Facelift Information - Face Lift Photos

While this procedure cannot stop the aging process, it can often make a person appear to be a decade younger than their actual age.

During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. He/she will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. He/she will also explain the kind of anesthesia required, surgical facility, and costs. Your surgeon will also discuss your complete medical history and perform an exam.

Be sure to ask all the questions you have about the surgery, and ask to see photos of the doctor's recent patients, before and after face lift surgery. Also, ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision. See Questions to ask your doctor below.

The incision for your facelift usually begins in the hairline near the temple and continues in front of the ear, around the ear lobe, behind the ear and into the hairline. The muscles and sagging tissue are tightened, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is repositioned to create a more youthful look. The surgeon will close the incision with stitches, or with metal clips on the scalp. If the neck needs lifting, a small incision may be made under the chin.

A facelift takes an average of two to three hours and can be performed using either local or general anesthesia. Preferences will be discussed with your cosmetic surgeon during your consultation. Facelift surgery generally requires a few hours to perform, depending upon the complexity of the condition and the desired results.

A facelift can be done in the hospital or in an office surgical suite, depending on your preferences as well as your surgeon's. It may be performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, local anesthesia and deep sedation, or general anesthesia. The longer the facelift procedure is expected to take, the more likely that general anesthesia will be recommended. You may be allowed to return home within a few hours of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own home, or it may be necessary to spend the night in the hospital so your recovery process can be monitored by a medical staff.

A mini face lift can be performed quickly and with little risk, but the degree of correction achieved by these lifts is also less. More extensive techniques can give better correction of the aging changes in the face, but at the cost of greater operating time, more risk, longer swelling, slower recovery, and a higher cost. Make sure that you discuss your goals and budget, as well as benefits and risks, with your surgeon to decide on the plan that is best for you.

Patients usually feel and look OK surprisingly quickly after a facelift. Despite the fact that it is a large operation, there is usually very little pain. Swelling disappears within a few days, and bruises are usually gone by two weeks. Patients generally feel a sense of tightness and numbness that should gradually subside within several weeks. It is important to follow the doctor's post-operative instructions carefully, restraining from strenuous activity in order to avoid tension on the wound (which could lead to worse scarring).

The scars will remain pink for a few months before maturing to less visible white scars, which can be hidden with makeup. Furthermore, the scars are often hidden within your hair and in the normal creases of your skin.

After recovery, patients can expect a more rested, and often youthful, appearance. Although a face lift can last for many years, patients continue to age. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how long it might be before an individual would consider a second lift. Some believe that a facelift also helps prevent the skin from sagging again by holding it tighter to the face.

The results of a facelift are different for each person. The people who look best after a face lift are those who looked the best before the procedure. Some people have one facelift in a lifetime, while others have a second surgery 7 - 15 years later.

In general, the best candidates for facelift are:

• People with good facial skin elasticity
• In good physical health
• Psychologically stable
• Non-smokers
• Wanting to improve the appearance of their face and neck
• Well informed in regard to the procedure's outcome
• Having realistic expectations

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not a facelift is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your surgeon if he / she considers you an ideal candidate for lower eyelid blepharoplasty.

The goal of a facelift is to make you look better. For some people, this involves trying to reverse some of the changes that occur with aging, for others it may involve changing a fatty neck or other problem that they have had their entire adult life.

A facelift is a surgical procedure, subject to all of the usual problems that accompany surgery. Bleeding from the cut tissues that lead to bruising and possible accumulations of blood under the skin is unavoidable in any surgery. It is a tribute to the great skill of today's surgeons that these problems are usually kept to a minimum. Although uncommon, infection can also occur any time the skin is cut.

In order to minimize these risks, it is important that you follow all of your surgeon's instructions, both before and after face lift surgery.

Keep in mind that a facelift may improve but not eliminate the wrinkles and lines on your face. Your surgeon may recommend chemical or laser resurfacing to help smooth the laugh lines between your nose and the corners of your mouth, the small vertical wrinkles around your lips, or fine wrinkles over your entire face. Your surgeon may also recommend injections of collagen or Botox for deep creases in your forehead or frown lines between your eyebrows. Signs of aging around the eyes, such as excess folds of eyelid skin, pockets of fat below the eyes, and fine wrinkling of the eyelid skin can be improved with upper eyelid blepharoplasty or lower eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid surgeries) which can be performed at the same time as the facelift.

A person should have a facelift when they feel that they are ready for it, and could enjoy the benefits it might offer them. For a person with fat deposits on the sides of the face, or on the neck, that could be as early as the twenties. For others, it could be in the eighties.

The national average of 2007 surgeon fees for facelift were $5,031 (Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Regional averages: New England states: $6,500; Middle Atlantic states: $6,000; North Central states: $4,856; South Central states: $5,722; and Mountain/Pacific states: $5,282. Facelift prices do not include anesthesia, operating room facility, hospital stay, and other related expenses.

1. Are the desired results I described realistic?
2. Where is the surgery performed? How long will the procedure take?
3. Would a mini facelift, thread face lift, or neck lift work as well or better than a full facelift in my situation?
4. Are there other procedures that I should consider to enhance the affects of a facelift?
5. What kind of anesthesia is used?
6. How much does a facelift cost?
7. What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many has he/she performed in the past year?)
8. What percentage of patients have had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
9. Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated/corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
10. May I see "before and after" photos of recent face lift patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
11. May I have the names and contact information for several recent blepharoplasty patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
12. Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
13. What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
14. Who will be assisting during the surgery? What are their qualifications? (Does the plastic surgeon perform the entire surgery?)
15. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
16. Do you offer patient financing?

• Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements)
• Tell your doctor if you have any serious medical condition(s).
• Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription)
• Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking, and vitamins.
• Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery.
• Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery.

The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to facelifts and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.

Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnchance's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.

• Dr. Hochstein - Miami, FL
• Dr. Rousso - Birmingham, AL
• Dr. Freeman - Charlotte, NC
• Dr. Young - Nashville, TN
• Dr. Pontell - Media, PA

At iEnhance, find information on top plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, liposuction, facelift, tummy tuck, BOTOX ® Cosmetic, eyelid surgery, thermage, rhinoplasty; as well as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry procedures. Locate a plastic surgeon, cosmetic surgeon, cosmetic dentist, or specialist today!