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.
When a face lift looks unnatural, it's usually because the patient's skin actually looks like it's been pulled up or to the side, almost as if their skin is being blown back by a heavy wind. The reason this looks odd is because our underlying facial structure itself changes with age.
You may see changes to your facial appearance immediately after the procedure, though you will experience bruising and swelling for the first 2 weeks. After that, any additional bruising can be covered with makeup. Your face may not yet feel normal and can take anywhere from 2 to 3 months to completely heal.
Expect to look worse before you look better. Do not panic; this is normal. There will be swelling and bruising. As swelling and bruising fades, you will begin to see the results.
Facelift recovery time
You should look and feel normal after 2 – 4 weeks. Keep in mind that facelift surgery cannot stop natural aging, so we encourage patients to continue to take care of their skin and make healthy lifestyle choices.
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.
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 general, a face-lift involves elevating the skin and tightening the underlying tissues and muscles. Fat in the face and neck may be sculpted, removed or redistributed. Facial skin is then re-draped over the newly repositioned contours of the face, excess skin is removed, and the wound is stitched or taped closed.
An unnatural, pulled appearance can be difficult to explain. Fixing these complications requires time, patience, and an experienced surgeon that specializes in plastic surgery of the face. It is not uncommon to have to repeat the facelift, but with the revision focusing on the muscle layer instead of the skin.
How long do ears hurt after facelift? Some patients may experience pain or numbness in the ears after their facelift, which can persist for 1-3 months.
You may end up with hair loss in the area of the facelift incisions. This can lead to large hairless areas and/or an irregular hairline. In some cases, it might result in a complete loss of your sideburns.
Fortunately for those that are considering a facelift, the scars left from the procedure are often minimal and in many cases, entirely concealed. Experienced cosmetic surgeons will be careful to make the incision along the natural contours of the ear and face.
Where Are Facelift Scars Located? Facelift scars are carefully placed to hide any scars that do occur. A traditional incision begins along the hairline and move around the ear. Some patients will need an incision under the chin as well.
Related to overly tight skin, a face that appears expressionless could be the result of muscles that were pulled too tightly during a face or brow lift. It's also possible that injectables like Botox could have been administered incorrectly, resulting in a stiff, unnatural look.
While the recovery timeline can vary from patient to patient, most people are generally able to resume front or side-sleeping after 2 – 4 weeks.
Swedish massage focuses on light, upward touching of the skin that helps to return sensation to the affected area. Lymphatic massage uses gentle, upward strokes to increase blood flow, activate lymph nodes and trigger lymph drainage. Scar massage is focused on softening the healed incision scar to reduce its thickness.
Facelift fails are most likely to occur when a surgeon doesn't have the level of training and experience required to do a good job with the procedure you want. This is why you should be sure to look for a facial plastic surgeon for any facial surgery, not simply a plastic surgeon.
However, there can be some disadvantages. A facelift does not last forever. Research suggests that five and a half years after surgery, 21 percent of facelifts relapse, but that 76 percent of people still look younger than they did before the operation.
Can I have multiple facelifts? 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.
Eighty-nine patients (68 percent) returned the survey. Results: One year after face-lift surgery, 87 patients (97.8 percent) described the improvement of their facial appearance as very good or beyond expectations.
Generally, a ponytail lift involves incisions made high up on the face – above the front of the ear or beyond the hairline. The facial cosmetic surgeon then pulls the ligaments below the skin to adjust and reduce sagging.
With a facelift, you can remove wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin and other undesirable features. The process can be successful in helping you regain the appearance of your younger years.
Facelift – Facelift surgery is often considered the ideal solution for moderate to significant jowling. Designed to lift and tighten sagging facial tissue, this procedure can effectively reduce the appearance of jowls and create a more defined jawline.
A mini facelift involves the placement of incisions in front of the ears which extend from the hairline to the bottom of the earlobe. The surgeon will then gently pull the skin and tissues up and outward the ear. Excess skin and tissue are removed to tighten the appearance of the skin.