Facelift cosmetic surgery is a proven and effective procedure to reduce facial signs of aging, tighten loose muscles in the face, and provide the face with a rejuvenated appearance.
At the time of the initial consultation, the surgeon will inform the patient of the various steps involved in this procedure.
Upon understanding the steps involved in the facelift surgery, the patient is likely to feel more reassured and confident about the procedure. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom provides facelift to patients in Chicago, IL, and surrounding locations.
Anesthesia
The first step in any major surgery such as facelift will be administering the anesthesia. The surgeon will decide between using general and local anesthesia with IV sedation in advance as well as assess the patient’s fitness to receive general anesthesia before the procedure.
An anesthesiologist or a certified anesthetist nurse will administer the anesthesia as well as remain in the operating room throughout the procedure to oversee the patient’s response. The patient will be asleep during the procedure and will be brought out of anesthesia upon completion of the surgery.
Incision Placement
After the patient is under anesthesia, the facelift surgeon will place the incisions as discreetly as possible to ensure that any scarring in the future remains hidden. In general, the incisions are placed within the hairline. The facelift technique that the surgeon uses will typically determine the extent of the incisions.
The surgeon may place smaller incisions in the creases of the face as these areas heal faster and hide the scars more efficiently. For a traditional facelift, the surgeon will place an incision starting behind the hairline on one side of the head, right above the temple.
This incision will follow the hairline and go down to the ear continuing into the lower scalp underneath the hair.
Muscle and Skin Tightening
Using the incisions, the surgeon will lift the facial skin to remove or redistribute excess fats, tighten loose muscles, and trim extra facial skin. They will enhance the facial contours and re-drape the skin tightly and smoothing using staples and sutures. Subsequently, the will wrap the incision area in a bandage for better healing.
Multiple Procedures with Facelift
Sometimes, the patient may choose to undergo facelift plastic surgery with another procedure for more complete results. The surgeon may undertake facial and neck liposuction to eliminate excess fatty deposits in these sites and improve the facial contours.
Furthermore, the patient may undergo chin, cheek, or lip implants, facial fat transfer, or lip augmentation with dermal fillers along with the facelift surgery.
Some patients may also need upper face procedures such as eyelid lift or brow lift to achieve more comprehensive and natural looking outcomes. Depending on the additional procedures, the steps involved in the facelift will differ slightly.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift targets a smaller area of the face. It concentrates on the jaw, lower cheeks, and neck. The surgeon will usually place the incisions behind the ear and along the hairline.
They will remove unwanted fatty pockets, lift sagging muscles, and eliminate excess skin using these incisions. Some surgeons employ endoscopic techniques to perform mini facelifts.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, and nearby areas for facelift.