Cosmetic Surgery

Facelift

Facelift surgery, or a rhytidectomy, is designed to restore a more youthful appearance by removing major wrinkles and sagging skin. It involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles as well as the removal of any excess skin. Wrinkling is addressed with laser skin resurfacing.

The skin begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of age, sun exposure and genetics. Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to evenly distributed fatty tissues in facial contours. Over time, the skin sags and folds are the chin, jawline and neck become prominent. Not only does a facelift improve facial appearance but also has a dramatic effect on the neck, enhancing its contour and profile.

A facelift can make a patient look 5 to 10 years younger.

Dramatic as the end results are, this is not a simple procedure. It requires a week to 10 days of recovery.

Before Surgery

We will evaluate your medical history in order to determine your overall health.

Dr. Morales-Ryan will discuss with you how your face can look and what you can expect from surgery. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. Before and After photographs will reveal what the surgery has accomplished.

Preoperative Instructions: Avoid drugs that contain aspirin several weeks prior to surgery to minimize excess bleeding. You may be required to take antibiotics to prevent infection. You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. A small amount of hair may be shaved around your ears and temples.

The Procedure

A facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with multiple procedures as eyelid surgery, forehead lift, chin augmentation, and/or liposuction, to create an overall rejuvenation of the face. Dr. Morales-Ryan performs award wining techniques. The VIP (Vectors In Planes) facelift is a technique developed by Dr. Morales-Ryan in which tissues of the face and neck are gently repositioned in different planes and directions resulting in a more relaxed, youthful and natural appearance with a long lasting stable result.

Facelifts are performed in our state of the art surgical centers or in a hospital. Local anesthesia with twilight intravenous sedation is most commonly used, with premedication to help you relax. General anesthesia is generally not required but can be used if desired.

The procedure may take up to 3 hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time.

Post Operative Care

It is necessary to have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Initially you will have a large dressing wrapped around your head. Stitches around the ears will be loosened or removed in a few days. The scalp sutures will be removed in 7-10 days.

To minimize scarring, the doctor may remove the sutures in stages. Scarring fades quickly. Swelling and discoloration decrease within two weeks. Tightness in your face will be present for several weeks and there may be slight changes in your hair pattern around the incision.

We recommend that you avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery.

Complications following facelift are rare. These include bleeding, infection, loss of skin behind the ears, facial nerve injury, discoloration of the skin, numbness, asymmetry and scarring. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. As mentioned, the risk of bleeding is greater if you take aspirin or blood thinners within 2 weeks of the surgery. The risk of wound complications increases in diabetics, persons with a history of radiation, autoimmune and collagen disease as well as in smokers.

By following pre- and post-operative instructions, you will minimize potential problems.

Recovery: What to Expect

In the weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few months to disappear. Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function or sensation. However, actual permanent damage to the facial nerve is rare.

The healing process is gradual, so you will not notice final results for up to 6 months. A single procedure often achieves the desired results. Most patients who have had facelifts are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.