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Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
Facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, is designed to restore a more youthful appearance by removing major wrinkles and sagging skin. It involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles as well as the removal of any excess skin.
The skin begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of age, sun exposure and genetics. Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to evenly distributed fatty tissues in facial contours. Over time, the skin sags and folds develop in the cheek, jawline, the corners of the mouth and neck. The normal fat in the cheek area will descend to a lower position with time. A facelift will reduce the excess wrinkles, restore the cheek fat to a more normal position and improve facial appearance. A facelift will also have a dramatic effect on the neck, improving its contour and sculpting your profile.
A facelift can make a patient look 7 to 10 years younger. Dramatic as the end results are, this is not a simple procedure, which requires a 7 to 10 days of recovery.
MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) facelift.
Although the traditional facelift produces dramatic results, the recovery period can be prolonged. Recent trends in facelift surgery are moving toward less invasive and shorter scar facelift. These newer facelifts can give just as dramatic a result as traditional facelifts, with less morbidity and shorter recovery time. These newer facelifts are not for every patient. Ask your plastic surgeon if you are a candidate for this procedure.
Before Surgery
Dr. Ozaki will discuss with you how your face can look and what you can expect from surgery. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. Before and after photographs will reveal what the surgery has accomplished.
The Procedure
A facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), forehead lift, chin augmentation, and/or liposuction, to create an overall rejuvenation of the face. The procedure can be repeated, usually after 7 to 10 years, as the aging process continues.
Facelifts are performed in our outpatient surgical center. Facelifts are done under general anesthesia and local anesthetics. A pre-medication may be prescribed to help you relax.
For the traditional facelift your surgeon will make incisions inside the hairline at the temple, in front of the ear, then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Incisions are closed with small sutures.
A MACS type facelift incision begins along the sideburn, in front of the ear, behind the tragus and ends at the bottom of the earlobe. Cranial suspension sutures are placed to lift the deeper tissues.
The traditional facelift may take up to 4 hours and the MACS facelift takes less than 3 hours. The procedure may be longer if other procedures are performed in conjunction.
Post-Operative Instructions
In the weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary pink scars, which may take a few months to fade. Occasionally, the facial motor and sensory nerves are stretched during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function or sensation. Permanent damage to the facial nerve is rare.
The healing process is gradual, so you will not notice final results for up to 6 months. A single procedure often achieves the desired results.
Most patients who have had facelifts are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.
It is necessary to have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Initially you will have a large dressing wrapped around your head. You may have surgical drains placed below the ears. These will be removed in approximately 24 hours. Your stitches will dissolve and not require removal.
There may be some tightness in your skin, which will resolve as the swelling decreases.
We recommend that you avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery and use sunscreen after the incisions are healed.