Facelift

Smooth Lines & Wrinkles,
Tighten Sagging Skin, & Refresh
Your Look with a Rhytidectomy
in Portland, OR

As we age, our skin begins to loosen and sag. We start to see prominent wrinkles around the nose and mouth and the development of jowls and loose tissue at the neck. The plump fat seen in a young face also begins to thin and settle lower in the face. In some, genetics, environmental exposures, and prolonged sun damage accelerate this process. The appearance of the aging lower face and neck can be improved with a rhytidectomy or facelift at our Portland, OR, practice.

What Are My Options for a Facelift?

An effective facelift will not only address lax skin but also the deeper tissues and facial muscles underneath. Your facelift procedure will be customized depending on your unique facial profile and the areas you wish to treat. Based on this, a plastic surgeon will calculate the appropriate angles to lift and tighten the face and neck for the most aesthetically balanced, yet natural, results.

Ultimately, no matter where you choose to receive your facelift, it is important to select an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who knows how to balance the intricate nuances of a facelift while minimizing flattening or pleating of skin that is pulled too far horizontally or vertically. Our plastic surgeons have previously performed revision facelifts to correct such results.

Some of the options that our patients have chosen to receive include:

Complete or Full Facelift & Neck Lift

A full facelift along with a neck lift is the most comprehensive way to rejuvenate an aging face, as it works to improve and accentuate the appearance of the youthful definition of the cheeks, jawline, and neck by addressing the skin, deeper soft tissues, and muscles in these areas. This form of facelift is usually sought by patients in their 50s and up, though some younger patients may also benefit from this procedure.

Many patients also use this operation to correct specific aspects of their face, such as sagging eyebrows or laxity at the eyelids, each of which can be addressed with a brow lift and blepharoplasty, respectively.

Mid-Face Lift

A mid-face lift primarily addresses the cheeks, under-eye areas, and the upper lip region. Typically, the incision is hidden away in the hairline, and is angled to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds, sagging cheeks, and possibly the jowls.

Lower Facelift & Neck Lift

A lower facelift and neck lift (also referred to as a mini-facelift or short-incision facelift) is meant to rejuvenate the jaw and neck area. While it is an integral part of a full facelift, many patients find that a mini-facelift is all they need to achieve their desired results.

Non-Surgical Facelift or Liquid Facelift

While a facelift (and especially a full facelift) is the gold standard in facial anti-aging, many patients look for forms of facial rejuvenation with minimal invasion and downtime. Non-surgical options to consider include Ultherapy^®, Renuvion^® J-Plasma^®, and liquid facelifts performed with injectable dermal fillers.

How Should I Prepare for a Consultation for a Facelift?

We believe you need to be well informed about the cosmetic procedure in which you are interested, including its pre- and post- operative expectations. At your initial consult, one of our surgeons will meet with you to discuss in detail your unique concerns and the aesthetic goals you would like to achieve.

Feel free to bring in example images of you in your youth, preferably not smiling, to help us better understand your goals and the improvements you are looking for. The surgeon will then examine you and offer an opinion on how to achieve your goals based on best practices and other important factors to be weighed.

Choosing a surgeon is an intensely personal decision. We encourage you to take the time to prepare any questions you may have and have them answered by our physician and their team. We believe the formation of a personal bond is an integral part of the surgery and healing process.

What Steps Could a Facelift Procedure Entail?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, can improve the most visible signs of aging by tightening deeper skin and muscular tissue structures, removing or redistributing selected areas of fat, and re-draping the skin of the face and neck. By making inconspicuous incisions around the ear and into the hairline, a skilled plastic surgeon can access the lax fat, muscles, and soft tissue and reposition them to restore a more youthful contour.* The overlying skin is then gently smoothed and tightened. A facelift surgery can take several hours, and is performed with anesthesia. Most patients spend the first night recovering at our fully accredited outpatient surgery center.

During a facelift at our Portland, OR, practice, our board-certified plastic surgeons reposition SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) tissue. This leaves you looking simply like a younger version of yourself, rather than like a different person.*

Recovery

After a facelift, you should relax for about 10 to 14 days to allow healing. Most people find they are able to resume a regular work or home schedule after that time period. Exercise and other strenuous physical activity may be resumed about four weeks after the operation.

Risks

Facial surgery, as with all surgical procedures, carries a certain amount of risk. It is important that you understand these risks and the possible complications or adverse events associated with them. Your surgeon will discuss any risks with you during your consultation and pre-operative appointments.

Additional Related Procedures:

• Brow Lift
• Blepharoplasty
• Rhinoplasty