Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

A facelift can reduce sagging skin on the face and neck, helping these areas to appear firmer and fresher. Your bone structure, heredity and skin texture all play a role in how many "years" a facelift can "remove" and, to some extent, influence how long will it last.
The surgeon performs a facelift operation one side at a time, working through incisions that are placed in the hairline, in front of or partially within the ears as well as behind the ears. The incisions are designed to keep the resultant scars as inconspicuous as possible. When necessary, removal of fatty deposits beneath the skin and tightening of sagging muscles is performed. The slack in the skin itself is then redraped and excess removed. Most of your scars will be hidden within the hairline or within the normal lines and creases around the ears. The scars can usually be concealed by the hair with the makeup.
Patients who do not have a significant amount of excess skin sometimes may be candidates for an endoscopic facelift. Using an endoscope, the plastic surgeon can smooth the skin and tighten the muscles through very small incisions that are easily concealed. Depending on which areas of the face and neck require correction, incisions may be placed in the lower eyelid, upper gum line, beneath the chin or behind the ears.
After facelift surgery, you will experience temporary skin discoloration and some tightness or numbness in the face and the neck. Healing is gradual, so expect to wait several months for optimal results. Since your skin will remain somewhat sensitive for a few months, protection from the sun, including daily use of a sun block, is essential. You can wear cosmetics shortly after surgery.