Facelift surgery
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can’t stop this aging process. What it can do is “set back the clock,” improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
If you’re considering a facelift, this page will give you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask Dr. Katherine Hein about anything you don’t understand.
Who is a good candidate for a facelift?
The best candidate for a facelift is a person whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-confidence in the process. But it can’t give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations, and discuss them with Dr. Hein.
A facelift can improve the deep cheek folds, jowls and loose, sagging skin around the neck that come with age.
Facelift surgery considerations
We will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least a month or two before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas. You should not smoke for two to four weeks after surgery, either. If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal.
Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
Where your surgery will be performed
A facelift may be performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It’s usually done on an outpatient basis, but some plastic surgeons may hospitalize patients for a day when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery and may also require a short inpatient stay. Dr. Hein performs all of her major surgery at a fully accredited hospital or her fully accredited in-office operating room. She operates at Newton Wellesley Hospital, MetroWest Medical Center, and Milford Regional Hospital.
Your new look
The chances are excellent that you’ll be happy with your facelift — especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in unfamiliar places — behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard-growing skin have been repositioned. You’ll have some scars from your facelift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade within time and should be scarcely visible.
Having a facelift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times — perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a facelift at all. After surgery, you’ll present a refreshed, more youthful-looking face to the world.
Why you should select Accurate Aesthetics
Dr. Katherine Hein is among the top cosmetic surgeons in the Boston, Newton, Wellesley, and MetroWest area. Dr. Hein is certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and has specialized in breast and cosmetic surgery since 1999. She has performed thousands of cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.
When you select Accurate Aesthetics Plastic Surgery for your breast reduction procedure you can be reassured of a close personal relationship with Dr. Hein and her professional staff.
Additional Reasons to Select Accurate Aesthetics
- One-on-one consultation with Dr. Hein follow-up appointments after surgery, and availability by telephone for your questions.
- Availability of a fully certified operating room in-office for your comfort and privacy.
- The use of a board-certified MD anesthesiologist or certified nurse anesthetist on each case.
Results may vary and are not guaranteed. Consult with Dr. Hein to see if you are a good candidate.