Many people long to look younger. With a facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, this dream can be achieved. A facelift is a type of corrective surgery performed to give skin a more youthful appearance, making a patient look about eight to nine years younger.

With a facelift, we’re able to smooth away those undesirable age lines and wrinkles. This procedure removes moderate and deep lines more effectively than injectable treatments like Botox would. If you have deep nasolabial folds, parentheses lines, marionette lines, or other types of wrinkles, a facelift may be right for you.

Who Can Get a Facelift?

Facelifts are very common; statistics show that it’s the sixth most commonly performed aesthetic surgery in the world. There is also no “correct” age to get a facelift. The procedure is most common among women age 40 and above, since signs of the aging process begin to appear at this time.

Anyone can be a good candidate for a facelift so long as one does not have conditions that could impair the healing process. Find out more about these conditions during a consultation.

What Happens Before and During the Surgery?

Before the facelift surgery, you are encouraged to stay relaxed and stress-free. Local anesthesia with twilight IV sedation is administered to keep the patient comfortable and free of any pain throughout the procedure.

Once the anesthesia and sedation take effect, incisions are made along the edges of the ears and behind them to the hairline. These incisions offer Dr. Espinosa access to the underlying tissues of the face.

Sagging muscle tissues are lifted and excess skin is trimmed according to the contours of your face, and the remaining skin is redraped. The incisions are then closed with either adhesives or surgical sutures.

The Healing Process

Before your surgery, Dr. Espinosa will instruct you on the proper ways to care for the surgical site, including ointments to apply and medications to take. Make sure to follow these directions as closely as possible.

After the facelift surgery, your face will be bandaged to minimize swelling and bruising from the procedure. Small plastic tubes called drains may be placed to remove excess fluids from the surgical site in order to prevent complications.

Swelling, bruising, and redness are the most common after-effects of the surgery. They should subside within a week. Discomfort and pain are also common, for which pain medications can be prescribed. It’s recommended that you avoid any sort of physically strenuous activity as you heal.

The final results of your facelift should be seen within a week, and you can expect your face to look more rested, youthful, and lifted.

Schedule a Facelift Consultation to Learn More

Contact the office of Dr. Nashielli Espinosa, a skilled and experienced reconstructive plastic surgeon, to arrange a facelift consultation. During this consultation, you will find out more information about the facelift procedure and can ask any questions that you may have. You will also learn more about the healing process and can look at before-and-after photos.