A facelift at Dr. Carlos Illich Navarro practice, is a cosmetic surgical procedure to create a more youthful-looking face. The procedure can reduce sagging skin. The face lift can help smooth out skin folds on the cheeks and jawline. This procedure is also called rhytidectomy.
During a facelift, the tissues beneath the skin are altered and excess skin is removed. This gives the face a more youthful shape. A neck lift is often done as part of a facelift. Reduces fat and sagging skin on the neck.
The Face Lift
According to Dr Carlos Illich Navarro the appearance and shape of the face changes over the years. The skin becomes looser and does not retract as easily. Fat deposits decrease in some areas of the face and increase in others.
A facelift can treat these age-related changes:
- The appearance of sagging cheeks
- Excess skin on the jaw line
- Deep skin folds, from the sides of the nose to the corner of the mouth
- Sagging skin and excess fat in the neck (if the procedure includes a neck lift)
A facelift is not a treatment for fine wrinkles, damage from sun exposure, folds around the nose and upper lip, or irregularities in skin color.
Facelift Procedure
In general, a facelift involves lifting the skin and tightening the tissues and muscles. Fat on the face and neck can be sculpted, removed or displaced. The facial skin is then arranged over the newly repositioned contours of the face. Excess skin is removed and the wound is sutured or taped.
The incisions for the procedure depend on the techniques to be used and the patient’s preferences. These are some options:
- The traditional facelift incision begins at the temples, at the hairline. Continue down and around the front of the ears. It ends behind the ears, at the bottom of the scalp. An incision may be made under the chin to improve the appearance of the neck.
- The limited incision is shorter and begins at the hairline, just above the ear. It wraps around the front of the ear, but does not extend to the bottom of the scalp.
- The neck lift incision begins at the front of the ear lobe. Continue around the ear to the bottom of the scalp. A small incision is also made under the chin.
A facelift typically takes 3 to 6 hours. However, it may take longer if other cosmetic procedures are done at the same time.