You have signs of aging that you’re not sure just a few injections and topical creams are going to take care of. A facelift dramatically lifts sagging folds of skin and erases deep creases that make you look aged and tired.
At Plastic Surgery Arts Center in Webster, Texas, Dr. Jan Garcia can help you decide if a facelift is the procedure for you. Here’s what he wants you to know about facelifts and why you might consider one.
During a facelift, Dr. Garcia makes an incision that begins in the front of the ear and extends up into the hairline. He then pulls back the flaps of skin on each side of your face and surgically alters the tissue beneath the skin to restore youthful contours to your face. He removes any excess skin, too.
If you’re bothered by the appearance of sagging skin or deep lines and creases, a facelift may be a smart step. This is especially true if minimally invasive treatments, like cosmetic injectables and microneedling, aren’t making a noticeable difference in your appearance.
As long as you are in generally good health, you are potentially a candidate for a facelift — no matter your age.
No other procedure can correct loose skin and neck muscles like a facelift. As the years pass, your face’s shape and look changes due to gravity, genetics, exposure to the environment (hello, sun!), and lifestyle.
Your body produces less collagen, a protein that makes your skin resilient and strong. As a result, your skin gets looser and less elastic. Fat deposits shrink in some areas, which means wrinkles become more prominent, and fat increases in other areas.
A facelift can help with:
However, a facelift cannot erase sun damage or uneven pigmentation.
If you combine a facelift with a neck lift, Dr. Garcia can also correct the sagging skin and excess fat in the neck.
You’ll need to take it easy for the first 10 days or so following your procedure. Sometime around day seven to 10, you’ll return to the office so Dr. Garcia can check your healing and remove stitches.
Most people return to work and basic daily activities after about two weeks. After week three, you’ll still have some residual swelling and tightness, but will start to see real improvements in your facial contour. At that point, Dr. Garcia will likely clear you for exercise and other more intense activities.
It can take up to one year for all swelling, bruising, and numbness to resolve, but the lingering effects of your facelift are so slight that you’re likely the only one to notice.
Your results should last for a long time, often up to 10 years. You’re still vulnerable to the natural progress of aging after a facelift, however, so you benefit from touch-ups in the future.
Prolong your results by staying out of the sun, eating a healthy diet, and taking great care of your skin.
If you’re ready to learn more about how a facelift or other facial-rejuvenation strategies can transform your look, contact us at Plastic Surgery Arts Center in Webster, Texas. Call us today or use the “book online” button on this website to request an appointment.
