For many people, their face is their most important asset, and losing the youthful appearance they’ve enjoyed for so long is distressing. A facelift is a surgical procedure that reduces visible signs of aging on the face by lifting and tightening the skin and removing excess tissue that can cause a patient to appear older.
As we age, our skin naturally thins, we lose fatty deposits that give volume to the cheeks and the contour of the face, wrinkles and lines deepen, and gravity causes skin to stretch, fall, and hang where it used to be smooth and supple. Most patients deciding to undergo a facelift are between 40 and 60 years of age.
A facelift removes hanging skin around the jowls, smooths deep creases around the nose and mouth, and removes excess skin underneath the chin and neck. A facelift is a particularly individualized procedure specifically tailored to each patient. For this reason, Dr. Self requires an in-depth consultation to determine how to approach the surgery and which techniques to employ.
A facelift takes several hours to complete. Dr. Self will make an incision on each of the temples in the hairline that extends down the front of the ear and ends behind the ear in the lower scalp. The skin is then lifted up and the underlying tissue can be removed or tightened. If skin under the chin and around the neck needs to be tightened, a small incision will be made under the chin.
The recovery time varies for every patient, but most are able to return to work within a couple weeks. More strenuous activity and exercise shouldn’t be performed for at least a month. Dr. Self will go over the surgery, what to expect, and your individualized recovery plan at your initial consult so you will be completely prepared.