Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

What is a facelift (rhytidectomy)?

 

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, involves a surgical procedure that improves signs of aging in your face and/or neck. The procedure may reposition or remove:

  • Skin
  • Fat
  • Muscle

 

A facelift can help restore specific signs of aging, such as:

  • Sagging skin on your face
  • Drooping skin on your cheeks and/or jaw (jowls)
  • Loose skin and extra neck fat (“double chin”)
  • Facial fat that has fallen or is lacking
  • Deep fold or crease lines (between your nose and corners of your mouth)

 

It is important to explore any cosmetic restorative surgery with realistic expectations. You cannot fundamentally change your appearance with a rhytidectomy or stop the aging process. You also cannot use a facelift to treat:

  • Sun damage
  • Superficial wrinkles
  • Skin color irregularities

Each facelift is specialized to the patient’s face and desired results. Speaking with your doctor in advance to manage your expectations and address any questions or concerns is advisable.

 

What are the different kinds of facelifts?

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The type of facelift surgery that you may undergo will depend on the areas of the face and neck that you wish to address. Types of facelift surgeries include:

  • Traditional facelift: The surgery is recommended to individuals who want improvement for moderate to significant facial aging. It involves the surgeon making incisions around the ears, hairline, and below the chin.
  • SMAS facelift (SMAS rhytidectomy): The surgeon focuses on the lower two-thirds of a person’s face by tightening muscle and trimming excess skin and/or fat in cheeks and the lower face. It is a variation of a traditional facelift.
  • Deep plane facelift: The surgery addresses multiple areas of the face simultaneously by lifting the muscular layer of your face, plus the fat and skin as a single unit.
  • Mid-facelift: The surgery treats the cheek area of the face. It involves tightening skin in the cheek area and repositioning fat in the cheek.
  • Mini-facelift: The surgery will lift your lower face and neck area. It is less invasive and a quicker procedure. The procedure is recommended for younger patients and/or patients who only exhibit the early signs of facial sagging.
  • Cutaneous (skin) facelift: The procedure only involves the skin, with a focus on the patient’s neck and lower face.

Speaking with your healthcare provider and/or surgeon about your best path forward is the best way to guarantee optimal and safe facelift (rhytidectomy) results.

Who gets facelifts?

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You may or may not be a strong candidate for facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery. Your doctor may give you the go-ahead if:

  • You are physically healthy
  • You do not have a pre-existing medical condition that affects the healing process
  • You do not smoke
  • You are mentally healthy
  • Your expectations are realistic

The best facelift candidates are those with signs of facial aging who still have skin elasticity. People aged 40 to 60 often fall in that category, but younger and older patients may also be ideal candidates for the surgery.

What happens at a facelift (rhytidectomy) consultation?

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Thoroughly discussing your facelift options with your plastic surgeon beforehand is essential. It is a highly common procedure, but you should still talk about:

  • Your goals and expectations
  • Any pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, and/or medical treatments
  • Previous surgeries
  • Current medications, vitamins, supplements
  • Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use

Once a surgeon discusses your overall physical health, plus your psychological and emotional health, you will likely discuss your facelift options. Next, a surgeon will examine, measure, and take clinical photographs of your face and neck to outline the surgical plan. You can also speak about all of the potential risks and what type of anesthesia you will take before the surgery.

How do I prepare for facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery?

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There are a handful of ways to prepare for facelift surgery. Your surgeon may instruct you to:

  • Get a blood test and/or medical evaluation
  • Take or adjust certain medications
  • Use specific skin products
  • Stop smoking
  • Stop using recreational drugs
  • Avoid taking aspirin or specific anti-inflammatory drugs (can lead to bleeding)
  • Avoid certain foods or beverages

 

Following your surgeon’s guidelines will help to ensure the best results and allow you to heal in the safest manner. You should plan for someone to drive you to and from the surgery. A doctor will also advise that you have someone stay with you for the first 48 hours after your surgery.

Your surgery timeline may include:

  • Up to three weeks off work (more invasive, traditional facelift)
  • Five to seven days off work (less invasive surgeries)

 

It is important to set up your home recovery area before you undergo facelift surgery. Having the following items ready and in your home will help you achieve the best healing results.

  • Gauze, clean towels, and washcloths
  • An easily accessible cell phone or telephone
  • Professionally recommended ointments or creams
  • Loose, comfortable button-down shirts
  • A thermometer
  • Ice (if recommended)
  • Materials for entertainment (magazines, books, handheld games)

What are the benefits of facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery?

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Getting a facelift can do more than improve signs of aging and give you a youthful appearance. It may also improve your confidence and boost your self-esteem.

What are possible risks with facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery?

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Any surgery comes with certain side effects and a risk of complications. Some of the rare risks for facelift (rhytidectomy) surgery are:

  • Anesthesia issues
  • Wound healing issues
  • Infection
  • Blood collecting in the surgical area (hematoma)
  • Facial nerve injury
  • Temporary or permanent hair loss at the incision sites
  • Scarring
  • Numbness or changes in skin sensation
  • Skin color irregularities
  • Ongoing swelling

Facelift surgeries generally last approximately seven to 10 years, but you will continue to age after any type of rhytidectomy. If you do opt to undergo a facelift, make sure a board-certified surgeon does the procedure.

How is the recovery process for a facelift (rhytidectomy)?

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Your facelift recovery time will vary based on the type of surgery and your overall health. Your bruising and swelling will last for roughly two to three weeks. You should start to feel fine after several days of recovery. During your recovery, your surgeon will:

  • Remove the bandages a few days after the surgery
  • Want to see you several times in the first 2-3 weeks to assess bruising/swelling and to remove stitches

It could take two to three months for your face to feel “normal” after your surgery depending on its extensiveness and your healing process. Make sure to avoid strenuous exercise for at least three weeks after your procedure.

When should I see a doctor after a facelift (rhytidectomy)?

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Contact your healthcare provider or surgeon immediately if you recently had facelift surgery and experience:

  • Extreme swelling
  • Fever
  • Bleeding that saturates the bandages
  • Extreme pain
  • Abnormal discharge (like pus) from the incision site(s)
  • Popped sutures

If you are experiencing an after-hours medical emergency, you should contact emergency services or ask someone to bring you to the nearest hospital.

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