You have many options at your disposal to help you look younger and more refreshed. But let’s be honest. Expensive over-the-counter creams and serums can overpromise and underdeliver, and injectables can’t consistently achieve the dramatic results many patients want. A surgical facelift is often the best solution for Charlotte, NC patients seeking transformative, long-lasting results.
With this in mind, let’s dive into the benefits of a surgical facelift and answer questions like how long does a facelift last, who is a good candidate for a surgical facelift, and what to expect from your facelift recovery and results.
What is a surgical facelift procedure?
When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, a facelift can leave you looking 10-15 years younger. During this procedure, a plastic surgeon makes incisions behind the ears and along the hairline to remove loose skin and address issues such as wrinkling and sagging of the cheeks, jowls, and neck. We lift and tighten the skin to smooth out folds, leaving your face looking noticeably firmer and refreshed in a way that looks natural.
Our surgeons often perform deep plane facelifts, an advanced technique that requires surgical expertise. This procedure lifts tissue under the skin and over facial muscles to produce dramatic repositioning and tightening of the cheeks, jawline, and neck. A surgical facelift, which our surgeons perform with patients under light anesthesia, has dramatic and long-lasting results that nonsurgical treatments can’t match. It does require a longer recovery—more on this below!
What specific problem areas does a facelift target?
You can’t fight mother nature. As we age, creases, folds, and wrinkles inevitably form, which can leave you looking tired, dull, or even angry. A facelift can safely and effectively combat advanced signs of aging that alter your appearance and impact self-esteem, such as:
- Sagging cheeks
- Loose or excess skin by the lower jawline and/or neck
- Deep nasolabial folds
Are you a good candidate for a facelift?
What signs indicate that you may be an ideal candidate for a facelift? Is it the right time for you to have this procedure? You can benefit from a facelift if you:
- Are increasingly self-conscious about loose, sagging skin or deep lines and creases
- Have tried nonsurgical treatments without achieving optimal results
- Are in your mid-40s or older
- Are in good overall health
- Can allow sufficient time for recovery
- Have reasonable expectations
Can you combine a facelift with other procedures?
Yes! In fact, we often recommend combining a facelift with a neck lift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty to achieve complete rejuvenation. Sometimes, we may also suggest dermal fillers or BOTOX injections in conjunction with a facelift to help enhance or preserve your results.
What to expect during facelift recovery?
We like to remind patients that transformative results aren’t achieved overnight. While recovery varies from patient to patient, it can take 3 to 6 months to fully heal. Here is a general facelift recovery timeline that everyone considering this procedure should be aware of:
Week 1: Your focus is on healing and rest. Bruising and swelling may peak a few days after the surgery but should subside by the end of the week. You can take short walks to curb cabin fever and boost circulation.
Weeks 2 to 4: You can return to work and resume normal activities, as long as they aren’t too strenuous. Sutures dissolve, and swelling and bruising continue to diminish.
Weeks 4 to 6: You are in the home stretch of your recovery, may resume most normal activities, and can begin appreciating the results of your transformation.
As mentioned above, it can take up to 6 months to completely heal and see the final results. You can ease the recovery process by following our post-surgery protocol closely and getting plenty of rest.
How long do facelift results last?
A facelift procedure will turn back the clock and leave you looking younger and more vibrant. Many patients look 10-15 years younger following a facelift! However, a facelift cannot stop the aging process. The good news is that—unlike nonsurgical tactics—facelift results are long-lasting. Many patients find that their results last approximately 10 years or more. You can help preserve the results by protecting yourself from the sun, living a healthy lifestyle, and seeing us for maintenance and touch-ups as needed.
While a facelift requires a more significant commitment than less invasive procedures, our patients find the results and rewards are well worth their investment. We encourage you to view our before and after facelift photos to see some of our dramatic Dilworth Facial Plastic Surgery patient transformations. Then, request a consultation or call us at (980) 949-6544 to schedule an appointment.
Leave a Reply