Facelift

A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy is a surgical procedure designed to smooth the loose skin on your face and neck, tighten underlying tissues and remove excess fat. A facelift cannot stop the aging process, but it can "set back the clock", improving the most visible signs of aging. A facelift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as eyelid surgery or a forehead lift.

The most common areas that people express concern about are the folds that develop between the nose and the mouth, the folds near the corner of the mouth, jowls along the jaw line and excess skin and fat in the neck area. These are addressed through incisions that follow the contour of the ear, pass around the earlobe to the back of the ear and extend into the hairline of the scalp. Occasionally, a small incision may be placed under the chin. The resulting scars are usually well hidden by your hair and by your natural skin creases.

Through these incisions, the skin is separated from the fat and muscle. Excess fat is removed, and the underlying muscles are tightened as necessary. The skin is pulled back until the desired contour is achieved and the excess is removed. A light head dressing is then applied which is removed in a few days.

Within two weeks of surgery, all sutures are removed and the majority of bruising and swelling will have subsided. Camouflage make-up can be worn at this time, and most patients can return to their normal activities without looking as if they have just undergone surgery. Vigorous physical activity should be avoided for six weeks.

As with all surgical procedures, complications can occur such as bleeding, infection, temporary numbness, and reactions to anesthesia. Fortunately these occur infrequently. You can reduce your risks by closely following your instructions before and after surgery and most importantly, by avoiding smoking. Dr. Archer will discuss these issues with you in detail at the time of your initial consultation.