Facelift in Florida

Benefits of a Facelift

The results of your facelift should not only provide a more youthful and rested appearance but also help you feel more confident about yourself. It is common for a facelift to be combined with other procedures for a more efficient treatment plan.

Is a Facelift Right for Me?

You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you want to restore youthfulness to your face and neck. Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing may benefit from a facelift. Generally, patients are recommended to be 45 and older with good skin elasticity. It is important that you have a positive outlook and realistic expectations.

Elements of a Facelift

A facelift procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

A variety of other procedures can further enhance the outcome of a facelift. They include:

• Facial implants or fat transfer
• Soft tissue augmentation to recontour the facial structure
• Resurfacing techniques to improve the tone and texture of facial skin
• Wrinkle reduction by injection of fat or fillers

Step 2 – The incision

Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your facelift choices include a traditional facelift, limited incision facelift or a neck lift.

• Traditional Facelift - A traditional facelift incision wraps around the side of the face, beginning in the hairline at the temples, continuing around the ear and ending in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls, and neck. Underlying tissue is repositioned to recontour the face. It is common for deeper layers of the face and the muscles to also be lifted. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours, and excess skin is trimmed away.
  A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.
• Limited Incision - An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear and possibly within the lower eyelids or under the upper lip.
• Neck Lift - Sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin may be corrected with a neck lift. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear ending in the lower scalp.

Step 3 – Closing the incisions

Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.

Step 4 – See the results

The visible improvements of a facelift appear as swelling and bruising subside. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance but also help you feel more confident about yourself.

How Involved Is the Facelift Procedure?

A facelift is generally an outpatient procedure. You should plan on having someone to drive you home afterwards and help you around the house for a few days. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, abrasion or motion during the time of healing. Avoid wearing any clothing that must go over your head.

How Long Is the Recovery After Facelift Procedure?

After your procedure, a bandage may be placed over your face to minimize swelling. The doctor may also use thin tubes to drain excess fluids that may collect under the skin. Your plastic surgeon will provide instructions on how to care for surgical sites and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health and when to follow up after your procedure.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period. Life-long sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. Following your physician’s instructions is essential to the success of your surgery.

You will notice results within a few weeks of your procedure. Be sure you avoid strenuous activity during this time and avoid activities that may result in contact with your surgical sites. It may take several months for the healing process to be complete and for any incision marks to refine. The surgeon will tell you when you can resume strenuous activities.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

Prices will vary based on your individual case. Your board-certified plastic surgeon will provide you with additional information during your consultation. The price may vary widely based on the geographical area and the specific procedure performed.

Many plastic surgeons offer payment and financing options for patients. Be sure to ask your surgeon’s office for more information.

Questions To Ask Your Facelift Surgeon

Before your procedure, here are some questions you may wish to discuss with your plastic surgeon:

• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with a facelift?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my face to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my facelift?
• Do you have before and after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

What Should I Do Next?

The first and most important thing to do is to select a surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) that you can trust. ASPS surgeons meet rigorous standards. They are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery® and each surgeon has completed at least six years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of three years of plastic surgery residency training.

Other standards required for ABPS surgeons includes:

• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams
• Graduate from an accredited medical school
• Complete continuing medical education, including patient safety, each year
• Perform surgery in accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified surgical facilities

Do not be confused by other official sounding boards and certifications. The ABPS is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which has approved medical specialty boards since 1934. There is no ABMS recognized certifying board with “cosmetic surgery” in its name.

By choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can be assured that you are choosing a qualified, highly trained plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the ABPS.

If you are looking to boost your self-confidence and erase signs of aging, consider a facelift procedure by a board-certified plastic surgeon.