| Dr.Hampton Howell 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 Facelifts.
Q. What is a facelift?
A. A facelift is a surgical procedure designed to address the aging face and neck. As we age, the soft tissues of the face and neck descend and loosen, causing many of the facial features typically associated with the aging process. Patients notice that their cheeks have dropped, forming prominent nasolabial folds; they develop jowls and a sagging neck, as well as general wrinkles in many different areas. When performing a facelift, I reposition the soft tissues of the face and neck to where they used to be, as well as tighten the overlying loose skin. Addressing both of these areas allows for more optimal facial rejuvenation.
Q. What are the benefits of a facelift procedure and are the results permanent?
A. A facelift gets at the root of the problem of the aging process - it "puts things back where they used to be." In other words, a facelift directly addresses what is actually happening as we age, yielding a longer-lasting result and taking the patient back to a more youthful appearance. A common question is "how long will a facelift last?" Well, it depends. A facelift essentially turns back the clock of aging, but it cannot stop the clock. A person will continue to age, which may happen faster or slower from one patient to the next, depending on many factors, including genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle. While one person may choose to have a "touch-up" facelift in 10 years, another may still feel that her or his face matches their inner youthfulness for many more years to come. For a patient not yet ready to have a facelift, injectable fillers, Botox, and laser resurfacing can be very good options to temporarily rejuvenate the face.
Q. Are there significant risks associated with facelift surgery?
A. Any surgery carries risks, and a facelift is no exception. Risks include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, and risks of anesthesia. There are other risks that can be discussed more fully during a patient consultation. A facelift is generally a very well tolerated procedure with very pleasing results.
Q. Is there a common technique for facelift procedures?
A. There are many variations of facelift procedures. Be cautious of certain procedures marketed as "quick recovery facelifts" that mainly just tighten the skin and offer only short-term and limited results. When I perform a facelift, I choose a given technique based on multiple factors, including a patient’s degree of aging, facial anatomy and goals of the procedure and recovery. By tailoring the surgery to the individual patient, I feel that I am able to optimize their result.
Q. Is a facelift performed under general anesthesia?
A. A facelift can be performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Both are generally acceptable, depending on a patient’s other medical conditions. I perform most of my facelifts using intravenous sedation, but also use general anesthesia in certain cases.
Q. Who is a good candidate for face lift surgery?
A. Many patients that are unhappy with the degree of facial aging that they are showing are good candidates for a facelift and necklift. There is not a minimum or maximum age at which a facelift may be performed. Many patients comment that they do not feel that the appearance of their face on the outside matches with how young they feel on the inside. Thus, typically, the right time to have a facelift is when your aging bothers you and you are ready to see a more youthful you.
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