"Natural" Facelift
The "natural" facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure designed to restore a more youthful apperance without looking pulled. Areas of the face and neck, in particular around the jaw line, are especially prone to the aging process. Though these changes are gradual, wrinkles and other signs of aging can make individuals "feel older" than they really are. Our goal is to give you a fresh, natural look. The first statement of almost every patient who comes in for facial rejuvenation is "I don't want to look pulled." As we age our bone support shrinks and the fat pads of our youth decrease in volume. My first aim is to place the cheek fat pads back up in their youthful position. By doing this first, it is almost impossible to look pulled. Once the internal structures are lifted, fat will be grafted in the areas needed to restore softness and improve contour. This is how the natural look is accomplished.
There are two different facelift techniques Dr. Clement is currently using. One technique is the full facelift, which will affect the face from the temples to the clavicle. The second technique is a short scar facelift. The short scar facelift has many names in the industry, including the life lift, mac lift, temporal facelift, etc., but all will essentially give you the same results. This lift addresses the cheek and jowls more than the neck.
Reasons for Considering a Facelift:
• Sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck.
• Excess skin and fat on the neck.
• Sagging jaw line.
• Crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin.
General Procedure
The standard procedure for a facelift commonly involves making small incisions just inside the hairline, following the contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. The skin is lifted to allow tightening of the fascia and muscle tissue to a more youthful configurement. Fat is either removed or added to restore a youthful look. The skin is then reshaped over the new contour. We also use endotynes to shape the cheek, eliminating the pulled look. If the neck line requires attention, an additional incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again followed. Minuscule stitches are used to close the incisions and to reduce any chance of scarring. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline.
A facelift may take several hours or longer depending on whether other cosmetic procedures are completed at the same time. Sometimes other procedures may be performed in separate appointments. There are several different facelift techniques that can be employed. Patients can discuss with their physician which method is best for them when they come in for their consultation.
Recovery Process
Immediately after surgery, the face may be fitted with bandages or left open. There will be drains on each side. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery process. The stitches and staples are normally removed within a week. Patients sometimes report some minor pain associated with surgery. Any discomfort can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given after the procedure. Patients are required to stop smoking one to two weeks before their procedure and two weeks after the procedure.
