 What is a Face Lift?
A face lift is a surgical procedure to tighten the muscles, remove excess skin and fat from the face (and sometimes the neck as well) and reforming the skin on the face so that the signs of aging are not so apparent. The results of a face lift will improve appearance and produce a more rested appearance. Face lifts can benefit men as well as women. A good cosmetic surgeon takes special care to ensure the most natural looking results. The face lift has become very popular among both sexes over age of 40 and people are having face lifts done in record numbers.
What are the effects of aging?
Aging is inevitable. Try as we might to prevent it from happening, to stop getting older, it is a fact of life we must face. There are dozens of factors to consider where aging is concerned especially when you are talking about the effects aging has on your skin, specifically the skin on your face. However, sagging of the face and neck, wrinkles along with frown and laugh lines, and loss of facial volume play the biggest role in the loss of youthfulness. All of these factors can be drastically improved from having the face lift.
What is the process for this procedure?
Dr. Youseff has perfected the art of the face lift over many years. This is an outpatient procedure taking only hours to complete. Dr. Youseff will make small incisions meticulously place to minimize the appearance of scars. The procedure should be done under i.v. sedation or twilight sleep. However, under certain circumstances the procedure can be performed with a local anesthetic. In some instances Dr. Youseff may place a drainage tube behind the ear so that excess blood and fluid do not begin to pool up under the skin. If necessary the tube is removed within one to two days of the surgery.
We also offer a “mini face lift” also referred to as the "lifestyle lift,"one hour face lift” or the “quick lift”. This procedure targets the neck and jowels and is usually done along with a chemical peel or lazer resurfacing and fillers to help fight the appearance of aging. The “mini” offers a more natural look then a full face lift, it also involves less invasive procedures and recovery time is minimal.
What are the risks of this procedure?
As with any surgical procedure there is always the possibility of complications. The risks associated with the face lift are quite limited, isolated events that are usually very minor and are temporary. They include discomfort, swelling, numbness, bruising, and feeling of tightness of the facial skin. The most common risk is that of infection or hematoma. It is very important that you stop smoking cigarettes prior to your face lift. Quitting now will greatly improve the recovery process.
What can I expect?
Most patients report a 7-10 day recovery period with the face lift. The “mini lift” has a shorter recovery of 2-5 days. There will some discomfort after the surgery and it is important to keep the the area around the incisions clean and dry to promote healing.
The results of your face lift will last for several years. But it cannot “stop the clock”. Aging will continue and environmental factors will always greatly affect the condition of your skin. You will be given information and instructions after your recovery about how to maximize the benefits of your face lift.
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