Facelift New York City | Rhytidectomy

Our face changes as we age, our skin loses its' elasticity and begins to fold in several locations. This loss of "snap" is secondary to sun damage, emotional stress, large weight gains or losses, smoking and any health related problems.

The following is a description of normal facial aging by decade:

30's - extra upper eyelid skin becomes obvious and crow's feet start to form at the outside of each eye
40's - nasolabial folds become more prominent, lines form across the forehead and between the eyebrows
50's - lines develop in the neck skin, the jaw line becomes less distinct with the development of jowls, the tip of the nose starts to droop
60's, 70's, and 80's - the facial skin and fat atrophies yielding increased wrinkles and sagging skin.

A facelift restores the look of your youth by helping to alleviate those features which indicate signs of aging. The cheeks are elevated, facial folds are flattened, jowls are tightened, the neck is lifted and redraped, and excess skin is removed. Your appearance is not replaced, but a younger appearance is re-established.

There are several variations of facelifts. Skin-only face-lifts were popular many years ago and are still performed in appropriate situations. Intermediate depth face lifts achieve their lift at deeper levels by also elevating the layer of tissue just above the facial muscles. Deep plane face lifts strive to achieve these changes by elevating all the soft tissues from just above the facial skeleton. Facelift incisions are typically made just in front of the ear, wrapped around the back of the ear and hidden within the hairline. These incisions and the various types of lifts are tailored to your anatomy and your desired result. The amount of swelling you may have varies, but you can resume most normal activities within a week and should show few signs of your procedure by three weeks (please see the commonly asked questions below).

Dr. Roland will evaluate your entire facial appearance during your consultation in our Manhattan office, pointing out your strengths and your areas which surgery can improve. He will also discuss other surgical procedures to improve your facial harmony which are not targeted in a facelift. These other procedures may include eye work or using your own fat as grafts to replace what has been lost to atrophy over the years. As always, Dr. Roland will map out a plan of treatment for you to consider now, and outline those procedures that you're not ready for as yet, but may want to consider in the future. This system is designed to give you a game plan when considering facial enhancement surgery. Options to temporize your facial appearance with soft tissue fillers, BOTOX and or Laser treatments which may be more economical are also addressed.

Commonly Asked Questions Concerning Your Facelift

What can a facelift do for me?

Facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomies (literally, "removal of wrinkles"), rejuvenate the mid- to lower face and neck. Facelifts are most effective for patients who want to correct:

Midface sagging
Deep creases under the eyes
Deep creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
Jowls due to loss of muscle tone
Sagging areas of fat
Loose skin and fat under the chin and jaw

What won't a facelift correct?

Facelifts can produce a dramatic improvement in appearance for patients with the problems mentioned above. However, facelifts do not stop the aging process; in time, signs of aging will gradually appear once again. Furthermore, facelifts will not rejuvenate the brow, eyelids, nose, and some of the midface. Patients who want to improve these areas may consider combining a facelift with a brow lift or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Injectable soft-tissue fillers, facial implants and skin resurfacing can also enhance the effects of a facelift.

Am I a good candidate for a facelift?

The best candidates for a rhytidectomy procedure:

Wish to improve one or more of the signs of aging indicated above
Are men or women whose faces have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity
Are generally healthy
Do not smoke
Have realistic expectations
Are considering a facelift for personal reasons, not because someone else is pressuring them to do so

During your consultation Dr. Roland will address each of these factors when evaluating your eligibility for this procedure.

How is a rhytidectomy performed?

Facelifts are typically outpatient procedures and may be performed in an office-based facility, surgery center or hospital, in the New York City area. The way a facelift is performed varies depending the patient's facial structure, and the extent of correction desired. The three most common incision techniques are:

Traditional facelift: The "full" facelift for rejuvenating the face and neck includes fat repositioning and skin redraping. The incision begins at the temples, travels down to the front of the ear, around the earlobe, and behind the ear to the lower scalp at the hairline. Sometimes, another incision is made under the chin when additional work is necessary in this area.

Limited-incision facelift: For limited rejuvenation around the eyes and mouth, including nasolabial folds and other deep creases. Short incisions are made at the temples and around the ear, and possibly in the lower eyelids.

Neck lift: A neck lift concentrates on jowls, loose skin on the neck, and fat under the chin. The incision is made around the ear lobe and behind the ear to the lower scalp.

In all three methods, incisions are closed with sutures and scars are hidden in the hairline and natural contours of the face.

What is the recovery from a facelift like?

After your rhytidectomy, Dr. Roland will wrap the incisions in bandages and may place drainage tubes in the area. These drains will be removed one or two days after your procedure. Sutures will be removed over the first one and a half weeks post operatively. You may experience facial weakness, swelling, numbness, bruising, and a feeling of tightness or tension in your face and neck. Your facial appearance may look uneven and your facial muscles may feel stiff. Most of these symptoms usually resolve within 3-6 weeks. Scars become less red, raised, lumpy or itchy over time. Many patients return to work by the second week post operatively. Camouflage cosmetics can be used to minimize the appearance of bruising. You should be gentle with your skin and hair as you recover.

How long do the effects of a facelift last?

Results of a facelift do not last forever. Gravity is a constant force acting on all of the tissues in the face and body. Therefore you may want to retighten your facelift after seven to ten years. However, in another sense, the effects will continue to look better than if you had never had a facelift, as if setting back the hands of time.

What are the risks of rhytidectomy?

Possible complications of a facelift include: bleeding, infection, bruising, uneven swelling or discoloration, allergic reaction to the anesthesia, skin blistering (usually only seen in smokers), and temporary or permanent loss of sensation or movement in a part of the face. Dr. Roland will discuss the risks and benefits of a facelift with you before your surgery.

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