Question: Is a facelift the right operation for me?
Answer: Certain physical characteristics are favorable for the best facelift result. The optimal combination of physical attributes includes a strong angular bony facial structure, thin mobile skin with a minimum of fat beneath the skin (subcutaneous), and a long columnar neck and strong jaw. Even without these attributes, an extremely pleasing facelift result is possible. Because very few have all of these characteristics, it is important that a patient understand the limitations that each factor may play in the eventual surgical outcome.

Question: Is the procedure performed under general anesthesia, or sedation?
Answer: The surgical procedure may be performed under sedation or general anesthesia.

Question:How long does it take?
Answer:A facelift generally takes 2.5 to 4 hours.

Question: Do I stay overnight in the hospital, or can I go home?
Answer Patients may stay in the hospital overnight, although some prefer to go home or stay in a nearby hotel with medical concierge.

Question: What is the recovery like?
Answer: For the first 24 hours, patients are prescribed bed rest with the head elevated to minimize swelling.  Pain is typically easily controlled with mild analgesics. The bulky dressing is changed to a smaller dressing the day after surgery. A light dressing is continued for 48 to 72 hours for support and comfort, after which the patient may wash his or her hair. Sutures are removed at 7 days, surgical clips at 10 to 12 days.

Question: Who did the first facelift?
Answer: The earliest history of facelift surgery is shrouded in secrecy. In post-Victorian Europe, plastic surgery was performed at private facilities. Early descriptions reported very limited procedures. In 1925, Dr. Elizabeth Noel published a textbook that described cosmetic procedures and included pre-and post-operative photographs. Her work was seminal for its time and contributed to the early acceptance of cosmetic surgery.

Question: Is there a lot of pain?
Answer: Pain is typically easily controlled with  Tylenol with Codeine or Percocet. 

Question: How long is the recovery?
Answer: Almost all patients feel well-recovered by 2 weeks. Of course, by one week most patients feel well, but their is additional improvement during the second week. Additional healing, including reduction of swelling,  does occur beyond two weeks and is normal.

Question:Where are the incisions?
Answer: The incisions are typically placed around the ear and in the hair where they are hidden from view.  Neither the hairline nor the ear position or shape is  typically disturbed by a facelift.  After a facelift, you should still be able to where your hair up if you wish!

Question: Tell me a little more about the procedure?
Answer: Until the 1970s facelift consisted essentially of lifting the skin only, without performing any lifting of the deeper tissues. The effects of this procedure were favorable but short-lived. A turning point for facelift surgery came in 1976, when Dr. Mitz and Dr. Peyronie recognized that the deeper tissues of the face - the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) and platysma (plah-tis-mah) muscle complex - could be repositioned to achieve a superior facelift result. Today, virtually all facelift procedures involve some work on the SMAS-platysma layer. Skin incisions are made and the skin is lifted to expose the deeper tissues. By repositioning and resuspending the deep tissues (SMAS-platysma complex), a more favorable long-term result can be achieved. The skin is then redraped and the excess is removed.

Question: What kind of facelift do you do?
Answer: With advances in surgical technique, a variety of facelift techniques are available for the cosmetic surgeon. Some are conservative, while some require more extensive surgical dissection. Many patients today fear an aggressive facelift in fact, the most common request of my facelift patients is that they wish to avoid the "over-tightened, mask-like, over-operated look." I  perform a conservative facelift, designed to achieve a natural unoperated look.

Question: How much does a facelift cost?
Answer: We would be happy to discuss this with you in our office.  Most patients find the price reasonable.

Question: Is there a lot of bruising?
Answer: Not typically. Most people feel that they are "presentable" by 2 weeks after surgery.

Question: How old should I be to have a facelift?
Answer: If you are in general good health, chronological age is not a factor. Patients desiring a conservative, subtle rejuvenation may seek a "mini-facelift" as early as their mid-forties. Typical patients are in their forties to sixties, and occasionally older. 

Question: What can I do in preparation for the surgery?
Answer: In our practice, if a patient smokes, we ask that they cut down or avoid tobacco products for at least 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery because of possible adverse effects on healing. Patients are advised to avoid aspirin or aspirin products for 2 weeks prior to surgery to minimize the risk of bleeding. Many patients in the age group undergoing facelift have been instructed to take an aspirin a day by their family physician, and it is important that the patient temporarily suspend this practice.

Question: What does a facelift do?
Answer: With age, the cheek tissues sag, and the jawline loses its definition. While aging itself cannot be arrested or reversed, certain signs of aging can be counteracted. The goals of facelift are to reverse the signs of aging and to achieve a natural, rejuvenated unoperated look.

The following instructions apply to patients who have undergone facelift. Since no two patients are ever exactly alike in their surgical needs, type of surgery performed or rate of healing, we may elect to individualize the following guidelines for each patient. In such instances we will so instruct you. Otherwise, we urge you to follow the advice below very carefully, in order to accelerate your healing and maximize your surgical outcome.

1. You have just undergone a major surgical operation, so use common sense in the first 14 days after surgery in restricting your normal activities, exercise regimens and any activity requiring lifting/straining. fatigue may persist for 2-3 days due to the normal effects of the anesthesia and surgical procedure.
2. When you move, stand or change positions, do so deliberately and carefully for the first 7 days. In turning your head, move the head and shoulders deliberately as a single unit.
3. You may eat a normal diet the day after surgery. In moderation, talking and smiling are perfectly okay.
4. Your head should be elevated on at least two pillows during sleep for the first 14 days, in order to keep your head higher than your heart to help facilitate the resolution of swelling. Do not sleep face down, rather on your back or side.
5. DO NOT TAKE ANY ASPIRIN OR ANY ASPIRIN CONTAINING MEDICINES for 14 days, and then only on the advice of your personal physician. Other routine medications may be taken as needed.
6. Any unexplained development of pain, facial swelling or fever should be reported to us immediately.
7. Some facial and neck swelling and bruising are normally present after facelifts, but the degree of each varies widely from patient to patient. Do not be concerned if you have more or less than others who have undergone the "same" operation. Generally, most patients appear quite sociably acceptable within 10-14 days after surgery.
8. You may gently cleanse the incision lines twice daily with 3% hydrogen peroxide and cotton (or Q-tips). Apply the ointment provided sparingly twice daily to the incision lines to avoid excessive crusting of the incisions and to accelerate reduction of incision redness. Do not apply any other ointment or medication unless we prescribe it.
9. You may gently shampoo your hair 72 hours after surgery, avoiding any strong rubbing or combing trauma to the incisions in the hair and around the ear. Do not blow dry for 5 days, and postpone any planned permanent or hair coloring for 4 weeks following surgery.
10. Your earlobes and portions of your face that have been lifted and repositioned will be slightly numb for several weeks; sensation will return as healing progresses. Do not wear heavy or tight earrings for 6 weeks, and avoid prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures.
11. It is acceptable to do some light walking 72 hours after surgery. Jogging and light non-contact exercises should not be resumed until 3 weeks, and strenuous sports require 6 weeks of healing before being safely resumed.
12. Excessive exposure to sun (including sun-tanning parlors) in the first 3 weeks after surgery may result in prolonged facial swelling and injury to the skin. Thereafter, you should always protect your skin with a strong sun-screen containing PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) in order to decrease the inevitable aging effects of the sun on your skin.
13. Finally, it is very important to your well-being that you follow completely all instructions given to you by this office, and that we check your progress regularly following surgery.