Surgically Addressing Aging in the Midface — the Facelift
- Posted on: Dec 15 2019
Facelifts have long been a staple of the cosmetic surgery world. Sometimes in the past there have been cases of celebrities getting a less than stellar result. Most people remember Frank Gifford coming back to Monday Night Football one fall with a face that looked like it was being put on the rack. More recently, Kenny Rogers was the object of intense Internet ridicule for his stretched face.
But a facelift that is expertly performed by a skilled surgeon such as Dr. Coleman can take 10 to 15 years off a person’s age. Plus, new techniques, such as the “mini facelift” create less scarring and make for easier recovery. Most important, Dr. Coleman strives to create a completely natural looking end result.
A facelift is a way to counteract the sagging skin and volume loss that come with aging in a more permanent way than the use of dermal fillers and injectables. Winter in San Antonio is a great time to have facelift surgery, as well, so you’ll have time to heal before spring.
What can a facelift address?
Clinically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift focuses mainly on the middle to lower face. A facelift can help remove the smile lines that run from the corners of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. It can restore the definition of the jaw line, remove deep wrinkles in the cheeks, address volume loss and sagging in the cheeks, and remove the loose skin in the neck that leads to cording. Expertise is important in a facelift to leave the right amount of fat and excess skin to avoid an unnatural result. That’s where the experience and expertise of a surgeon like Dr. Coleman is paramount.
A facelift doesn’t address issues with the eyes and brows, however. For forehead lines, sagging brows, puffy eyelids, and other issues in these areas, Dr. Coleman may recommend that you combine either a brow lift or eyelid surgery with your facelift.
The procedure
The procedure normally runs anywhere from three to four hours, depending on the methods employed by Dr. Coleman. Incisions are made on each side of the face, usually beginning at the temples in the hairline, and running downward in front of the ear, around the earlobe, ending in the hairline behind the ear. The skin is lifted and underlying muscle and tissue is tightened to provide a rejuvenated look. Excess fat is removed and excess skin is trimmed away. Then the skin is re-draped over its new contour and the incisions are closed with sutures. Drains are placed to prevent the accumulation of fluids and the patient’s head is wrapped in bandages.
A mini facelift is not as thorough as a full facelift, but results in less scarring. Incisions are more limited, as a mini facelift is intended to improve basically the lower face and neck area.
Facelift recovery
With any facelift method, there will be swelling and bruising. This will disappear gradually over the first two weeks. Most patients can return to work in a week or two. But it will take from two to three months for the full results of the facelift to show themselves, due to residual swelling. This swelling will often return in the evening, which can be frustrating, but this is normal.
Want to do something about the sagging, loose skin on your face and upper neck for 2020? Call Dr. Coleman at (210) 251-4362 to schedule a consultation for a facelift.
Posted in: Facelift
