Plymouth & Minneapolis Facelift
Michael C. Fasching, MD
Dr. Michael Fasching performs facelift surgery at his Minneapolis plastic surgery
facility. In the paragraphs below, he describes the procedure and how
it can be used to help Minneapolis face lift patients develop a more
youthful facial profile.
If you're considering a facelift ...
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun,
and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases
form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly;
folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can't
stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock,"
improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat,
tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and
neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other
procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
If you're considering a facelift, this brochure will
give you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help, how
it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of
your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the
surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.
The best candidates for a facelift
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face
and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity
and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are
in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on
people in their seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher,
and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can't
give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and
vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think
carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
A facelift can improve the deep
cheek folds, jowls and loose, sagging
skin around the neck that come with age.
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
When a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon,
complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary
greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing
abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a
collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the
surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually
temporary), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of
the skin is most likely to affect smokers.
You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon's advice both before and after surgery.
Planning your surgery
Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial
consultation the surgeon will evaluate your face, including the skin
and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Your surgeon should check for medical conditions
that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled
high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form
excessive scars. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or are
taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that
affect clotting.
If you decide to have a facelift, your surgeon will
explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of
facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs
involved. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have,
especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the
results.
Preparing for your surgery
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for
surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and
taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully
following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
If you smoke, it's especially important to stop at least a week or two
before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and
can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
If your hair is very short, you might want to let it
grow out before surgery, so that it's long enough to hide the scars
while they heal.
Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient
or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home
after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
Where your surgery will be performed
A facelift may be performed in a surgeon's office-based
facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually
done on an outpatient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize patients
for a day when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as
diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and
may also require a short inpatient stay.
Types of anesthesia
Most facelifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined
with a sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and
your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some
tugging or occasional discomfort.)
Some surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In that case, you'll sleep through the operation.
The surgery
A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if
you're having more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures,
some surgeons may schedule two separate sessions.
Every surgeon approaches the procedure in his or her
own way. Some complete one side of the face at a time, and others move
back and forth between the sides. The exact placement of incisions and
the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your
surgeon's technique.
Incisions usually begin above the
hairline at the temples, follow the
natural line in front of the ear, curve
behind the earlobe into the crease
behind the ear, and into or along the
lower scalp.
Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the
temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside
the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe
to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also
be made under the chin.
Facial, neck tissue and muscle may
be separated; fat may be trimmed or
suctioned and underlying muscle
may be tightened.
In general, the surgeon separates the skin from the
fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the
neck and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon then tightens the
underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the
excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions;
metal clips may be used on the scalp.
After deep tissues are tightened, the
excess skin is pulled up and back,
trimmed and surured into place.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be
temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood
that might collect there. The surgeon may also wrap your head loosely
in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
After your surgery
There isn't usually significant discomfort after surgery; if
there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication prescribed by
your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your
face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.) Some numbness of
the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Your doctor may tell you to keep your head elevated
and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep
the swelling down.
If you've had a drainage tube inserted, it will be
removed one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually
removed after one to five days. Don't be surprised at the pale,
bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks
you'll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about
five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or
metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
Most of the scars will be hidden
within you hair and in the normal
creases of your skin.
Getting back to normal
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking
it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with
your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and
may not respond normally at first.
Your surgeon will give more specific guidelines for
gradually resuming your normal activities. They're likely to include
these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy
housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are
fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above
all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on
healing.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather
strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial
movements may be slightly stiff and you'll probably be self-conscious
about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and
you may tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are
disappointed and depressed at first.
By the third week, you'll look and feel much better.
Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after
surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most
bruising that remains.
Your new look
The chances are excellent that you'll be happy with your
facelift-especially if you realize that the results may not be
immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the
hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and
rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new
places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard- growing skin have
been repositioned.
You'll have some scars from your facelift, but
they're usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your
face and ears. In any case, they'll fade within time and should be
scarcely visible.
After surgery, you'll present a
fresher, more youthful face to the
world.
Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face
will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the
procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line.
But in another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting;
years later, you'll continue to look better than if you'd never had a
facelift at all.
A Facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure
designed to smooth and firm the skin, providing a fresh, youthful
appearance. Throughout one’s life, the sun’s radiation, stress,
gravity, and other factors cause the skin to sag and fit more loosely.
Areas of the face and neck, in particular around the jaw line, are
especially prone to the aging process. Though these changes are
gradual, wrinkles and other signs of aging can make individuals “feel
older” than they really are.
Surgery for a facelift involves the contraction and
realignment of facial and neck skin, and in some instances the removal
of excess fat deposits. A facelift is often performed in combination
with other facial cosmetic procedures and can be performed any time
signs of aging begin to appear. However, patients are generally in
their forties or older when they elect to undergo this procedure.
Reasons for Considering a Facelift:
-
Sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck.
-
Excess skin and fat on the neck.
-
Sagging jaw line.
-
Crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin.
General Procedure
The standard procedure for a facelift commonly
involves making small incisions just inside the hairline, following the
contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe to the
backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. Tissue and fat deposits
are separated, the skin is stretched and tightened, and any excess skin
is removed. If the neck line requires attention, an additional
incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again
followed. Minuscule stitches are used to close the incisions and to
reduce any chance of scarring. Metal clips or staples may also be
utilized at the hairline.
A face lift may take several hours or longer
depending on whether other cosmetic procedures are completed at the
same time. Sometimes other procedures may be performed in separate
appointments. There are several different facelift techniques that can
be employed. Patients can discuss with their physician which method is
best for them when they come in for their consultation.
Recovery Process
Immediately after surgery, the face is fitted with
bandages in order to decrease the recovery time and to reduce
swelling. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of
rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery
process. The stitches, clips or staples are normally removed within a
week. Patients sometimes report some minor pain associated with
surgery. Any discomfort can be treated effectively with oral
medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize
potential problems by carefully following the directions given after
the procedure.
Michael C. Fasching, MD, operating from his Minneapolis plastic surgery offices, has helped Minneapolis breast augmentation, liposuction, facelift, rhinoplasty, and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) patients improve their image and self confidence. He treats patients from Minneapolis, St Paul, Plymouth, Edina and throughout Minnesota.
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