities. Our team will provide detailed aftercare information to help you get best results. Within 1-2 months, you’ll see your final results emerge. With proper aftercare and skincare habits, your results can last for many years to come. Although you’ll still age, you’ll appear significantly younger going forward.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about the facelift, schedule a consultation at Modern Surgical Arts today. Contact us by calling our Highlands Ranch, CO office or filling out our online form.