This facial plastic surgery option is for women or men with sagging skin of the face and/or neck and as well as volume loss in the cheeks and around the mouth. Deep lines around the mouth may become more pronounced, jowls can obscure the jaw line, and there can be a noticeable loss of contour in the neck. A well-done facelift should reposition facial anatomy and restore a youthful appearance without appearing stretched or pulled. A neck lift is usually performed with a facelift but both can be done as stand alone procedures in select people. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Danielle DeLuca-Pytell would be happy to listen to your goals to determine if a face/neck lift in Troy is the right choice for you.
Facelift
A standard facelift at our Troy office addresses gravitational aging of the face and neck. The facelift incision extends from the hairline in the temple, around the front and back of the ear, and into the hairline behind the ear. A post-tragal incision is made in women which hides the scar in front of the ear behind the tragus, the cartilaginous structure in front of the ear canal. A separate incision may be made under the chin to tighten the neck.
After the excess skin is surgically lifted off of the face, tightening of an underlying facial structure called the SMAS layer is performed. The SMAS is the covering over the facial musculature and is a very sturdy structure. Tightening here provides an excellent lift and avoids relying on the skin alone for support. This not only yields a more natural look but also adds longevity to the procedure.
Volume may be added using fat (harvested from the patient’s own abdomen or thigh) into the cheeks and the folds around the mouth and nose. Additional procedures such as a browlift, eyelid lift, or targeted peel may also be performed if indicated or desired.
For Troy patients experiencing drooping jowls, loss of the jawline, or a loose neck, a face and neck lift can restore a more youthful appearance with well concealed scars. Patients report feeling happier when looking in the mirror or at pictures of themselves. Improved self-confidence is also noted.
The tradeoff for more youthful facial appearance is downtime. It may be two weeks or more before people wish to be seen in public. Bruising and swelling will occur, but the time for this to resolve varies from person to person. Sensory changes of this skin may occur. Rarely, facial muscle asymmetry may be noted , but this often resolves with time. The stitches used may make it temporarily uncomfortable to wear glasses and/or hearing aids.
This is a cosmetic procedure, paid for by the patient.
4 – 8 hours (depending on the extent of procedure).
General anesthesia, you will be asleep and monitored the entire time.
A local stay is recommended. You will be seen the day after your facelift procedure in our Troy office.
3 to 4 months, depending on how swelling resolves.
Long lasting, but varies from patient to patient.
Temporary swelling, bruising, and some pain commonly occur. Irregular skin contour may be noticed initially. For the first two weeks after surgery, sutures will remain in the hairline and facial skin which will be removed in the office. Sensation of the face may be different initially. Fluid collections below the skin are possible. Scars are permanent and may stay red for 6-12 months, but can be concealed with makeup once scabs resolve.
All surgery carries risk. Dr. DeLuca-Pytell recommends patients carefully weigh the benefits of having surgery against the potential risks which may arise. Risks include pain, bleeding, infection, damage to nearby structures, need for other procedures, recurrence of skin laxity, dissatisfaction with appearance, asymmetry, seroma, sensory changes including permanent loss of sensation, temporary or permanent changes in facial movement, wound healing delays requiring wound care, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolus. A complete list of risks will be discussed with you before surgery.
If you are tired of aging signs on your face and neck, there are surgical options for rejuvenating your appearance. To learn more about neck and facelifts in Troy and discuss your goals with a skilled surgeon, contact us today.
