Facelift

The original facelift was predominantly a skin tightening procedure. We have learned, however, that tightening only the loose skin is not the best way to rejuvenate a face. In order to create a natural appearance to the lifted face, surgery must restore the position and volume of the drooping deeper tissues of the face and neck. By directly addressing the drooping fat in the mid-face, jowl, cheeks, and neck, a deeper suspension is possible. This creates an authentic appearance to the lifted face, avoiding a “stretched” look that many less advanced facelifts have.

A successful facelift may dramatically improve the nasolabial fold or groove between the nose and corner of the mouth. Surgery may dramatically reduce jowls and re-establish a firm jaw line as well as re-contour the neckline through fat removal. It also may tighten loose folds of excess skin underneath the neck.
There is no single, standard facelift procedure. Each patient presents a different anatomic picture and requires a different set of tools for an optimal, natural rejuvenation. At Finn Plastic Surgery, you can be sure your treatment will be individualized to your particular needs.

Gimmicky procedures with catchy names flood the media with promises of facelift results with no downtime. All of them promise dramatic results with minimal risk, minimal down time, or minimal costs. Most of these “miracle cures” are nothing but hype and self-promotion and fail the tests of time. At Finn Plastic Surgery, you will never get a “one size fits all” treatment. Each patient is different and requires a unique combination of treatments. At times, a smaller procedure with less downtime is appropriate. Usually, effective, durable solutions require more aggressive surgery. Here, you will never be oversold into a procedure that is not right for you and your specific concerns. We offer proven treatments to most effectively address your individual concerns.

Facelifts are performed by our board-certified plastic surgeons, private surgery suite under IV sedation combined with local anesthesia. Dr. Finn may opt to utilize general anesthesia should he deem it medically necessary. Some patients choose to stay in the hospital overnight, but most recover in the comfort of their own homes after surgery. We are conveniently located adjacent to the Courtyard by Marriott, and we can arrange discounted stays if needed. 

Although a facelift is generally a very safe procedure with a small incision, complications may occur with any surgery. There are several things you can do to minimize the risks for complications. Any smoking seriously impedes wound healing and dramatically raise the risk for scarring. Please be candid with your surgeon if you are a smoker, as the procedure itself may need to be modified for you. All smoking must be stopped for at least two weeks before and two weeks after any facelift procedure.

Following surgery, patients wear a large, fluffy dressing for one to two days. After this is removed, patients may wash their face and hair gently. We remove sutures and staples between one and two weeks post procedure. It is important to minimize activity following surgery and to keep the head elevated as much as possible. Ice packs are helpful for the first 24 hours.

Bruising and swelling are typical and may be dramatic after surgery. This resolves in varying amounts of time, generally within ten days to two weeks, and much of the bruising may be concealed with makeup at one week following surgery. Pain is surprisingly minimal following surgery, and the cheeks and ears may feel numb for several weeks.

You will receive a surgical quote and any clearance forms required at your consultation. Should you decide to proceed, we will connect you with our patient care coordinator, Stephanie. At this time, you will select a procedure date and pay a $500.00 non-refundable booking fee to reserve this date. Once the surgery date is set, we schedule a pre-operative appointment two weeks prior to surgery.

At your pre-op, you will have ample time to discuss your upcoming procedure in great detail and have all your questions answered. You will bring the required clearance forms to this visit unless we have already received them. We will review all pre- and post-operative care, prescribed medications, and any provisions we may give you for use pre- and post-surgery. You will review and sign the consent for surgery, and the balance will be due at the conclusion of this appointment.

It is vitally important to avoid all blood thinning medications/supplements for two weeks prior to surgery. This includes any aspirin or aspirin-containing products as well as any anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or naproxen (including Motrin, Aleve and Advil). Generally, you may take Tylenol (Acetaminophen). Avoid supplements such as Vitamin E, multi vitamins, and omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil and flax seed oil.) You will be given a complete list of medications/supplements to avoid at your pre-op. All these medications can contribute to bleeding problems following surgery and can increase the amount of bruising.

We want you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible, so in addition to avoiding blood thinners, we provide our surgical patients with a supply of Arnica Montana and Vitamin K cream which are both clinically proven to help reduce bruising and swelling. Vitamin K cream applied to your skin two weeks before surgery tends to reduce bruising. Arnica Montana is a homeopathic herb that helps to reduce swelling and bruising. We also have a laser called the V Beam Perfecta that aids in speeding up stubborn bruising! It targets the pigment in the bruise, causing it to break up and dissipate much faster than on its own. We encourage surgery patients to take advantage of this laser treatment at no charge as often as you want while the bruising is still present. We will also go over surgery specific tips at your pre-op that can help speed up the down time!