Facelift in New York, NY
The natural aging process can have a significant effect on the appearance of your face. Gravity, environmental factors, and lifestyle factors such as smoking can prematurely age your facial appearance. Most men and women show signs of aging in the form of excess skin along the jawline as well as sagging cheeks and wrinkles around the mouth. People who desire a more youthful appearance often want to restore a firmer and smoother complexion. Facelift surgery targets drooping facial tissues to improve and enhance your natural facial contours.
Candidates
Men and women considering facelift surgery should be in good health and have realistic expectations about their results. A facelift can dramatically improve signs of aging by smoothing skin and highlighting the natural contours of your face. People considering a facelift should quit smoking. Facelift surgery can significantly improve the following:
- Sagging skin on the cheeks
- Sagging along the jawline (jowls)
- Deep nasolabial folds
- Fine marionette lines
- Lost facial volume
- A double chin
- A “turkey wattle” neck
Procedure
Facelift surgery is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Incisions are placed in the hairline to mask scar development. Incisions will usually begin behind the temples and run down to the ears and around the earlobes. The skin is separated from the underlying muscular frame. Drooping facial muscles are lifted to highlight your facial contour. Fat may be repositioned along the cheeks to restore lost volume. The skin is draped to enhance your facial contour, and excess tissue is trimmed away. Incisions are closed, and drains are placed to help reduce swelling.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift addresses wrinkles and minor sagging of the midface. Mini facelift patients often have limited facial sagging. The main benefit of a mini facelift is that it uses a limited scar behind the ears. While the skin is separated from the muscular layer like a traditional facelift, the mini facelift focuses on correcting only wrinkles and volume loss in the cheeks.
Neck Lift
Most facelift patients combine a neck lift with their procedure if they have sagging along the jawline and a loose neck appearance known as a “turkey wattle.” A single incision is created under the chin. Weak platysma muscles are tightened using a corset technique. A double chin can be improved by removing excess fat from the submental area. Creating a slim and taut neck is an important aspect of restoring an overall youthful appearance.
Recovery and Results
Recovery
You will experience bruising and swelling of your face. Drains will remove excess fluid to reduce excess swelling. You may have some mild discomfort during the first several days following your procedure, which can be controlled using an oral pain medication. Most patients can return to work within two weeks of their procedure and can resume their regular exercise routine after four weeks. Since swelling can last between six weeks and several months, it is important you do not undergo a facelift right before a major event.
Results
Facelift surgery is designed to provide patients with long-lasting facial rejuvenation. Most patients are able to erase five to 15 years from their appearance. Minimizing environmental factors such as sun exposure and smoking will help prolong your results. Many patients choose to undergo routine non-surgical procedures such as injectables or laser skin resurfacing to help maintain their flawless complexion.
If you are looking to turn back the clock with facelift surgery, schedule your consultation with Dr. Cha today. Contact our office at (212) 717-2222 or fill out our online contact form for additional information.