What is Facelift?
Facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery is done to lift and rejuvenate the lower face and neck. As we age, the skin, fat, and muscles begin to lose their natural elasticity and tone and begin to sag. This causes well-known signs of aging including jowling, deepening nasolabial folds, and sagging skin in the neck.
Facelift surgery restores the face and neck back to a more youthful position. Dr. Lozada uses the most advanced techniques to achieve natural results that never look “pulled” or “done”.
Why Choose Facelift?
Facelift surgery is the most effective way to turn back the clock and restore the cheeks, jawline, and neck to a more youthful and refreshed appearance. Minimally invasive treatments can cause some amounts of skin tightening but nothing equals the results achieved of a well-executed facelift.
Benefits of Facelifts
The procedure works wonders by removing excess loose skin and tightening your face and neck. It smoothes your face and restores its youthfulness.
Tightens the Face Against Aging
Aging can affect your body’s collagen production. With time, you might notice your facial skin sagging. After a certain age, over-the-counter face creams become less effective and stop working. During these times, a facelift can be your answer to recapturing your youth.
It is the Answer to Your Signs of Aging
Conditions like smoking, bad weather, stress, excessive sun exposure, etc. are reasons for untimely aging. These lead to creases, excessive wrinkles, saggy skin, double chin, etc. Fortunately, facelifts can answer these issues, heal them, and return your youthful, glowing, and firm skin texture.
No Need to Worry About Age
While men and women in their mid and late 50s are the most ideal candidates for the procedure, a professional and certified surgeon can operate to remove sagging and wrinkled skin from people of all ages.
Am I a Candidate for a Facelift?
Facelift Philadelphia is for patients who are tired of their sagging cheeks, jowls, and sagging skin in their neck. Facelift surgery is a great option for people even into their 40’s to take years off their face and neck and allow them to age gracefully into the next decade. If you’re someone who pulls back their face and neck skin wishing they had that look, then facelift surgery may be for you!
Best Candidates for Facelift
If you are looking to proceed with a facelift, Dr. Lozada will need to verify if you are an ideal candidate for it. The criteria of good candidates are simple:
Your skin is healthy
Your skin needs to be supple, soft, and flexible for the surgery. If you stay out under the sun without protection, it can directly affect your skin’s health.
Your Expectations are Realistic
You have realistic expectations and know that you will look like yourself, but as a younger version. Moreover, you are aware that the procedure removes signs of aging and does not make you look like a different person.
Do Not Smoke
Smoking can cause your skin to become dull and dry with pigmentation. It makes your jawline sag and creates wrinkles. Hence, it is best to keep smoking at bay.
What is the SMAS?
The SMAS stands for the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and is the key layer to all effective facelift surgeries. The SMAS is the most important supportive structure of the face. By lifting the SMAS, we are lifting the natural fat pads that have dropped over time into a more youthful and rejuvenated position.
Facelift Procedure
Dr. Lozada’s 3-step facelift procedure to youthful skin is as follows:
Step 1: Anesthesia Process
You will either get general anesthesia or intravenous sedation (not local anesthesia). The best option will vary depending on the patient, but Dr. Lozada will choose whichever fits you best.
Step 2: Incision Procedure
Depending on your choice of a facelift, your doctor will make the incisions. For example, for a mini facelift, Dr. Lazoda will make small incisions in the front of your ears that make the curve behind them. It is minimally invasive and works wonders on improving your neck and jawline.
Deep Plane facelifts, on the other hand, take place in the operating room. Dr. Lozada lifts the SMAS from the cheek down to the chin. Doing so allows the facial fat to smoothen the sagging neck skin.
Step 3: Closing the Incisions
The doctor will close the incisions with sutures. These either dissolve by themselves, or you need to visit Dr. Lozada to remove them after some days. They heal and conceal themselves, helping your skin look natural, fresh, and glowing post-surgery.
Different Facelift Techniques
Dr. Lozada performs 3 techniques for his facelift surgeries.
SMAS facelift
The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) facelift targets the lower part of your face. Dr. Lozada will improve these areas by elevating the fat pads and tightening your cheek and chin muscles. The result is a smooth and youthful face with a natural glow.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift works wonders for younger people with early signs of aging. It is a minimally invasive process with less recovery time. You will need light sedation for this cosmetic surgery that focuses on the neck and lower face.
Deep Plane Facelift
Deep plane facelift addresses sagging and wrinkles in multiple facial areas. The treatment involves lifting the SMAS, tightening the skin, and trimming off excess skin.
Recovery and Side Effects from Facelift
During day 1 of the recovery process, you will need pain medication and feel tired and sleepy. As for day 2, you will need to visit Dr. Loazada for re-evaluation of the area and change of surgical dressings. With proper rest and recovery, you can slowly stop using pain medications and feel better. By day 30, you can get back to your normal schedule if you follow all the prescribed steps to recovery by Dr. Lozada.
Possible side-effects
- Wound healing problems
- Irregularity in skin tone
- Light scarring
- Skin numbness
Is Facelift Surgery painful?
Facelift Surgery is not very painful and facelift patients typically take very little pain medication after surgery. In the immediate post-operative period, it is common to have a sensation of tightness but this goes away within the first 1-2 weeks.
Immediately After Surgery
Immediately after surgery you will have a dressing that was placed in the operating room around your face and neck. This will stay on for the first 24 hrs.
It is normal to feel swollen and tight, but the procedure itself is relatively painless. After you are released from the surgical center it is your job to take it easy! Dr. Lozada will call you on the evening of your surgery to check in on you..
The First 24 to 48 Hours
Dr. Lozada will see you the first day after surgery in the office to remove the dressing and check the incisions. After the dressing is removed you will be given a light compressive chin strap dressing and are encouraged to wear it throughout the next week. It is your job to take it easy and let your body recover from surgery!
The First 2 Weeks
The first two weeks after surgery will see an improvement in the swelling and bruising that can occur after facelift surgery. After 1 week any residual bruising is easily concealed with makeup and patients feel comfortable to be outside the house. There are no restrictions aside from avoiding strenuous activity and exercise for 2 weeks after surgery.
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- Hayden Mink
Facelift FAQs
If you live near Philadelphia, PA, Lozada Facial Plastic Surgery offers Facelift among its services and is conveniently located at 1608 Walnut Street 9th Floor Suite 902B, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Achieving natural facelift results relies on lifting the SMAS layer and making sure we are not pulling at all on the skin. In the past, facelift procedures were mainly done by lifting the skin alone. By pulling the skin tight, this created a pulled, tight, and wind-swept appearance that is both unnatural and not pleasing to the eye.
Dr. Lozada always takes care to lift the deeper layers (SMAS) and ensure there is no pulling on the overlying skin. This ensures a natural looking result that is rejuvenated and youth but never “operated”.
Absolutely! Combining other procedures such as Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), Brow lift, fat grafting, or skin laser resurfacing can provide facial rejuvenation and allows one recovery from all procedures.
When the dressing is removed the first day after surgery, you will see a dramatic improvement in the appearance of your face and neck. Swelling and bruising are common after surgery and peak around 4-5 days after the procedure but will subside over the next 1-2 weeks.
Effective Facelift Surgery can last ten years and beyond. It is important to remember that we can’t stop the aging process but facelift surgery helps set back the clock. Revision facelift surgery can be performed if small “tuck ups” are needed and patients undoubtedly start from a much better point once having had a facelift. There are many factors that influence the longevity of a facelift (or neck lift) of which technique is perhaps the most important.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a facelift is around $8000. However, the price will vary depending on the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia used, the type of facelift performed, and other factors. Some people may also need to stay in the hospital for one or more nights after surgery, which can add to the total cost.
Why Should I Choose Dr. Kirk Lozada?
Dr. Lozada is a Facial Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon and Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgeon. Dr. Lozada is committed to providing the highest quality aesthetic and reconstructive services for all his patients in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey.
At our office a personalized treatment plan is essential and we allow sufficient time during consultation to develop a unique understanding of each patient’s desires. Dr. Lozada completed his fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and has trained with the top American Board Certified Plastic Surgeons in Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.
Dr. Kirk Lozada is currently a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and has numerous publications and presentations in the field of facial plastic surgery. Please contact the office and schedule a consultation today!
