Facelift, Neck Lift Surgery
Rejuvenate Your Face and Address Age-Related Lines and Wrinkles
The natural aging process gradually weakens the tissues in the face and neck. This is due to the loss of collagen, elastin, and other proteins necessary for strong and resilient skin and facial muscles. While this process is natural, the added damage from the sun and environmental factors speed the process, and gravity does the rest.
Unfortunately, this process means that most individuals will experience laxity in the face and neck that lead to a prematurely aged and tired appearance.
Facelift and neck lift surgery is performed to tighten facial tissues and restore youthful contours. Dr. Ali Sadeghi performs facelift and neck lift surgery for patients in New Orleans, Louisiana.
model
What Is a Facelift?
Perhaps the best-known cosmetic surgery procedure of the face, a facelift (rhytidectomy) removes extra skin and fat from the face, tightening underlying muscles and reducing drooping or sagging skin — from the chin to the bottom of the eye area.
Dr. Sadeghi can combine your facelift procedure with eyelid surgery or a brow lift to maximize your results.
Is a Facelift and Neck Lift Right for Me?
Men and women choose facelift surgery to address:
- Sagging skin and tissues in the midface and lower face
- Deep wrinkles and creases, including nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Jowls
- A double chin
- Vertical banding on the neck
Facelift and neck lift candidates should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for their results. Those looking to address aging in the upper face may qualify for an additional facial enhancement procedure.
Will I Need Facial Fat Grafting With My Facelift?
The gradual loss of facial fat is one of the most common signs of aging. While a facelift tightens and elevates sagging tissue (which can give the appearance of fuller contours), it cannot restore volume that has been lost.
Therefore, many facelift patients choose to combine their facelift with facial fat grafting. This surgical technique takes fat from elsewhere in your body to graft into the face (usually the cheeks, tear troughs, and nasolabial region). This restores full, youthful facial contours.
Patients who do not have adequate fat to harvest for fat grafting can still benefit from dermal fillers, such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, or RADIESSE®.
model
How Is a Neck Lift Performed?
A neck lift (platysmaplasty) involves incisions made in the hairline (much like the incisions used for facelift surgery). An additional incision may be made beneath the chin to address a double chin and neck banding.
Through these incisions, platysma (neck) tissues are tightened and secured. Excess neck fat and skin is removed, and the incisions are closed.
This technique further defines the neck and jawline.
Should I Combine a Facelift and a Neck Lift?
While there is no requirement that a facelift and neck lift must be combined, many patients choose to do so to maintain balance and harmony between the features. The skin on the neck ages at the same rate as the face, and treating one without the other can create an asymmetrical or unnatural look.
While a neck lift is almost always combined with a facelift, a facelift is not required to undergo a neck lift. Dr. Sadeghi will evaluate your skin condition during your consultation and give you his recommendation.
Does a Facelift Address the Upper Face?
Facelift surgery addresses the bottom two-thirds of the face (anything below the eyes). If you are concerned about aging eyelids (such as puffy bags beneath the eyes or hooding of the upper eyelid), eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is ideal for you. Aging on the forehead or sagging brows can be addressed with brow lift surgery (forehead lift).
How Much Does Facelift Surgery Cost?
The cost of your facelift will vary depending on the extent of the procedure, whether it is being performed with a neck lift, or whether it is being combined with any other facial surgery. Additional cost factors include anesthesia fees, surgeon’s fees, facility and operating room fees, and pre- and post-treatment appointments.
Dr. Sadeghi will provide you with an accurate cost estimate during your one-on-one consultation.
How Long Is My Facelift Recovery?
Most facelift patients experience bruising and swelling following their surgery; however, pain should not be significant. Any discomfort that does result can be remedied with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.
You will need to sleep in an elevated position for a few days or weeks after your surgery to help with swelling and blood circulation. Cold compresses can also help but be sure to follow Dr. Sadeghi’s instructions.
Most patients feel fully recovered from their facelift within 10 to 14 days. Lingering swelling may last longer, but it can often be covered with makeup.
Will I Have Scars After My Facelift or Neck Lift?
Scarring is a natural response to healing skin tissues. Therefore, you will have scars following your facelift and/or neck lift. Fortunately, due to the placement of these incisions, scars are largely concealed in the hairline and natural creases of the skin.
Any scarring that remains can be lessened with scar treatments, such as scar fading creams, silicone strips or gel, and laser treatments. You should be careful to avoid sun exposure while healing from a facelift, as the sun can darken the scar’s pigment.