Facelift Plastic Surgery Santa Monica Los Angeles Beverly Hills

You may be candidate for facelift (rhytidectomy) if you have experienced a loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone of the face and neck. A facelift may also be desirable if you have the appearance of jowls and deep creases between the base of the nose and the corners of the mouth, and developed facial and neck wrinkles. facelift may also be helpful if you believe you lack youthful chin and neck contours and/or feel you have a tired facial appearance.

Rhytidectomy patient shown before surgery with deep cheek
folds, jowls, and loose skin on the front and side of neck.

A facelift is intended to give the patient a more rested and youthful contour to the face and neck.

Facelifts range in size from "mini" to "standard" depending on location and extent of skin laxity. The operation is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation, or under general anesthesia.

Incisions are made on either side of the face from inside the
hairline at the temples, in front of or partially within the ear,
around the earlobe, in the crease behind the ear and into the
lower scalp. The design of these incisions may vary from patient
to patient and according to the surgeon’s personal technique.

Incisions are made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the lobe and ending in or below the hairline behind the ear. The subcutaneous layers and neck muscles are tightened, the facial skin is redraped and lifted, and the excess skin is removed.

Loose skin is pulled up and backward, and the excess is removed.

The patient goes home with head and neck wrapped in dressings, which are usually removed the next day. Minimal initial discomfort is easily controlled with oral medication. Sutures are removed within 14 days. Bruising and swelling decrease to "socially acceptable" levels in 10-20 days. The final result of a facelift procedure is evident in 4-6 weeks or sooner, with continued improvement for several months.

The postoperative patient with smoother, firmer skin on the face and neck

Additional procedures that would enhance the result of a facelift are: Eyelid Lift, Brow Lift, Chemical Peel, Facial Sanding (dermabrasion), Chin Enlargement, Nose Reshaping (rhinoplasty), Fat Suction, and Laser Skin Resurfacing.

This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment.

The specific risks and the suitability of facelift (rhytidectomy) procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.

Illustrations courtesy the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

For more information about facelifts from this plastic surgeon serving the Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica areas.

• Link to facelift information from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Contact us for additional information or a personal consultation with Dr. Teitelbaum