| Dr. Elizabeth Lee is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about FaceLift.
Q. What is a FaceLift?
A. A facelift is a procedure that repositions the soft tissue of the face and removes excess skin.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?
A. A good facelift will turn the clock back 10-15 years without looking artificial. I love to hear back from a patient that people are saying "You look great! New hair color, makeup, visit to the spa?" not "Where did you get your face lift?"
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. Yes, facelift surgery is an operation. You have to plan time for recovery and to really take care of yourself, so you heal well. The specific risks should be discussed with your doctor at a consultation and vary with different procedures.
Q. Can one expect permanent results from a facelift?
A. Yes and no. The effect of gravity and the aging process continue throughout our lives. The face will continue to age. I think about facelift surgery as setting the clock back 10-15 years and aging continues from there. I often say to patients "If you look like this again when you are 75, it will feel different than it feels now at 60." In fact, the surgery does change the way the face ages and changes happen more slowly after a facelift is done.
Q. Is there a common technique for facelift procedures?
A. Some surgeons have one procedure that they are comfortable with. I strongly believe that every face is different and the procedure should be tailored to meet the needs of the face and of the patient, so no, I don't have a "one size fits all" approach. I have multiple techniques to use depending on what the patient needs.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. In my practice generally yes. If a patient is really nervous about general anesthesia, I can do a facelift with local anesthesia and sedation administered by an anesthesiologist, but I work more comfortably when the patient is asleep and not at all uncomfortable
Q. How long before one can resume normal activities after a facelift?
A. That varies with the procedure done and with the actvity level normal for the patient. In general, I recommend two weeks off work for a desk job, one month before public appearances and usually about a month before aerobic exercise. There is no "cookbook" schedule for recovery though. I work closely with my patients seeing them frequently postoperatively, to individualize their return to normal activiies when they are ready.
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