What is a Facelift?
A facelift surgery, medically termed rhytidectomy, is one of the most commonly performed facial plastic surgeries. The result of this procedure reverses the tell-tale signs of aging, creating a healthy, more youthful appearance. With the restoration of facial shape, patients often comment that they look more like themselves at a younger age. A facelift can restore tired and worn, with deep wrinkles, hollow cheeks, jowls and loose skin in the lower face and drooping neck. Both men and women alike can benefit from facelifts. Other common anti-aging procedures are such as a neck lift (platysmaplasty) or eyelid lift (blepharoplasty). Long-lasting results are obtained by returning the muscles to a more youthful position, not merely tightening excess skin. Dr. Jeffrey Epstein is a world renowned expert in facial plastic surgery and performs natural looking face lift procedures, with free-hanging earlobes, normal hairline and sideburns, no significant scarring and without a pulled look. View before and after facelift photos.
What are the types of Facelifts?
Deep Plane Lift is performed through an incision hidden in the hairline, and is the most extensive lifting procedure available. This surgery is ideal for older patients, or those seeking the most dramatic results.
SMAS lift, which is the traditional facelift procedure, treats the superficial layers of skin as well as the underlying network of tissues of the face and neck to provide a deeper correction than other lifting techniques.
Short Scar Lift surgery treats the upper portion of the face and leaves minimal scarring.
Mid-Facelift augments the skin over the cheeks and minimizes nasolabial folds.
Lower Facelift addresses the concerns of jowls and marionette lines, which are found on the lower-third of the face.
Endoscopic Facelift is most beneficial to patients who display early signs of aging, typically in their 30s or 40s and is performed by the use of an endoscope, and causes less harm to surrounding tissues.
Though a facelift surgery will correct existing signs of aging and can create a prolonged refreshed look, over time a person will continue to mature physically. The newly smoothed, tightened skin should remain looking great for the ten years that follow a patient’s facelift surgery. Interested individuals have many non-surgical options to maintain their looks following the procedure. Dr. Epstein and the surgeons of the Foundation for Plastic Surgery can perform fat grafting, dermal filler injections, laser treatments and Botox injections to counteract lines, wrinkles, and sunken areas of the face.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
There are a number of ways Dr. Epstein can perform a facelift surgery, depending on each patient’s individual needs. Potential facelift patients should contact Dr. Epstein’s office to schedule a personalized meeting with the doctor to learn if they can be considered for the surgery. Ideal candidates are physically and mentally healthy, and understand the scope of change that the procedure offers. The condition of a patient’s skin may also affect their candidacy, a variable that often proves more important than age. Hear from Dr. Epstien’s real facelift testimonials.
Post Op Facelift and Recovery
Following a facelift, the skin of the face and neck will appear swollen and bruised, and may feel tight. Drains may be temporarily implanted to release excess fluids, and a dressing may be applied to the face. Each of these post-operative measures are temporary, and will likely be removed during the first follow-up visit to the office. The different types of facelift procedures are each associated with varying healing time frames. With a less invasive procedure, a patient may return to work in a few days, but following an invasive surgery it can be 10-14 days until a person resumes their daily responsibilities. It may take a few months, or up to a year before the face has fully healed, but the majority of swelling and discoloration generally subside in days or weeks. Numbness is often the longest lasting side effect, as nerves take some time to regenerate if affected during the procedure. The subtle changes that gradually take shape are often noticeable only to the patient.
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