A facelift often will enhance the appearance of your cheek, jaw line and neck region but is considered major surgery. You should think carefully about your specific expectations and communicate your goals to your plastic surgeon.
Like any other type of major surgery, a face-lift poses a risk of bleeding or infection. There's also a risk of having a reaction to the anesthesia. Certain medical conditions or lifestyle habits also can increase the risk of complications.
Most people recover in 4 to 6 weeks. But it probably will take 6 months or more to see the final result from the surgery. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace.
There is usually very little actual pain following a facelift, but you may experience a deep bruised sensation as a result of the swelling, and your face may seem heavy. The bandage you will wear the first night may seem quite snug under your chin. Rather than make you feel restricted, we hope it makes you feel secure.
In most cases, a facelift works best for people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s when signs of aging begin to become prevalent. Deep lines, wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin are the result of the aging process and can be best corrected through surgical techniques rather than non-surgical ones.
Although you will experience additional signs of aging, this may not occur for several years, and, even then, your skin quality will always be firmer and smoother than it would have been without the surgery.
Currently, the average age for a woman who undergoes a facelift is somewhere around 58 or 59. Though, as the years pass, the age is becoming younger and younger. Still, it is rare for patients to get a facelift before 50 because aging has not progressed enough to need a full facelift versus a mini facelift.
Research by Medical Accident Group found that 65% of people they polled regretted their surgery, though 28% were very happy with its results. According to the poll, 83% of people who had had plastic surgery wouldn't consider having any form of cosmetic procedure again.
Generally speaking, most patients will need to sleep on their back with their upper body slightly elevated for about 2 – 3 weeks after facelift surgery.
“The study shows that patients are extremely happy with their decisions to have a facelift and with the results,” Dr. Thorne tells Cosmetic Surgery Times.
Most patients are able to return to work somewhere between 10 and 14 days after their facelift procedure. At this point, you may still have some swelling, bruising, and scarring that will impact the way you look, but a solid application of makeup should adequately disguise any signs of surgery.
At weeks 3 and 4, you may still have some residual swelling (this is normal and will dissipate), but for the most part it is at this point patients often begin to see real improvement in their face. You will look and feel much better three weeks after your facelift.
How much weight can I lose safely to preserve my facelift? Most doctors recommend losing weight slowly and at a healthy pace. Losing 1-2 pounds per week is ideal for safe and lasting results. This slow steady rate ensures skin has time to conform over the new contour to maintain a firm, youthful appearance.
Facelift surgery will not affect your smile when performed appropriately. You can help to ensure the most pleasing and reliable results by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure.
The cost of a facelift procedure can be significant, but its benefits make it well worth the investment for many people. A facelift can provide a rejuvenated and youthful appearance, boost self-confidence and self-esteem, and correct age-related facial sagging, wrinkles, and lines.
You'll likely feel the most discomfort your first day, so you should take pain medications to stay on top of it.
AVOID BENDING OVER OR LIFTING heavy things for one week. Besides aggravating swelling, this may raise the blood pressure and start hemorrhage. AVOID HITTING OR BUMPING YOUR FACE, HEAD AND NECK. It is wise not to pick up small children and you should sleep alone for one week after your operation.
Most patients will be able to take showers again a week after their surgery. This will vary from patient to patient, however, so be sure to follow the instructions provided by your plastic surgeon. If you have drainage tubes in place, you may be asked to avoid showering until the drainage tubes have been removed.
In fact, Dr. Swanson's research reported that 97% of facelift patients were happy with their results, and 90% of patients reported that they received positive feedback from others. Forty percent of patients researched said their results were even better than they expected.
If you are thinking about having a facelift, adding procedures to improve the appearance of the eyes, brows, and forehead can deliver even more dramatic results and make you look up to two decades younger.
Technically, there is no limit or “magic number” when it comes to how many facelifts can be performed. But as we mentioned, we want to make sure your results remain as natural as possible. Too many surgeries can make your face appear “pulled” or “worked on,” which is not always desirable.
In general, you should expect to look ten years younger and see dramatic, but natural-looking, anti-aging of the face and neck. Facelifts don't stop the aging process, but results are permanent. That means ten years down the line; you can still look a decade younger.
When performed correctly by the hands of a skilled surgeon, facelift results can be some of the most natural looking of any cosmetic procedure and can leave you with a rejuvenated and more youthful facial appearance. Your skin produces less collagen each year as you age.