Lower Facelift
Sagging skin and laxity in the “jowls” occur after years of exposure to the elements, facial expressions and the natural aging process. Not long ago, a facelift was considered by many to be reserved for celebrities. Today facelift surgery is one of the most accepted and frequently performed cosmetic procedures. Recent studies have shown that looking good has a direct correlation to higher pay and social acceptance. Today, people from every walk of life are electing to have facelift surgery for cosmetic as well as economic reasons.
The best candidate for a lower facelift is someone whose lower face has begun to descend. The lower facial regions include the “jowls” and the neck. The best results are achieved when the skin still has some elasticity and the facial bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most candidates who are considering a lower facelift have “jowls” that extend below the jaw line and into the neck area. There will often be excess skin and fat in the neck as well. A lower facelift can be performed safely with other procedures, including eyelid surgery, endoscopic brow lift and mid facelift. A lower facelift can make you look younger and fresher and may enhance your self-confidence in the process. Although a lower facelift can’t stop the aging process, it can “turn back the clock”.
Surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis with general anesthesia. Improvement of the visible signs of aging can be achieved by making an incision around and behind the ear. The deep tissues are then repositioned and tightened, excess fat is removed and the skin is redraped with any excess skin being excised. The incisions are then closed with absorbable sutures that will fall out on their own after about one (1) week. During the first week after surgery you must wear an elastic neck support 24 hours per day. The following week the wrap should be worn 8 hours per day. You can choose any eight hours of the day to wear the wrap and you are allowed to break up the time into smaller increments (i.e., wear for 2 hours and then take off for 2 hours until you have achieved a total of 8 hours). You will have stiffness, numbness and bruising in your neck post-operatively. Patients usually experience only mild discomfort. The stiffness and numbness can last up to two (2) years in some patients, but typically resolves within 6-8 months.