Facelift
Patients have many options when choosing a Minneapolis plastic surgery provider, which is why we’re pleased to have earned their business for over 25 years. In fact, this year we were awarded a spot as one of Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine’s Top Doctors of 2015. We take great pride in patient satisfaction and are committed to helping you achieve your ideal results in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility. Whether it’s your first time meeting us or it’s time for your post-operative follow-up appointment, we promise to always keep you informed and make you feel right at home.
Here at Bashioum Cosmetic Surgery Center, it’s normal for patients to have questions and concerns going into our Minneapolis facelift surgery. Please use the information below to learn the answers to some of the most common questions we get about facelifts, or feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation with us.
- What is facelift surgery?
- How much will it cost?
- What can I do about my sagging, aging face?
- Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?
- Will there be scars after surgery?
- What are the risks of facelift surgery?
- Will I lose any hair?
- Will it look tight?
- I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have a facelift?
- What can you tell me about this new technique that I saw on television?
- Should I stop smoking?
- What other choices do I have?
- What is the difference between a facelift, neck lift, mid-facelift, and forehead lift?
- What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?
- Am I a good candidate for a facelift?
- How many times can I have a facelift done?
- What kind of anesthesia will be used?
- How is a facelift done?
- How long will I be in the operating room ?
What is facelift surgery?
Facelift surgery (AKA rhytidectomy, rhytidoplasty, face nipntuck, necklift, mid-facelift, facial rejuvenation, mini-lift, lunch time lift, small incision facelift, or facial freshening) reduces facial and neck sagging while smoothing wrinkles. Facial skin, fat, and muscle are surgically removed, repositioned, and/or tightened to rejuvenate facial appearance. People with prominent facial lines, jowls, and turkey neck due to aging and sun damage choose facelift surgery to give a more youthful, refreshed appearance.
Back to Top
How much will it cost?
Please call my office for an accurate price quote or, better still, come in for a personal consultation. My suggested quotes include professional fees, anesthesia fees, operating room costs, equipment fees, home nursing care, and before and after care. They do not include hospitalization costs, prescriptions, preoperative history and physical examination, laboratory costs, or pathology fees. If you compare prices, make sure that you consider all these costs and fees. Also, facelift surgery require some time off work for a safe recovery.
Back to Top
What can I do about my sagging, aging face?
The combination of aging and sun damage lead to facial and neck sagging. Facelift surgery rejuvenates the face by removing extra skin and repositioning facial fat while tightening the underlying facial muscles.
Back to Top
Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?
It is normal for the face not to be the same on both sides. Surgery can reduce these differences but not eliminate them. It will be necessary for you to adjust to some facial asymmetry after your surgery.
Back to Top
Will there be scars after surgery?
Scars are part of all surgery. It is important to understand where facelift scars will be placed. The short incision facelift scar extends from below the sideburn in front of the ear beneath the earlobe onto the back surface of the ear up to the top of the ear. The portion of the scar in front of the ear can be hidden by makeup and/or hair style.
Back to Top
What are the risks of facelift surgery?
There are risks with any surgery. Infection, excessive bleeding, abnormal scarring, poor healing, slow healing, skin loss, changes in skin sensation, and muscle or nerve injury, although uncommon, can occur. Fortunately, most problems that result from such complications are correctable with additional surgery. Some temporary numbness of the cheeks and neck is expected. Permanent numbness of the earlobe is possible. Nerve and/of muscle injuries can occur, although they are usually temporary. They manifest themselves as weakness of facial movement. There is also a risk of skin loss, particularly if you are a smoker. You must understand your risk of complications completely before you choose to have a facelift.
Back to Top
Will I lose any hair?
It is rare to lose hair with short incision facelift surgery.
Back to Top
Will it look tight?
You should not look like you just got off of a rocket sled after a facelift! The result should look natural. You should look refreshed and rested. I expect your friends to ask if you have changed your hairstyle, makeup style, or just returned from vacation. That being said, there will be an element of tight appearance for a few weeks after surgery.
Back to Top
I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have facelift?
There are always risks to having a facelift. Serious problems are usually related to excess activity after surgery, poorly controlled hypertension, and/or smoking. Most poor results can be improved with additional surgery. I believe facelifts can be done safely with a high degree of patient satisfaction.
Back to Top
What can you tell me about this new technique that I saw on television?
Everyone in the United States wants the latest in medical care. Unfortunately, this is not always the best medical care. At times, media presentations will leave out critical information about potential complications, quality of results, and FDA regulations. I am open-minded when it comes to new technology but I would rather not expose my patients to try out the newest techniques until they have been proven to be effective and safe. Recent advances in facelifts include endoscopic facelift, thread lifts, and facial muscle tightening. It is questionable if these new techniques add anything to traditional facelift techniques.
Back to Top
Should I stop smoking?
For general health reasons, I recommend that all my patients stop smoking. It is clear that smoking increases your risk for developing all sorts of cancers. Breathing problems like emphysema and circulatory problems, including heart attacks, are also linked to smoking. Smoking can increase the risk of coughing after your surgery, which may lead to unwanted bleeding. Finally, the chemicals releases from burning tobacco also reduce blood flow, which can result in skin loss during the healing period. Both of these problems can ruin the results of your facelift and lead to revision surgery. It is always best to stop smoking.
Back to Top
What other choices do I have?
There are other choices when it comes to facelift. These include skin resurfacing, Restylane injections, Botox injections, fat graft injections, facial implants, direct excision of face wrinkles, acceptance of the changes with aging, and adjustments in makeup or hairstyle. Always understand all your options before having a facelift.
Back to Top
What is the difference between a facelift, neck lift, mid-facelift, and forehead lift?
Generally a facelift refers to surgery that refreshes the appearance of the neck and face up to the level of the cheekbones. In my opinion, neck lift and mid-facelift are part of a facelift. It is difficult to separate them as one benefits the other. Finally, a forehead lift corrects problems with the forehead from the cheekbones to the forehead.
Back to Top
What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?
Surgeries can be combined to yield dramatic and complimentary results. For safety reasons, I recommend the length of surgery be limited to six hours. Except for liposuction, I suggest no more than one area of the body be treated at the same time. Facelift is frequently combined with other facial rejuvenation surgery (upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, forehead lift, and skin resurfacing), facial liposuction, buccal fat pad excision, facial implants, and nose surgery.
Back to Top
Am I a good candidate for a facelift?
This is a question that can only be answered after a consultation. Facelift surgery is suggested to patients with sagging of the neck skin, jowls, and prominent lines near the corner of the mouth. I feel strongly that facelift should not be done if high blood pressure (hypertension) is not well controlled or if you are smoking. There are other things to consider, including psychiatric conditions, life stress, medical illness, obesity, and motivation. You should be a healthy nonsmoker within twenty pounds of your ideal weight, not going through major life stress (i.e. grieving a death, changing jobs, divorcing), and motivated by internal desires to look better.
Back to Top
How many times can I have a facelift done?
When a facelift is done, extra skin is removed, stretching the remaining tissue and tightening the face. Redoing the surgery may overly stretch this remaining skin, giving an unnatural look. For these reasons, I recommend that a facelift only be done two or three times.
Back to Top
What kind of anesthesia will be used?
Facelift surgery in my office is completed either under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Patients are comfortable the surgery and usually remember little or nothing of the experience. You have the choice.
Back to Top
How is a facelift done?
Facelift surgery can be separated into four parts. First, a plan is outlined on the patient’s face. Second, the incision is placed in front of the ear, behind the ear, and beneath the chin so that the subsequent scars will be inconspicuous and easily covered with makeup or hairstyle. The face skin and muscle are released around the ear. Next, muscle is tightened, fat is removed from the neck and extra skin is removed and repaired with absorbable stitches and glue. Finally, a light facial garment and neck collar are placed.
Back to Top
How long will I be in the operating room?
The length of time it takes to complete facelift is about two to three hours. You will spend about five to six hours in my office. Other surgery sometimes is combined with facelift increasing the time to complete the operation(s). For safety reasons, I limit the maximum time for surgery on each patient to six hours on a given day.
Back to Top
Contact Your Local Minneapolis Cosmetic Surgeon
For more information about our Minneapolis and Wayzata cosmetic surgery services including facelifts, or to schedule a free consultation, please give our friendly team a call at (952) 449-4900 or use our easy online contact form. We look forward to seeing you in our office soon!
