Facelift Surgery & Facial Rejuvenation

Dr. Lichten works hard so that his facelift patients typically look like younger, more refreshed versions of themselves. Because the structure of each person’s face is different, facelifts require a different type of artistry than body surgeries. No two facelifts are the same. Facelifts are actually a combination of techniques to lift the skin and underlying muscles and to restore volume, so there is no quick, right answer for everyone. You should consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who will customize and tailor the right procedure or combination of procedures for you. There is no quick one-size-fits-all with facelifts. Some patients need a more vertical lift while others need to be pulled back more, while still others need a rejuvenation of the midface. With all facelifts, the goal is to restore facial harmony and balance.

With all the advances in technology in the last ten years, Dr. Lichten’s patients have more options than ever to prolong surgery. The fact is, however, that you still can’t get surgical results without surgery. Also, Dr. Lichten often uses Fraxel re:pair during facelift surgery, because a facelift will address the underlying structures of the face and neck, and can tighten the skin, it does not affect the tone and texture of facial skin. Combining Fraxel re:pair with a facelift tackles both issues at the same time, creating a fresh new skin with fewer wrinkles and a tighter look. CoolSculpting^® is an effective option for non-surgical fat reduction from areas like the chin and neck. However, it cannot tighten loose skin or underlying muscle tissue, and it cannot address facial wrinkles. Because of this, it is not an appropriate alternative to a surgical facelift. The TriPollar Apollo is a great option for patients who are not ready for surgery – either financially or from a recovery perspective. It can tone and tighten the face and neck, and many of Dr. Lichten’s patients are very happy with those results. It is a good tool for some patients, enabling them to prolong surgery.

Dermal fillers are great at what they do, but they do not treat the same issues that a facelift corrects. Fillers add volume to the face, which does result in tighter skin, but they cannot lift sagging jowls or firm the loose skin on your neck. Also, fillers tend to last for about a year, while facelift results can be ten times that long. Finally, KYBELLA is wonderful for treating excess fat under the chin, but it cannot tighten the skin, nor does it affect the face itself. KYBELLA is strictly used under the chin.

A good facelift will turn back the clock for ten years. Of course, however, you will start aging again immediately after the surgery. There are a lot of factors that go into keeping your facelift results as long as possible. As always, the sun, aging, and pollution will all continue to take their toll on facial skin, even after surgery. Good skin care and, of course, sunscreen, will maximize your results. We will educate you on the best ways to keep your face looking beautiful.

For women, Dr. Lichten can typically hide facelift scars above and behind the ears in the hairline. Because men usually have less or no hair on their heads but more facial hair, the doctor will place men’s facelift scars in the most inconspicuous place possible. Dr. Lichten will place other scars in the crease behind the ears. There will also be scars that appear as fine lines in front of the ear and under the chin.

Facelifts, more than any other plastic surgery procedure, have lots of different names for different techniques. There are all sorts of names, like "SMAS," "MACS," "short scar," "neck lift," "skin only," "sandwich," "deep plane," and "endoscopic lifts." The bottom line is that all these techniques are aimed at achieving the same goal of facial rejuvenation. Dr. Lichten will look at you and figure out what combination of these techniques is best for you. The variety of techniques and the personalization required for facelifts make it crucial that you have a qualified physician perform your surgery. Make sure you have a board-certified plastic surgeon who is familiar with each of the techniques and can determine which is best for your particular needs and goals.

The term “facelift” is actually technically incorrect. You will see the biggest impact of a facelift on the lower portion of your face and your neck. Most people define the “face” as going from the forehead all the way down to the chin. A facelift, however, starts below the eyes and extends down to the neck. Dr. Lichten’s facelift patients see the biggest improvement in the angle of their chins to their necks, a tightening of their jowls, and a reduction of extra skin on their necks. If you are looking to improve your eyes or forehead, you actually want either a blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) or a brow lift. In addition, crows feet and lines around the mouth can be effectively managed with BOTOX^® Cosmetic and facial fillers like JUVÉDERM^® and Restylane^®. A neck lift is actually the most similar to a facelift. The location of the incisions is similar. The biggest change is that in a neck lift, Dr. Lichten does minimal work on the cheeks and jowls, focusing primarily on the neck.

If you see a “facelift” on TV that is being advertised by someone other than a board-certified plastic surgeon, you should be very cautious. Dr. Lichten has found that those procedures tend to fall into one of two categories – either they are (a) a lot of money for very little result, or (b) a fancy name for the same procedure that surgeons have been using for years.

During your pre-op appointment, we will give you a list of medications to avoid before and after surgery to reduce the risks of bleeding and bruising. In addition, Dr. Lichten asks all of his surgery patients to stop smoking for four weeks before and four weeks after surgery. This is particularly important for his facelift patients. Smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke can constrict the blood vessels in the skin, which can cause scarring. After surgery, you will need to keep your head elevated for several days. This will help to reduce bleeding, swelling, and bruising. In addition, you will need to move around so you can reduce the risks of developing blood clots in your legs.

Most board-certified plastic surgeons have moved on from the old, outdated facelift technique where they pulled facial skin overly tight. Today’s facelift techniques focus more on the contours of the face by removing fat and tightening muscles, with less emphasis on removing the skin. These new techniques result in a more natural look.