The Facelift: Three Common Questions

Am I A Good Candidate?
There are several factors that play into determining whether or not you are a good candidate for a facelift. Keep in mind these are rather broad definitions and a qualified doctor is the only one who can tell you for sure if the procedure is right for you. One of the common factors is having sagging facial skin. This loose skin, particularly around the jaw line and around the neck, can usually be treated well by the operation. Keep in mind that the procedure does not do anything to change the texture of the skin, so patients with a decent amount of elasticity left will be better candidates than those who do not. Finally, those with a good, strong bone structure tend to benefit more from the operation than those without.

What Is Recovery Like?
While recovery is different for each patient in some small ways, and the extent of the facelift will play a major role in determining what your recovery will be like, there is some common ground shared by most patients. For the first few days following the surgery, there will probably be some bruising. This bruising will be mildly painful, but can typically be controlled by pain medication. The bruising will usually have faded by the two week mark. For the first 24 hours, most patients will be required to wear some restrictive dressing.

How Long Will The Effects Last?
This is a big one, for understandable reasons. No one wants to have cosmetic surgery if it all goes back to the way it was in just a couple of years. The truth is that it is also one of the most difficult questions to answer. You should understand that while a facelift can turn back the appearance of aging, it does not do anything to stop future effects of aging. Generally speaking, one should be able to enjoy the effects of their operation for many years to come. While your appearance won’t look the same in ten years as it does a year after surgery, chances are you’ll still look much younger than you otherwise would have.