A facelift is plastic surgery to remove excess skin. While facelift surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure, it can involve the use of local anesthetics and sedatives or general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes anywhere from two to five hours.

In a standard facelift, the surgeon makes an incision in front of the ear that extends up into the hairline and behind the ear into the hair-bearing scalp. Once this is done, the surgeon will lift the skin off the deeper facial muscles and fat by carefully pulling the skin in an upward and posterior direction. Any excess skin will be removed and the surgeon may tighten the deeper tissues of the face.

Once this is done, the surgeon will close the incision with stitches or staples. You may have a drain placed under the skin, behind the ear, for a couple of days. This is to remove any excess blood and fluids. Bandages are applied for your face and changed regularly.

What to expect

Before surgery, the plastic surgeon will review the patient’s medical history.

They will look at:

medications

scarring

skin condition

blood pressure

blood clotting

cigarette smoking

drug use

allergies

Your surgeon should discuss exactly what will happen, which medications will be used, and what to expect during recovery. It is important to do your research and make sure your surgeon is board certified. A board-certified plastic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which is the only board the American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes to certify doctors in the full range of plastic and reconstructive procedures.

Complications

If you are considering a facelift but are worried about complications, don’t panic Complications of facelift surgery are infrequent, and cosmetic procedures are generally safe, as long as they are carried out by a qualified and experienced professional. There are plenty of qualified, board certified plastic surgeons in the Miami Dade area so don’t hesitate to seek a second or third opinion,

Although the risk of complications is low, any surgery comes with some risk. The risks and complications of facelift surgery include:

Bleeding

Bruising

Skin necrosis, or tissue death

Unevenness between two sides of the face

Widening or thickening of scar

Complications of anesthesia

Numbness, which can improve within days or weeks

Scarring

Damage to the facial nerves controlling muscles, usually temporary

Hematoma

Infection

Loss of hair around the incision site, but this is uncommon

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice inflammation, pain, redness or swelling in the days following surgery. These are signed of a possible hematoma. Fever is also a sign of infection.

Recovery

There will be discomfort but your doctor will prescribe pain mediations. You can expect the bruising and swelling will be at their worst after two days and can persist for several days.

Normally, recovery takes about two weeks, and regular activity can resume after four weeks. Sutures are removed about five to ten days after the procedure. It is important to keep incisions and bandages dry, and you must follow the specific instructions about bathing and washing. It is extremely important to follow all of the doctor’s instructions/ This will speed healing, allowing for the best possible result.

You can expect numbness and muscle stiffness for some time and it is important to be aware that scars can take nearly a year to fade and tone down. While genetics play a role, it is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to exercise to help maintain the appearance of the skin.

If you are considering plastic surgery, it is important to avoiding smoking and limit your alcohol intake, reduce stress, sun exposure, and contact with pollutants to help extend the youthful appearance of skin.

The same habits can help maintain the effects of facelift surgery. If you are tired of sagging skin on your face and neck, consider checking out the expert plastic surgeons in the Miami-Dade area and learn just what a facelift can do for you.