If you are bothered by the signs of aging in your face, a facelift may be an option for you. When analyzing the signs of facial aging, there are four basic levels of facial rejuvenation tools to consider. These may be used separately or in concert with one another to achieve the patient’s ultimate goal. These levels are:

• Lifting

• Resurfacing

• Botox and injectable fillers

• Skincare

Facelift surgery can improve:

• Sagging in the midface

• Deep creases below the lower eyelids

• Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth

• Fat that has fallen or is displaced

• Loss of muscle tone in the lower face creating jowls

• Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw causing the look of a double chin

Other surgical procedures often performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift and eyelid surgery. It is important to note that facelift surgery will help restore a more youthful appearance, but it will not change one’s fundamental appearance or stop the aging process.

Good candidates for facelift

A facelift is a highly individualized procedure. It is best performed on patients who are:

• Healthy individuals who don’t have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing

• Non-smokers

• Individuals with a positive outlook and specific, realistic goals in mind

The Surgery

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Anesthesia will be administered by a board-certified M.D. anesthesiologist.

Step 2 – The Incision

A traditional facelift incision often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls and neck, and underlying tissue is repositioned. Commonly the deeper layers of the face and muscles are also 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.

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.

It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to six months for incision lines to mature. Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenation appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.

Making the Wise Choice

Plastic surgery involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. A doctor’s board certification is one of the best indicators of his or her training. Ask for certification from The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only one of 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigorous standards:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school

• Complete at least five years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of two years of plastic surgery residency training

• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams