Landon Plastic Surgery

Facelifts are designed to resuspend the long-term affects, which gravity, advancing age and the loss of skin elasticity have caused. Principally, three primary affects are observed from facelift surgery.

The suspension of the cheek fat back over the high cheek bones, which improves the midface sag and lines on either side of the nose.
Resuspension of the jowl, which provides for a smooth sweep of the jawline from the chin back towards the ear.
To improve the soft tissue support under the neck or the “turkey waddle” area.

Facelifting does not affect the upper or lower eyelids, brow or improve the lines around the mouth or chin. These areas can be improved with additional procedures, which often times will be performed in conjunction with the primary facelift. Your consultation is designed to determine the necessity for these additional procedures, if so desired.

The consultation is intended for patient education. The consultation will focus on those areas of interest and planning surgical strategy. Patients will be educated about additional procedures, which may be provided at the time of the primary facelift, or whether staged management may be necessary. Video education regarding your facial enhancement surgery is available at Landon Plastic Surgery and on this website.

Facelift surgery takes approximately 3-1/2 to 4 hours with either a general or local anesthesia with sedation. Your surgery is provided in our on-site, nationally certified outpatient facility. Incisions for the facelift vary with the individual and are highly dependent upon the hairstyle, length of hair, beard growth in the male and the amount of excess skin to be removed. Every effort is made to hide the surgical scars, such that visibility is minimal and allows the hair to be worn in the up or down position with comfort and confidence. Patients typically spend 1 hour in the recovery room prior to discharge from the facility. Medications are provided in advance for pain, nausea and antibiotic prophylaxis. All visible stitches are removed at 1 week, and all surgical dressings are removed in 24 hours. Patients may shower the day after surgery and hair washing is advised.

Facelift recuperation is generally swift, after the initial 72-hour immediate perioperative period. Swelling is usually modest. Patients will leave the office with a head dressing in place, which is removed by the physician on the first postoperative day. Lubricant placed in the eyes during the surgery will make watching television and reading difficult. We advise patients not to read or watch television in the early postoperative period. Sleeping in a recliner is preferable; however, sleeping in a bed with extra pillows is acceptable. Followup will be frequent until activity is nearly back to normal. Return to work is typically 1 to 2 weeks and return to exercise is approximately 6 weeks with regards to strenuous aerobic activity. Patients may walk for exercise starting a few days after surgery.