Facelift Overview

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, has been a proven cosmetic procedure for decades and has been increasing in popularity over the past several years.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons tracked a 14%-16% increase in facelift operations from 2006-2007.

Facelifts are helpful for eliminating loose skin folds in the neck and laxity of tissues in the cheeks. The areas not well corrected by a facelift include the nasolabial folds and perioral mounds marionette lines which are more suitably treated with Botox or liposculpture, respectively. A facelift requires skin incisions; however, the incisions in front of and behind the ear are usually inconspicuous.

Injectables such as Botox can help with fine lines and wrinkles, however facelifts are the premier procedure for long lasting results.

How the Process Works

In the traditional facelift, the incision starts in a natural crease in the area of the temple hair, follows the natural curve in front of the upper part of the ear, then goes inside the ear, hiding the scar within the ear, then continues around the lobe, ending behind the ear and when necessary continues into the hairline behind the ear. After the skin incision is made, the skin is separated from the deeper tissues over the cheeks and neck. At this point, the deeper tissues (SMAS, the fascial suspension system of the face) can be tightened with sutures, with or without removing some of the excess deeper tissues. The skin is then re-draped, and the amount of excess skin to be removed is determined by the surgeon’s judgment and experience. The excess skin is then removed, and the skin incisions are meticulously closed to minimize scarring and leave out staples.