Face Lift

You may be a good candidate for a face lift if you are in good overall health, have signs of facial aging, such as heaviness or looseness in the cheeks, neck, or jowls, or wrinkles. Ideal candidates typically want to restore a more youthful appearance and improve the contours of the face and neck. In younger patients, a face lift can be used to treat hereditary “doughy” cheeks or loose skin after weight loss. A consultation will help to determine if/when a face lift is recommended for you.

Initial recovery from a face lift typically takes about 1-2 weeks, during which most swelling and bruising subside. Full recovery that includes the fading of scars and resolution of small amounts of swelling can take several months to a year.

Most patients can resume work (and are considered “restaurant-ready”) within 1 week. For social events such as weddings (guest), graduations, or holidays, one should allow at least 2 weeks for recovery.

We typically ask patients to remain in town for a period of 1-2 weeks before flying. However, car rides of 2-4 hours are ok the following day in most cases. Dr. Hanna would still like to see you for a postoperative visit at the 1-week mark.

Very light activity such as a brisk walk or a light stationary bike is encouraged as soon as you feel ready for it after surgery. Moderate exercise is usually resumed in about two weeks and heavy exercise in one month.

Yes, any skin incision will leave a scar. If the incisions are created and closed meticulously, the scars are typically imperceptible at 6-12 months, sometimes sooner. Proper postoperative care will help the scars heal better and faster. This includes sun block, silicone gel, and avoiding sun exposure during the healing phase.

Yes, many patients combine face lifts with complementary procedures like chin, cheek, or jawline implants, genioplasty, lip lifts, or eyelid surgery.

For patients who opt for private nursing, the benefits are:

For most face lifts, we do recommend the patient to have a period of private postoperative nursing since they require more sophisticated postoperative monitoring. Private nursing allows for patients to be eased through the recovery process, their wounds to be monitored and cared for, and the nurse to communicate directly with the surgeon if need be. We have found that patients are much more comfortable with the postoperative experience when they have a private nurse and are very glad to have utilized this resource.

A face lift should last forever, in a sense. When a face lift is done, the looseness in the skin is reduced; however, you will continue to age after that. It is like turning back a clock that continues to tick. You can typically set this “clock” back 10-20 years. Then you will continue to age, but at a slower rate than if you had not had the face lift. (See “How long before I would want another face lift?”)

It depends on the extent and type of face lift initially performed, the amount of elasticity that is left in the skin, the skin quality, how well the patient takes care of their skin, and the patient’s genetics. Most patients will wait 10-15 years before they consider another face lift. However, sometimes a small touch-up lift can be done sooner than that. Dr. Hanna can guide you on the best approach for you.

This is a topic of much debate, and the consensus amongst surgeons historically has usually been around the 40s to 50s. The trend has gotten younger as techniques have gotten better and patients are seeking earlier treatment. It is also important to remember that not all face lifts are done for purely age-related concerns. For example, loose skin resulting from extreme weight loss or younger patients who genetically have heavy “doughy” cheeks may be candidates. Commonly patients in their mid to late 30s are good candidates for mini face lifts, and patients in their late 40’s and beyond are better candidates for more comprehensive face lifts that include the neck.

There are many types, including mini face lifts (short scar), extended mini face lifts, standard face lifts, deep plane face lifts, bilamellar (dual-plane) face lifts, and comprehensive face and neck lifts.

There are other names and many types, but  ultimately patients should be offered and treated with the type and extent of lift that addresses their areas of concern in a comprehensive but natural way. We do not provide one-size-fits-all treatments. Patients receive specialized treatment targeted to their unique needs. During your consultation, we’ll determine the type and extent of lift to achieve the best results.

It is important to choose a surgeon that 1) understands aesthetic sense and 2) has the skills and training to provide that. For example, the “vectors” of a face lift (the direction the skin is lifted in) have to do with a surgeon’s aesthetic sense. It is also important to choose the right combination of procedures, which have to do with both aesthetic sense and training. A surgeon trained on both the hard and soft tissues of the face can give attention to where the actual deficiencies lie and provide the treatment the patient really needs. Having training and experience with complex procedures such as facial reconstruction makes a surgeon more comfortable and adept at navigating facial anatomy and managing soft tissues. A thorough understanding of facial balance and structure translates to an extra layer of preparation that improves results and recovery.

A good face lift is one that simply turns back the clock and does not look like the patient had surgery. To accomplish this, you need: