Facelift



Introduction
As we grow older, the fat in the face begins to thin out and the muscles underneath, like all the other muscles in our bodies, begin to weaken and sag. Because of this, the face begins to flatten and wrinkles form, along with sagging jowls and soft jawlines. The facelift is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the signs of aging like wrinkles and creases in the cheeks, jowls, and neck.

Facelifts were actually first performed in the early 1900s by making incisions in the facial skin, pulling back the skin, removing the extra and closing the incision. Unfortunately, this did nothing to reposition the underlying musculature, so they didn’t last very long, and patients tended toward a “windblown” look. In the 1970s, plastic surgeons began to understand that although repositioning the sagging skin was key to a youthful result, the deeper tissues and muscles also had to be repositioned to provide long-lasting improvements. Plastic surgeons began to focus on repositioning the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS), which is the layer of muscle and connective tissue beneath the skin. By repositioning both skin and SMAS, patients receive more natural, long-lasting results.


Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for face lifting procedures are healthy men and women who have experienced a descent or sagging of their facial tissues over time, producing the appearance of loose, excess skin in the jowl and neck area. Modern techniques allow a wonderful outcome through a more pleasant experience for the vast majority of candidates; Dr. Soto can help you understand your best options. Come in for your evaluation today!


How It's Done
Dr. Soto performs several techniques for rejuvenation of the aging face, and the best technique for you will depend on your goals, examination, and desired experience. Many procedures can be comfortably performed using a combination of local anesthesia and an oral pain medication. In a mini-facelift, a small incision is made curving around the earlobe and the skin elevated to allow tightening of the underlying muscle and connective tissue that has sagged over time. The excess skin is then trimmed and tiny sutures carefully placed. This technique is most appropriate for those with minor to moderate sagging of the jaw line tissues and minimal neck slackness.

In a short-scar facelift, a slightly longer scar is created (but still very inconspicuous and small by facelift standards) and a greater area of the face and neck is addressed. Many patients who previously required an extensive procedure with significant bruising and recovery are now candidates for this short-scar technique, which greatly diminishes the scar, bruising, swelling, and overall recovery for them.

For those patients who have a more significant excess of skin in the neck and lower face, a more extensive facelift may be required. This lift may require a longer scar, with possible injection of Sculptra or fat to restore the volume and shape the face had in youth. The scar, while longer, remains confined to the easily hidden locations in front of and behind the ears. Dr. Soto takes extreme care to assure the best possible outcome of healing in all cases, and this option allows maximum improvement of the neck.


Recovery
Your recovery experience will depend on the nature of your procedure and individual healing, but generally will involve 2-3 days of mild to moderate swelling, minor bruising, and mild to moderate discomfort requiring narcotic pain medication for 2-3 days. You will be placed in a compressive support garment, to be worn at all times for 1 week after surgery, with continued use at night for another 2 weeks. You may drive once off of the pain medication, and a shower is allowed the day after surgery.