What is a Facelift?
Genetics, sun damage, gravity, and lifestyle factors cause the skin and facial tissues to weaken and stretch, creating fine lines, deep creases, and jowls. These signs of aging can cause a disconnect between your physical appearance and the inner vitality you feel.
Facelift surgery smoothes out wrinkles and creases and lifts sagging skin and tissues to restore a refreshed appearance. This procedure is nearly always performed with a neck lift to maintain natural-looking results and harmony between the two features.
Following a facelift, you can expect the following:
- Smoother, tighter facial skin
- Reduced jowls and better jawline definition
- Resuspension of sagging facial tissues
- Increased facial fullness (when combined with facial fat transfer or non-surgical dermal fillers)
- Reduction in facial creases like nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Smoother neck contours with less vertical banding
- Reduction in submental fat (double chin)
- A naturally rejuvenated facial contour that WOWs
What Are My Facelift Options?
Like all cosmetic procedures, there is no one-size-fits-all facelift. You will be able to discuss the following techniques in greater detail during your consultation with Dr. Patel.
Dr. Patel is, at heart, a maxillofacial surgeon, but he is also a board-certified facial cosmetic surgeon. He has seen firsthand the cosmetic transformations achieved when the deeper structures are adjusted. Dr. Patel has extensive knowledge of the skeletal structure and knows how even subtle changes can dramatically impact the beauty and youthfulness of your facial contour.
Because of this, Dr. Patel often performs more advanced and aggressive deep-plane facelifts. This technique provides more comprehensive and longer-lasting results as it addresses multiple levels of the skin, fat, connective tissues, and muscles.
A deep-plane facelift tightens the SMAS tissue layer and the overlying facial skin. When both of these elements are lifted and tightened, you can expect a more natural-looking facial transformation opposed to a stretched or “wind-tunneled” appearance.
A mini facelift is a modified version of a traditional facelift that requires smaller incisions and less downtime. However, due to the limitations of these modified techniques, a mini facelift cannot address significant signs of facial aging the way a deep-plane facelift can.
A mini facelift is ideal for younger patients and those with fewer concerns. This procedure focuses on the midface and lower face, addressing loose skin, elevating cheeks, minimizing early jowling, and smoothing lines and wrinkles. A mini facelift does not significantly address the neck.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Not everyone with visible signs of aging in the face and neck qualifies for the procedure. The ideal candidate should:
- Be healthy and free of conditions that may negatively affect recovery.
- Be a non-smoker.
- Not be taking blood-thinning medications or supplements.
- Have realistic expectations and accept that the results of the procedure will be unique to each patient.
During your consultation, Dr. Patel will assess you thoroughly and perform tests to determine if you are a good candidate. Once we have determined that a facelift is the right procedure for you, you will receive specific preoperative instructions.
How Is Facelift Surgery Performed?
Facelift surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, but you will need a friend or family member to drive you home and help care for you after surgery.
While your facelift is customized to you, you can anticipate the following:
- You will meet with Dr. Patel preoperatively to review the details of your procedure.
- Anesthesia will be administered for your safety and comfort.
- Pre-marked incisions are made that typically start at the temporal hairline and extend down and around each ear. Mini facelifts require a modified, shorter version of this incision.
- The SMAS tissue layer, deeper muscles, and skin are gently lifted and secured in their elevated position. Mini facelifts do not address the deeper structures.
- Loose skin is trimmed along the edges of the incision.
- Sutures and skin adhesives are used to close these incisions.
- An additional minor incision is made beneath the chin to reduce submental fat, tighten the platysma bands, and smooth neck skin.
- Dressings, drains, and a headwrap are placed to assist in healing.
What Is Facelift Surgery Recovery Like?
You will likely experience some discomfort in the face for the first few days; however, this will be managed with prescription or over-the-counter pain medication. You should expect to feel pressure and tightness and also see swelling and bruising, but the team at WOW Cosmetic Surgery will advise you on how to minimize them. Be sure to get plenty of rest and keep your head elevated to help reduce swelling
You will likely be able to resume work after a couple of weeks or even sooner, but full recovery will take several weeks. Our team will discuss multiple methods on how to speed the recovery process and promote healing. Overall results will continue to improve even months from surgery.
What Results Can I Expect From a Facelift?
Bruising and swelling may initially camouflage your results; however, as these subside, the results will be more noticeable. It might take up to six months to see the full effects of the procedure.
Facelift surgery leaves long-lasting improvements but will not stop the natural aging process. Additional changes will occur over time, but we offer many maintenance therapies to keep you looking WOW.
Why Should I Choose WOW Cosmetic Surgery for My Facelift?
When it comes to performing facelift surgery in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Prem Patel of WOW Cosmetic Surgery stands out for many reasons.
Dr. Patel is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon with significant experience in facial cosmetic surgical procedures. He is meticulous, and his attention to detail is unparalleled. Furthermore, he will listen to your particular concerns, understand your goals, and customize the procedure to meet or even exceed your expectations.
Facelift FAQs
Your facelift cost varies depending on the extent of the procedure, the techniques used, and any surgical procedures being performed simultaneously. You will also have additional fees, such as anesthesia and facility fees. Financing options are available.
Patients often consider this cosmetic enhancement because they no longer feel that their facial contours reflect how they perceive themselves. Choosing cosmetic procedures is as much an emotional and psychological choice as a physical one, and it is important to find a cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Patel who understands these components and can help you achieve your desired, albeit realistic, results.
Facelift surgery is often performed under general anesthesia; however, IV sedation may be appropriate for some patients. The team at WOW Cosmetic Surgery prioritizes patient comfort both during and after your surgery and will take all necessary measures to minimize pain and to ensure a smooth recovery.
Most facelift patients choose to address the neck at the same time as their facelift, and this helps ensure facial harmony and allows for a smooth transition between the features. Neck lift surgery addresses vertical banding, loose neck skin, excess submental fat (double chin), and other concerns in the neck region.
The loss of facial fat is one of the most significant tell-tale signs of aging. While a traditional facelift resuspends facial tissues that have fallen due to gravity, it cannot recreate facial fat without an additional technique. Facial fat transfer is one of the most trusted and longest-lasting ways to restore facial volume. This technique moves fat liposuctioned from one area of the body to the face to restore youthful fullness.
Non-surgical technology has come leaps and bounds in recent years. Because of this, early signs of aging, like fine lines, minor wrinkles, and mild skin looseness, can be first addressed non-surgically with injectables or laser therapy. However, you may be better suited for a facelift if you have significant looseness or jowls. Dr. Patel will review all of your options during your consultation.
Non-surgical technologies are also beneficial after a facelift to help maintain results and improve skin tone and texture.
The most common adjunct procedures that are often performed with facelift and neck lift surgery are facial fat transfer and laser treatment. Both of these procedures can dramatically enhance your surgical results. Facial fat transfer helps to restore volume while laser treatment improves the look and texture of the skin and eliminates minor wrinkles.
Additional procedures that address other facial structures that can be performed simultaneously include, but are not limited to, are blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow lift, and chin augmentation.
Focusing on a healthy lifestyle, including eating a nutrient-rich diet, getting regular exercise, protecting your skin from the sun, getting plenty of sleep, and managing stress is important to your facelift results. Lifestyle factors are as much to blame as gravity when it comes to facial aging.
Male facelift surgery is gaining popularity, and while men choose this procedure for many of the same reasons as women, there are some differences in the surgical techniques. Due to men’s hairlines and the presence of facial hair, surgical incisions must be altered to account for hair growth. Because male plastic surgery comes with some extra considerations, it is important to find a surgeon who is well-versed in both female and male facial surgery.
Dr. Patel is triple board certified in cosmetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery, and maxillofacial surgery.
While the name is somewhat misleading, a facelift only addresses the lower two-thirds of the face. If you are concerned with the aging around your eyes, you may consider combining your facelift with a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). These can most often be performed simultaneously.
Are You Interested in Facelift Surgery in Dallas, TX?
Overall, it is apparent that if you are looking for a dependable facial surgeon in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Prem Patel of WOW Cosmetic Surgery is an excellent choice. Feel free to get in touch with us today to learn more about the procedure. Call us at (833) DR WOW MD or fill out our online contact form.