Facelift-Minimal Incision

THE PREOPERATIVE FEATURES

• Focusing on drooping, loose, sagging or older look above the jaw line and in the middle part of the face.
• Loose hanging skin in the jowls and along the jaw line.
• A relatively youthful appearance to the neck with excess fat but good skin elasticity and rare wrinkles.
• Prominent, deep laugh lines.
• Sunken cheek pads.

THE PROCEDURE

• Local or a very light general anesthesia can be used and it takes about two hours.
• The minimal incision facelift is quite different than the standard facelift. It is performed through a short and inconspicuous incision from inside the temporal hairline just down to the earlobe. No hair is shaved.
• The outcome is dramatic and the minimal incision facelift provides far more than a "minimal" result. In addition, the surgery disturbs less tissue, is less risky, heals quicker, has less swelling, and provides quicker return to work. It can be safely and predictably repeated later in life for "touch-ups" and does not interfere with the option to have a standard or full facelift performed at a later date.
• Excess skin is removed and the face is lifted and tightened.
• Deeper inside surgery on the SMAS ligament and platysma muscle which are also lifted for important extra internal support that makes the result last longer.
• Excess fat removed, especially in the neck and jowls.
• Small drains are in place for one day and are removed painlessly.
• A light dressing is in place only for one day.
• This can be combined with the eyelift, forehead lift, neck liposuction, or other procedures.

THE RECOVERY

• You can go home after several hours.
• You can shower on the second day after surgery.
• Usually almost no pain, or occasionally minimal pain that is mostly gone by the second or third day and easily controlled by medications.
• Swelling which is mild and peaks at two to three days then disappears rapidly over the next three weeks.
• Minimal if any bruising which is most at two days then disappears rapidly by three to five days.
• Able to apply make-up in two to three days and comfortably appear in public at that time.
• Resume many activities within the first week, and most by at least three weeks.
• Stitches removed at four days.
• Able to return to work in 4-7 days.

THE RESULT

• Quick and comfortable recovery.
• Very natural, rested, younger appearance.
• Lasts the rest of your life and always looks better than if you didn't do it.
• Beautiful and graceful, not a "wind-tunnel" look.
• Does not interfere with future or repeat "tuck-up" procedures later in life.
• May prevent or delay the need for a full facelift if done early enough.
• Natural and presentable appearance in the first week that just gets better over the next six to nine months.

For before and after images of this procedure click here

Please call or contact the office for any further information or to schedule an appointment.