Facelift surgery, or a 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 are the chin, jawline and neck become prominent. Not only does a facelift improve facial appearance but also has a dramatic effect on the neck, enhancing its contour and profile.
A facelift can make a patient look 5 to 10 years younger.
Dramatic as the end results are, this is not a simple procedure. It requires a week to 10 days of recovery.
Before Surgery
We will evaluate your medical history in order to determine your overall health.
Orange County facelift surgeon Dr. Wald 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.
Preoperative Instructions
Avoid drugs that contain aspirin several weeks prior to surgery to minimize excess bleeding. You may be required to take antibiotics to prevent infection. You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. A small amount of hair may be shaved around your ears and temples.
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 as gravity continues its effects after the first surgery.
Facelifts are performed in outpatient surgical centers or in an accredited physician's office. Local anesthesia with intravenous sedation is most commonly used, with premedication to help you relax. General anesthesia is generally not required but can be used if desired.
Your Fullerton facelift 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.
The procedure may take up to 5 hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time.
Post Operative Care
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 attached to bulbs hanging at your neck. These will be removed in approximately 24 hours. Stitches around the ears will be loosened or removed in a few days. The scalp sutures will be removed in 7-10 days.
To minimize scarring, the doctor may remove the sutures in stages. Scarring fades quickly. Swelling and discoloration decrease within two weeks. Tightness in your face will be present for several weeks and there may be slight changes in your hair pattern around the incision.
We recommend that you avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery.
Complications following facelift are rare. These include bleeding, infection, loss of skin behind the ears, facial nerve injury, discoloration of the skin, numbness, asymmetry and scarring. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. As mentioned, the risk of bleeding is greater if you take aspirin or blood thinners within 2 weeks of the surgery. The risk of wound complications increases in diabetics, persons with a history of radiation, autoimmune and collagen disease as well as in smokers.
By following pre- and post-operative instructions, you will minimize potential problems.
Recovery: What to Expect
In the weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few months to disappear. Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function or sensation. However, actual 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.
When reviewing information about specific plastic surgery procedures, it is important to understand that the circumstances and experience of every individual are unique. If you are considering plastic surgery, please ask your Orange County facelift surgeon for further information about the particular procedure and what you can expect.
Abdominoplasty The removal of excess abdominal fat with tightening of the abdominal wall. Also called tummy tuck.
Arm Lift To contour the upper arms by removing skin and fat
Augmentation Mammaplasty To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Blepharoplasty To remove the excess skin and fat of the upper and lower eyelids
Body Lift To tighten and improve contour of the back, thighs, and abdomen
BOTOX® To soften the lines around the eyes and forehead
Brachioplasty To improve contour and reduce excess skin and fat of upper arms
Breast Augmentation To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Enhancement To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Enlargement To enlarge the breasts making them more youthful and full using breast implants
Breast Implant Revision To improve overall shape and size of breasts following previous cosmetic breast surgery
Breast Implants Saline or silicone devices to enlarge breasts
Breast Lift To uplift breasts following pregnancy, the aging process, or congenital deformity
Breast Reconstruction The surgical procedure to remake breasts for a woman who has lost a breast due to cancer
Breast Reduction To reduce the size of breasts that are too large and heavy
Brow Lift To elevate the forehead and eyebrows following the aging process
Calf Augmentation/Implants To enlarge size of calves
Cellulite The dimpling or cheese appearance of skin following pregnancy or develops with age
Cheek Implants Implants to enlarge cheeks
Chemical Peel Various acid treatments to improve texture and fine wrinkles of the face
Chin Augmentation To enlarge and improve contour of chin
Chin Implant Silicone or other type of material device to enlarge chin
Collagen Natural bodies tissue used in healing
Collagen Injections A filler to elevate folds or wrinkles to soften facial appearance
Dermal Fillers A filler to elevate folds or wrinkles to soften facial appearance
DSL Laser Hair Removal
Ear Pinning/Surgery To correct ears that are too projecting or dumbo like in appearance
Endoscopic Brow Lift Technique to elevate forehead, low brow position and heaviness of upper eyelids
Face Lift To tighten skin of face and neck and reposition soft tissue of cheek and jowls
Facial Implants Implants to enhance contour of cheeks, chin, and mandibular angle
Fat Injections Fat added to areas of body to enhance volume and contour
Flap Surgery Tissue from one area of body added to another area to correct a body defect
Forehead Lift To elevate forehead and eyebrows
Gynecomastia Excess breast tissue of male
Hylaform® A filler to enhance facial lines and depressions
Incision A cut made in skin
IPL™ Photofacial/Fotofacial Light therapy to soften facial wrinkles and pigmentation
Labiaplasty To remove excess labial skin
Laser Hair Removal Laser to remove unwanted hair
Laser Skin Tightening Laser light to burn skin that causes new collagen formation and less wrinkles
Laser Skin Resurfacing CO2 laser therapy to correct facial wrinkles
Lip Augmentation To add fillers or fat to enlarge lips
Lipodissolve™ Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Lipoplasty Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Liposculpture Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Liposuction Technique to remove excess body or facial fat
Male Breast Reduction To remove excess breast tissue and skin on a male
Mammaplasty To enlarge the breasts
Mastectomy To remove breast including breast tissue, nipple, areola, and some breast skin
Mastopexy To uplift the breast and reposition the nipple/areola
Mentoplasty To enlarge the chin and improve the chin’s contour
NeckLift To tighten the skin of the neck
Nipple Reduction To reduce the size of the nipple
Nose Job To improve the shape and contour of the nose. Also called rhinoplasty.
Obagi Skin care system that transforms skin into younger and healthier skin
Otoplasty Surgical technique to pin back ears that are too protruding
Pec Implants Implants to enlarge male breasts
Ptosis Droopiness that overhangs the pupil and may interfere with vision
Radiesse A filler to elevate depressions or wrinkles or add volume to face
Refirme™ (ST)
Restylane® Injections A filler to minimize depressions and wrinkles of face
Rhinoplasty Surgery to improve, shape, size, and contour of nose
Rhytidectomy Surgery to tighten facial and neck skin and make face more youthful. Also called face necklift.
Rosacea Skin condition that causes redness
Saline Implants Implants comprised of a silicone shell and saline content
Sclerotherapy To inject spider veins that result in their disappearance or lightening
Sculptra® A long lasting filler
Silicone Implants Implants comprised of silicone
SkinCeuticals : Skin care products to prevent damage, protect healthy skin, and correct previous damage
Skin Expansion Technique to stretch skin of breasts or body
Suture Material to bring skin or underlying tissue together
Symmastia Condition where two breast meet in middle of chest
Thermage® Laser therapy to improve texture of facial skin
Thigh Lift/Thighplasty Surgery to improve contour and shape of thighs
Thread Face Lift Surgical technique to tighten facial and neck skin using threads
Topical Solution Liquid applied to the skin
Tummy Abdomen
Vein Therapy Techniques to improve appearance of large varicose veins or small spider veins
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