Facelift

What is a facelift?

A facelift makes the cheeks and neck more youthful and more attractive.  As we age, our skin stretches and loses its elasticity.  This causes the skin of 58-year-old 1 year after face and neck lift surgery58-year-old 1 year before face and neck lift surgerythe cheeks to descend inward and downward forming folds in the inner cheeks and forming jowls.  Fat remains attached to the skin, so there is often an excess of fat in the inner cheek folds and in the jowls.  Often, the underlying primitive muscle layer stretches and contributes to sagging of the cheeks and loss of a youthful neck contour.  Over the past several years, we have become aware that some of us also lose fat in the middle of our cheeks and temples as we age. This causes depressions or hollows.

A facelift reverses these occurrences of aging.  I elevate and pull the skin and fat back to a youthful position. The excess skin and fat are then removed.  Often, this restores the fat to a youthful position and eliminates hollows. If not, fat injections or fillers such as Sculptra, Radiesse or Restylane Lyft are used.  If appropriate the primitive muscle layer is also tightened.

Who is a good candidate for a facelift?

I have had patients benefit significantly from facelifts between the ages of 38 and 90. We age at different rates depending on our genetics and how well we preserve our skin.  In addition, some patients have a greater need to maintain a youthful appearance than others.

What are the benefits of a facelift?

  • Enhances cheekbones
  • Reduces mid-cheek hollows
  • Smoothes nasolabial folds between nose and mouth
  • Eliminates jowls and refines jawline
  • Reduces neck wattle and eliminates double chin

How long do the results last?

In my 33 years of private practice, I have had patients benefit from repeat facelifts after about 5-15 years.  As for a initial facelift, some patients age more quickly than others.  This is due to their genetics, how they care for their skin, their general health/diet and exercise, and their personal requirements for a youthful appearance.

How to prepare for facelift surgery

It is essential in the weeks before a facelift to make sure that your blood pressure is in the middle or low normal range.  Smoking should be stopped several weeks before surgery.  It is best not to take aspirin for three weeks before surgery, and to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such a Advil for one week before surgery.  A balanced diet, exercise and enough sleep are also important to assure an optimal result and the shortest possible healing time.

Facelift Cosmetic Surgery for Cheek and Neck Lifting

Techniques

  • Scars are placed in the scalp, along the crease between the ear and the cheek, on the back of the ear, and in the scalp behind the ear.
  • Fat may be reduced with liposuction or increased with fat transplants
  • Cheek bones or chin may be enhanced with implants or injections
  • Skin and fat may be repositioned together
  • Skin, fat and muscle (SMAS facelift) may be repositioned and modified
  • IPL or skin tightening enhance the results of surgery
  • Chemical peel, laser or dermabrasion skin resurfacing smoothes acne scars and wrinkles
  • Botox or Dysport muscle relaxers soften facial expressions
  • Perlane, Restylane, Restylane Silk, Belotero, Juvederm, or Prevelle Silk hyaluronic acid fillers smooth wrinkles
  • Radiesse, Sculptra or fat injections increase the volume of the temples, cheeks
  • Prescription skin medications or my specially formulated skin care products rejuvenate the skin to preserve and enhance results of surgery

Since I provide all patient care myself, I guide patients in a program of ongoing facial care. To enhance and prolong the benefits of surgery, StarLux™ light therapy for skin rejuvenation and hair removal, filling materials for wrinkle reduction and lip augmentation, chemical peels to reverse sun damage, and Botox or Dysport to reduce excessive facial expressions. I also have a custom-blended and two recommended lines of skin care products to enhance and preserve one’s appearance.

Facelift Recovery

Patients heal at different rates, because every facelift and every patient is unique.  In general, patients have bandages overnight.  They start showering and shampooing their hair one or two days after surgery.  It is best to sleep with the head elevated on a wedge pillow for one week.  Sutures are removed in 7-10 days.
Bruising in the cheeks lasts about one to two weeks.  Bruising lasts in the neck about three to four weeks. Patients with thicker and darker skin, and those who need minimal fat removal usually have less bruising, and the bruising resolves the most quickly.
After one or two months, patients will usually look a lot better than they did before surgery.  It takes about one year for final healing regarding scar maturation, full return of feeling in the cheeks, and ultimate resolution of swelling in the operated areas.

A Facelift Collectively Rejuvenates the Neck, Cheeks, and Jawline

For more details and to find out if you are a candidate for a facelift, please contact our office at 925-820-3633 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Lavey.

Past Procedures


Facelift Danville, CA

Facelift Danville

Facelift Danville

Facelift Danville

Facelift Danville

Facelift Danville

Facelift Danville