At Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Atlanta, GA, we can help you decide whether facial rejuvenation procedures are the right choice for your needs. However, you may find yourself wondering: what is a facelift exactly?
A facelift works to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while also helping with sagging skin and much more. Read on to find out more about facelifts and whether they might be right for you.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery that can reduce signs of aging in your face or neck by removing and repositioning skin, muscles, or fat. A facial rejuvenation procedure can help with many signs of aging, including the following:
- Sagging skin
- Decreased facial fat
- Deep folds or creases between your nose and mouth
- Jowls
- Loose skin on your neck
There are many types of facial rejuvenation procedures. A mini facelift is an option focused on lifting the bottom half of your face and your neck area. A mini facelift is a potential option for people who are younger and only have a few signs of aging.
You could also choose a deep plane facelift, during which we lift the muscular layer of your face, skin, and fat as one unit. A deep plane facelift can address many areas of the face at the same time.
A traditional facelift is a procedure that involves making incisions around the ears and hairline and below your chin. We then separate the underlying tissues from your skin and tighten the supporting muscles.
There is also the option of a non-surgical facelift, which can temporarily refresh and firm up your facial skin. A non-surgical facelift relies on fillers and other minimally invasive cosmetic options.
The best candidates for facial rejuvenation are people who are in good overall health and who do not smoke or are willing to quit. It is also best that you come in with realistic expectations for your results.
Facelift Procedures
One facelift procedure involves lifting your skin and removing wrinkles and fine lines. With a traditional facelift, we do this by making incisions under your chin, at your hairline, and around your ears and then separating your skin from the fat and tissues beneath. If you have excess skin that causes sagging, we can trim it. And if the skin has shifted, we can reposition it to where it originally was.
Another facelift procedure entails restructuring your face’s underlying tissues. Often, these tissues, including muscles, weaken with age. Elevating them can allow us to reposition your skin to offer the more youthful and defined results you want.
We also offer liposuction. This procedure allows us to remove excess fat from your face and neck.
Preparing for a Rhytidectomy
If you would like to give your face a more youthful appearance, turn to us for a consultation. During this appointment, we will examine your face and neck and see what type of facelift can benefit you most.
We will need to know about your medical history, any medications you take, and whether you have undergone cosmetic procedures before. If you are a good candidate for a facelift, you will have to get a physical and blood work with your GP to ensure you are healthy enough for a surgical procedure.
As with any other type of surgery, you will need to take a few steps to prepare for it. You want to stop taking blood thinners — whether medications or supplements — and avoid drinking alcohol for at least two weeks before the procedure.
If you smoke, you will need to stop doing that as well for at least a month before the procedure. You should also drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your surgery. In addition, because you will receive general anesthesia, you will need to have someone take you home after the procedure.
Getting Facelift Surgery
On the day of the surgery, wear a top you can button up so that you don’t have to worry about lifting anything over your head. You will need to come with a clean face and wear no makeup or jewelry.
After you receive anesthesia, we can begin the procedure. The first step is making the incisions, the number of which will depend on the type of facelift you choose. Once we have access to the layers under your facial skin, we can start restructuring as needed.
Once we have performed all the steps necessary for the type of facelift you decided on, we can begin suturing the incisions. We will use either dissolvable stitches or glue. We will then take you to the recovery room to monitor you for an hour or two.
Recovering From Facelift Surgery
You may have a bandage around your face to help you heal more rapidly, and we will show you how to change it. We will also tell you how to care for your stitches and drains if you have them.
Take time to rest during the first couple of days. Most people can get back to the majority of their activities after two weeks, but you still want to avoid strenuous exercise, hot tubs, and swimming. If you had a less invasive procedure, like a mini facelift, you might be able to return to work after just one week.
Get a More Youthful Look With a Facelift
A facelift can offer the chance to tighten sagging skin and get rid of some of those wrinkles and fine lines. When you turn to us at Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Atlanta, GA, we’ll provide you with the guidance you need to choose the right procedures. Call or contact us online today.
