Face Lift

• Q: What’s a Facelift Procedure?
• Q: Why Should I Consider a Facelift Procedure?
• Q: How is Facelift Performed?
• Q: What Should I Anticipate After the Procedure?
• Q: Am I a Candidate for Facelift?

Q: What’s a Facelift Procedure?

A Facelift, otherwise known as Rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck. The signs of aging include sagging in the mid-face, deep creases below the lower eyelids or between the nose and mouth, descended or displaced fat of the cheeks, loss of muscle tone in the lower face, jowls, loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw. A facelift is designed to correct all of these aging features, restoring a more youthful, fresh and rested appearance with uplifted contours and improved tone in facial skin and underlying muscle. Throughout a person’s life, the sun’s radiation, stress, gravity, and other factors cause the skin to sag and fit more loosely. Areas of the face and neck, in particular around the jaw line, are especially prone to the aging process. Though these changes are gradual, wrinkles and other signs of aging can make individuals “feel older” than they really are.

Facelift surgery involves the contraction and realignment of facial and neck skin, and in some instances the removal of excess fat deposits. There are several techniques to perform a facelift. Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Rayham, will help you to select the most appropriate type of facelift technique that suits you and your facial characteristics. Your specific concerns will be thoroughly addressed and your options discussed, when you visit Dr. Rayham in the offices conveniently located in Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York.

When choosing the appropriate technique for your facelift Dr. Rayham will address and discuss with you the level of tightening of the underlying facial structures and placement of the incision that fits most your facial characteristics. The Skin-only facelifts were popular many years ago and are still used in select situations. Intermediate depth facelifts achieve their lift at a deeper, or a so called superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) levels. Majority of facelifts performed by Dr. Rayham in New York are the intermediate plane faceLifts. These include SMASectomy Technique, MACS Lift Technique, Trans-blepharoplasty Incision Mid-Face Lift, Temporal Lift, and Suture Suspension techniques. Deep plane facelifts strive to achieve improvement to you face at the level deep to SMAS layer or just above the bones of the face. Deep plane facelifts techniques performed by Dr. Rayham include Sub-SMAS lift, Subperiosteal Face Lift and Trans-blepharoplasty Incision Subperiosteal Mid-Face lift.

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Q: Why Should I Consider a Face Lift Procedure?

• To tighten sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck.
• To remove excess skin and fat on the neck.
• To lift sagging jaw line.
• To lift “jowls”
• To lift the cheeks and fill hollowness under the eyes.
• To soften and alleviate crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin.

Q: How is Facelift Performed?

Dr. Rayham performs Face Lift procedures in his offices or hospital setting in Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York. This procedure generally lasts from one to five hours. Depending upon the complexity of the operation it could be done either under local anesthesia with twilight sedation or a general anesthesia.

Incisions are usually placed just inside the hairline or in front of the temple hairline, following the contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe. If substantial neck tightening is to be performed, incision is continued to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. Tissue and fat deposits are separated. Liposuction techniques may assist with removal of fat deposits. Underlying tissues are tightened with sutures and sometimes partially removed. The skin is stretched and tightened, and any excess skin is removed. If the neck line requires attention, an additional incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again followed. Small drains sometimes can be placed and removed the following morning. Small stitches are used to close the incisions. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline.

Q: What Should I Anticipate After the Procedure?

Upon completion of the operation bandages are placed around the face and neck areas. The next day, dressings are removed. Generally, post-operative instructions recommend rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery process. The stitches, clips or staples are normally removed within a week, although, sometimes the sutures placed during the operation are absorbable by your body and don’t need to be removed at all. The amount of swelling that you may get is variable, but you can resume most normal activities within a week and should show very few signs of your procedure by three weeks. Although some minor pain is usually associated with immediate postoperative period, it can be effectively treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given after the procedure. Dr. Rayham encourages his patients to refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after the surgery. Also, if you wear glasses, we will show you how to position and tape them in such a way to prevent undue pressure that may negatively influence your healing process.

If you live in New York or nearby, you can either go home the day of your facelift procedure or stay overnight in the hospital, depending on the extent of your operation and your overall health status. Our out of town patients normally stay in New York, either in the hospital or in a hotel, overnight and can be driven home or fly home the next day following their postoperative check-up with Dr. Rayham.

Q: Am I a Candidate for Facelift?

You may be a candidate for a facelift procedure if you have any of the above concerns and if you are in overall good health to undergo an operation. Click here if you’d like to email Dr. Rayham with a question or a concern.

We also encourage you to call us toll free 1 866 435 5357 (1 866 435 5357) , or 1 877 Dr.Rayham (1 877 377 2492) to speak with Dr. Rayham or RR Plastix New York Plastic Surgery Center experienced office staff.