Over time our skin loses elasticity in the face and neck areas. Our skeleton loses a little bit of mass, and gravity places stress on the skin, leading to the development of jowls, deeper smile lines and hanging skin beneath the chin.
The techniques used to perform a facelift have improved over the years to give a more natural, rested appearance than they once did. The results are subtle yet significant, often making patients appear ten years younger. Improvements to the procedure have also reduced pain post surgery and shortened healing time.
There are many factors that are taken into account for a facelift procedure, including facial structure, skin type, ethnicity, and level of skin elasticity.
About the Procedure
Incisions are strategically located in front and behind the ears so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. Facial and neck skin is lifted away through the incisions and sutures are used to tighten the muscles beneath, allowing for long-lasting effects.
Excess skin is trimmed and a fibrin tissue glue is placed beneath the repositioned skin of the face and neck before the incisions are sealed with special suturing techniques. This "glue" minimizes bleeding, reduces bruising and assists with faster healing.
Recovery
The majority of patients experience minimal pain after a facelift procedure. The head should be kept elevated for a week post surgery.
Bruising and swelling are minimized with the use of the fibrin glue, and most patients feel confidently presentable after 7 to 10 days. In some cases, patients may notice a pulled look post surgery but with our technique, the skin always relaxes just enough to appear natural after a couple weeks. The patient may experience numbness for several weeks and the skin will feel tight in the face and neck area for about 6 weeks.
The effects of the facelift usually lasts 7 to 10 years, at which point patients may wish to repeat the procedure to return to a more youthful appearance.