1) "If I have a facelift will I look pulled or too tight?" Will I still look like "me" after cosmetic surgery? Many of our patients report that, upon return to work and routine daily activities, friends and acquaintances make the following remarks: "Gee you look great. Did you change your hairstyle?" or "Have you been on vacation?" Retaining your uniqueness is the sign of a successful procedure. Although the change may be significant to you, it's not uncommon that friends and family don't really notice the specific changes unless patients request dramatic changes.
2) Yes, but I want to dramatically change the appearance of my face. This is an excellent question because it leads to evaluating realistic expectations and, of course, can only be answered on an individual basis. For some patients who "want to look like someone else," this request can potentially raise a red flag to find out more about their motivation and self esteem. However, the patient in the before-and-after photograph knew from the time of own youth that her mother and aunts appeared older than their age. Her situation was one of genetics, and she knew no matter how well she cared for her skin and body, the signs of premature aging were all around her. As a result, she wanted a dramatic change with her expectations and motivations well thought out and very realistic.
One sign of a good board certified facial plastic surgeon is one who can tell the difference between realistic and unrealistic expectations and one who will be truthful about meeting each patient's desires. Our biggest referral source is from satisfied patients - ones who have had realistic expectations and were satisfied with results.
3) Do you tighten the muscles? We're always glad to hear this question because it shows that patients are doing their homework. Yes, the relaxed muscles are "tightened" under the skin and the excess skin is removed. Tightening the muscles eliminates the "turkey wattle" (that floppy thing that hangs down on a turkey's neck) and results in a more youthful appearance. Because of the elasticity of skin, if only the excess skin were removed, the benefits of a facelift would be very short-lived - about six to eight weeks. Successful facial reconstruction involves both muscles and skin.
4) How long will my facelift last? As with facelifts, the longevity of the benefits is dependent on several factors. For patients who do not smoke, do not abuse the sun, are in good general health and have good genetics, a facelift can last upwards of 10 years. For patients who elect to abuse their skin and body, a facelift will only last up to five years. Don't forget - attention to your general health plays a significant roll in a younger appearance.
5) What about my droopy double chin and jowls? Most patients undergo neck liposuction at the same time as facelift. This has several advantages. It allows us to use the fat in another area for cosmetic enhancement (such as for lip augmentation) while simultaneously reducing the bulky area around the neck. Removing the excess fat under the chin and neck results in a more defined neck line. Tightening the muscles as well as the skin eliminates jowling resulting in a more clearly defined jaw line.
6) Will a facelift get rid of all my wrinkles? As we age, our skin looses its elasticity. A facelift is most often performed to "lift" and remove sagging skin and as a result eliminate some wrinkles. Some of the deepest lines (such as the frown lines between the eyes that are improved with a Brow Lift) may not completely resolve but they will be significantly improved. Further improvement can be achieved with such as CO2 laser. Fillers such as Fat Injections can improve wrinkles and are particularly effective on laugh lines or smile lines. Patients who are not ready for surgery visit the Q- the Medical Spa at Lindsay House to consider Botox, collagen injection, microdermabrasion or several other conservative procedures - many of which can be performed on the lunch hour.
7) How much pain will I have? Most patients who have facelift surgery say how surprised they are at how mild the discomfort is that they experience. Patients more typically complain of tightness from swelling or a pulling sensation under the chin. Understandably, after any surgical procedure, some discomfort can be expected. All patients are provided with prescriptions for pain medication. Patients sometimes use the prescription medication two to three days after surgery and then switch to Extra Strength Tylenol. It is uncommon for patients to report unmanageable pain after surgery.
8) When will I look normal? You will be presentable at two to three weeks. You will look great at six weeks and even better at six months as things settle and expressions become more natural. At three weeks you know you are well on the way to recovery and most patients resume routine activities around two to three weeks following surgery. Final results are evaluated at one year.
9) How long does healing take? Healing from facelift to evaluate the final result takes one full year. However, after three months, most patients have about 90% of their final result.
