Oak Vassar Medical Building
1330 Oak Lane, Suite 100
Lynchburg, Virginia  24503

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Facial skin loosens and wrinkles with age, and the muscles of the neck may weaken as well. Anything that will cause the skin to lose elasticity will hasten the process, including sun exposure, weight fluctuations and heredity.

 A facelift can address these problems by firming and tightening the skin of the face and neck all in one step. It is most effective for the lower face (jowls and neck). To effect a more complete facial rejuvenation, facelifts are frequently done in conjunction with other procedures such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

Best candidate for facelift
In general, the best candidates for facelift are:

• People with good facial skin elasticity

• In good physical health

• Psychologically stable

• Non-smokers

• Wanting to improve the appearance of their face and neck

The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you.

Planning your surgery
During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. He will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations.
 

The procedure
The incision for your facelift usually begins in the hair near the temple and continues in front of the ear, around the ear lobe, behind the ear and into the hair. The muscles and sagging tissue are tightened, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is repositioned to create a more youthful look. The surgeon will close the incision with stitches, or with metal clips on the scalp. If the neck needs lifting, a small incision may be made under the chin.

A facelift takes an average of two to three hours and can be performed using either a local or general anesthesia.

A facelift can be done in the hospital or in an office surgical suite, depending on your preferences as well as your surgeon’s. It may be performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, local anesthesia and deep sedation, or general anesthesia. The longer the procedure is expected to take, the more likely that general anesthesia will be recommended. You may be allowed to return home within a few hours of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own home, or it may be necessary to spend the night in the hospital so your recovery process can be monitored by a medical staff.

Getting back to normal
Patients usually feel and look okay surprisingly quickly after a facelift. Despite the fact that it is a large operation, there is usually very little pain. Swelling disappears within a few days, and bruises are usually gone by two weeks. Patients generally feel a sense of tightness and numbness that should gradually return to normal within several weeks. It is important to follow a careful plan on return to strenuous activity, in order to avoid tension on the wound (which could lead to worse scarring).

The scars will remain pink for a few months before maturing to less visible white scars, which can be hidden with makeup. Furthermore, the scars are often hidden within your hair and in the normal creases of your skin.

After recovery, you can expect a more rested and often youthful appearance. Although a face lift can last for many years, patients continue to age. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how long it might be before an individual would consider a second lift. Some believe that a facelift also helps prevent the skin from sagging again by holding it tighter to the face.

The results of a facelift are different for each person. The people who look best after a facelift are those who looked the best before the procedure. Some people have one facelift in a lifetime, while others have a second surgery 7 - 15 years later.