As we age, the effects of decades of gravity, sun exposure, and changes to the experiences and shapes of our faces can cause the skin over our face to slacken. This creased, “jowled” appearance is often pointed to as a symptom of aging. A face lift can turn back the clock on our faces and give patients a more youthful and healthy looking face that does not readily show the signs of exposure that we associate with aging.
Known as a rhytidectomy in the medical community, a face lift literally lifts the skin of the face away from the underlying tissue. A surgeon can then remove tissue, such as fat deposits, to contour a more natural facial appearance. The skin is then reattached to the muscles underlying the face and any excess skin is removed, removing with it heavy wrinkles and folds, such as pronounced jaw creases. Typically, face lifts will not correct forehead wrinkles, excessively “loose” skin on the neck, or “bags” under one’s eyes to any great degree, but procedures to correct these features can often be combined with a face lift to reduce the overall down time of a patient.
Face lifts can be performed under either a local or general anesthetic, depending on the specific work that the surgeon feels needs to be done and how to best reduce patient discomfort. While most patients report very little discomfort following a face lift procedure, it may take over a week for most of the swelling of the face to recede. Incisions (and subsequent stitches) are made behind the hair line so as not to be noticeable after your surgery. Bruising of the face is usually minor but in some patients can be extensive, and you should be prepared to reserve several days (up to two weeks) after surgery to recover from the visible signs of the procedure. Patients should avoid smoking for about one week before and after the procedure to ensure proper healing of the face. After the procedure the face may be numb, so it is important to be especially gentle to avoid harming one’s delicate face without realizing it.
Any modifications to one’s face are extremely personal, so it is important to thoroughly discuss the procedure with Dr. Ziesmann so that both he and you are aware of your goals and expectations. Because there are many nerves, muscles, and blood vessels in the face and because most patients will desire quick healing for such a visible procedure, Dr. Ziesmann may ask patients to avoid certain activities, vitamins, or dietary supplements prior to and after the surgery. To find out more about what you will specifically experience with a face lift procedure or to pose any questions to Dr. Ziesmann, please contact our offices to schedule a personal consultation with the doctor.
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