How Is a Face Lift Done?

A facelift is a surgical operation that helps create a younger-looking appearance. Technically known as a rhytidectomy, the cosmetic procedure can reduce sagging skin, folds, and other effects of aging. 

The surgeon smooths the fold of skin on the jawline and cheeks. They pull back a flap of skin on each face to alter the tissues beneath before removing the excess skin. Find out how a facelift is done.

Why Is a Face Lift Done? 

The natural aging process changes the shape and appearance of the face. The skin becomes loose and does not snap back with ease. Fat deposits in some areas decrease while increasing in other areas. It changes the overall look and causes sagging. 

A facelift can help address age-related changes such as sagging cheeks and excess lower jawline skin. It also addresses deep skin folds on the corner of the mouth and side of the nose. If the surgery includes a neck lift, surgeons remove excess fat and sagging neck skin. 

How a Face Lift Is Done 

Surgeons perform facelifts in an outpatient surgical facility or hospital. The procedure begins with the administration of anesthesia to ensure comfort during the facelift. Your doctor can recommend the best anesthesia option for you. Before the surgery, you can decide whether you want a traditional or a limited incision facelift. You can also determine if you require a neck lift. 

Traditional Face Lift

During a traditional facelift, surgeons create an incision from the temples, around the ear, and down the lower scalp. Fat may be redistributed or sculpted before repositioning the underlying tissue. The surgeon may lift the deeper tissue layers and facial muscles. The doctor will redrape the skin over the lifted contours before trimming excess skin. 

Limited Incision Face Lifts

Limited-incision facelifts use shorter incisions on the temples and around the ears. They are an alternative to traditional facelifts and are called “mini-lifts.” Doctors recommend it for patients without too much skin relaxation. A neck lift reduces excess fat, loose skin under the jaw, and sagging jaws.

After a Face Lift 

The procedure can take three to six hours, depending on the technique. After the facelift, patients often experience mild to moderate pain. There may also be some swelling, bruising, numbing, and drainage from the surgical incisions. If you experience severe facial or neck pain 24 hours after the surgery, seek medical care immediately. Seek medication if you have chest pain or irregular heartbeats. 

During the Recovery

Surgeons may use dissolving sutures to close the incision or use ones requiring removal. Some seal the incisions using skin glue. Bandages help cover the incisions. The gentle pressure helps reduce bruising and swelling. 

A small tube under the skin helps drain excess fluid or blood. Rest while raising your head during the first few days of the procedure. Take pain medication as instructed. You can use cool packs to relieve pain and reduce swelling. The results of a facelift are visible after the bruising and swelling subside. 

For more information on how a facelift is done, visit Pacific Lipo at our Beverly Hills, San Diego, or Newport Beach, California offices. Call (424) 421-2250, (858) 427-8899, or (888) 575-8898 to schedule an appointment today.