Are you struggling with self-confidence issues due to sagging facial skin? Have other less invasive procedures been unsuccessful and don’t provide the results you want? Then a facelift may be the right choice for you. At Kitto Plastic Surgery we provide facelifts in Richmond, VA and aim to ensure our patients are fully informed and feel they made the right choice in proceeding with surgery. To better help other patients we have put together a brief guide with all the information you need to know before choosing to have a facelift.
What is a Facelift and Why Choose One?
As we age, our skin loses the elasticity and collagen that give us our youthful appearance. Long hours in the sun, stress, and age all take a toll on our face—creating wrinkles, fine lines, undefined jawlines, laugh lines, neck folds, and more. A facelift is a surgical procedure that lifts various areas of the face to reduce sagging and the appearance of wrinkles or fine lines. This procedure results in a more youthful appearance, lifts the cheeks, sculpts the jaw, and decreases the appearance of smile/laugh lines.
Individuals who are experiencing low self-confidence due to the appearance of sagging skin, deep lines, and creases, and if minimally-invasive procedures are not providing you with the results you desire, a facelift might be a suitable option for you.
Different Types of Facelifts
There are two main types of facelifts—a standard full facelift (also known as the rhytidectomy) and a mini-facelift. The standard facelift provides more dramatic results while the mini-facelift is ideal for individuals concerned with sagging in their cheeks and face skin.
How is a Facelift Performed?
During a full facelift, a board-certified plastic surgeon will make several small incisions along your hairline, traveling the contours of your face and following it back behind your ear. These incisions provide the surgeon access to your muscles, tissue, and skin. After removing excess fat and skin and tightening the muscles, the surgeon will close these incisions with sutures. The whole process can take several hours.
A mini-facelift is performed in much the same way—placing small incisions on the hairline in front of the ear and within the mouth area. This achieves a more voluminous cheek appearance and reduces wrinkles around the mouth and on the cheeks.
Benefits of a Facelift
There are many benefits to a facelift, but the one that matters most to you will depend on your specific insecurities. A few of the benefits you can expect are:
- Lifted and tightened skin on the face.
- A more youthful appearance.
- Reduction of fat in the face.
- Removal or lessening of wrinkles and frown lines.
- A more sculpted jaw and chin.
- Smoother skin.
- Firmer, lifted cheeks.
Side Effects to Expect After a Facelift
Just like any surgical procedure, a facelift is not without it’s risks and side effects. Typically, people can expect bruising and swelling on or around the face for the first few days after the procedure. Some individuals may have a small, thin tube temporarily placed behind their ear, under the incision for assistance with blood draining. Sutures are removed about one week after the surgery and most individuals can expect to make a full recovery within three weeks.
Other possible risks and side effects include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Complications of anesthesia
- Temporary nerve damage
- Infection
- Numbness
- Scarring
Kitto Plastic Surgery—Providing Facelift Surgery in Richmond, VA
Ultimately, whether or not a facelift is for you is your decision to make. You are now armed with the knowledge of how a facelift works and understand the risks associated with it. If the risks do not outweigh the benefits for you, then a facelift may be the right choice for you.
Kitto Plastic Surgery offers facelift plastic surgery in Richmond, VA. Dr. Kitto is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a special eye for balance and symmetry, and a careful, gentle approach. The team at Kitto Plastic Surgery in Richmond, VA is committed to providing you with a safe environment to explore your surgical options and determine the course of action right for you.
If you would like more information about facelift surgery with Dr. Kitto, or wish to schedule a consultation, call us at (804) 294-1777 or go online to find a time that works for you.