OVERVIEW
Over time, a person’s face changes and for some, the changes are so dramatic that a face lift may be the only solution to turn back the hands of time. The go-to surgery for age reversal, a facelift, takes care of droopy skin, lines and wrinkles and a change in contour by repositioning and tightening the underlying connective tissue and muscles, as well as trimming away excessive skin. If there’s excessive fat in the face and neck, Houston area cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Sumpter, can use liposuction. After a face lift, a patient will look years younger with feel more confident about his or her appearance.
BEST CANDIDATES
Good candidates for face lifts are men or women who demonstrate:
- Looseness of skin in the middle face
- Looseness of skin in the jaw line and neck
- Loss of volume in skin of the face and/or neck
WHAT TO EXPECT
During the consultation, Dr. Sumpter will evaluate the patient’s overall health along with their skin quality, skin looseness, folds, and wrinkles. In addition, the underlying bone anatomy will be assessed and a facial rejuvenation treatment plan will be created that will help attain the best results. There are several variations of a surgical face lift, including a skin-only lift, which is reserved for patients with less sagging, a mid-face lift, which address the cheeks and mid-face area, and for those with severe sagging, a deep-plane lift, which addresses deeper wrinkles and folds. It is very common to combine nonsurgical techniques with a face lift to maximize results. This may include wrinkle fillers or BOTOX, as well as a chemical peel or a laser treatment to address skin irregularities on the surface, such as scars, sunspots and blemishes.
FACELIFT RECOVERY
Depending on the extent of the face lift and the patient’s overall health, patients may have an overnight stay or be discharged later in the evening. Swelling and bruising are expected after face lift surgery. The swelling and bruising will start to resolve during the first week after surgery, although this will vary between patients. Usually, patients may go out in public within 10 days with the aid of camouflage make-up. Most patients can resume modest activity in 2-3 weeks. A complete recovery from a facelift surgery occurs in about 4-6 weeks. Supplemental procedures, such as nonsurgical skin rejuvenation, can usually be performed at this time.
EXPECTED COST
Depending on the technique used and the invasiveness of the surgery, surgical fees for facelift surgery vary greatly. Less invasive facelifts can average between $6,000 to $8,000, while more aggressive approaches can start at $9,000.
TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME
Face lifts are becoming more and more common, especially with advanced surgical skills and progressive surgical techniques. Experienced surgeons understand the anatomy of the face and produce results that are not only lasting, but also natural by appearance. If you are ready to turn back the hands of time and look younger today, we encourage you to call our cosmetic surgery office and schedule a complete consultation to learn more.
