| Dr. William Bruno 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 Face Lift.
Q. What is a Face Lift?
A. A facelift involves the surgical removal of excess skin of the face and neck area. In addition to removing redundant skin, the deeper tissues of the face are elevated and repositioned to give a more natural appearing facial contour. The neck is often times treated as part of a facelift procedure. Each patient's anatomy varies considerably with some needing more attention to the neck than others. Occasionally a fat transfer or graft is performed at the same time to recreate the youthful fullness in the lower eyelid/cheek area.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure?
A. The benefits of a facelift procedure are a younger appearing facial contour and profile. The jowl area is improved and the neckline has a sharper, more youthful appearance. The procedure isn't designed to give a "tighter" look but a more refreshed, rejuvenated look.
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. The risks of a facelift include nerve injury, which can result in weakness of the muscles around the mouth or eye as well as some numbness in the face, neck and ear regions. These are usually temporary but can in rare cases be permanent. Other risks include infection, bleeding (hematoma), widening of the scars, irregular position of the ear lobe, displacement of the sideburn hair (males), and partial skin loss.
Q. Can I expect permanent results from a facelift?
A. Results are not permanent as we are constantly aging and fighting the effects of gravity, however the improvement can last around 10-15 years.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. A facelift can be performed under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. This depends on the patient's overall health and level of comfort, with being semi-awake in the operating room. Patients should first have a complete medical evaluation performed by their primary care physician prior to surgery, to determine if they can tolerate general anesthesia.
Q. How long after my facelift can I resume normal activities?
A. Most patients can resume normal activities in about two or three weeks after surgery.
Q. How do I find a qualified surgeon in my area?
A. I would recommend finding a board certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in your area by searching on www.plasticsurgery.org
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