The Elements of a Facelift

At one point in time, the only way to get tighter facial skin was with surgery. Now there is an abundance of less dramatic alternatives available for adding subtle improvement to the skin, whether this means smoothing out wrinkles, filling in lines, or stimulating new cell generation.

Regardless of how many minimally invasive techniques are introduced each year, however, the powerful and established traditional facelift remains the touchstone for effective facial rejuvenation. According to Dr. Stanley Jacobs at The Jacobs Center for Cosmetic Surgery serving Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and all of the San Francisco Bay Area, a facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, can address a range of problems, including sunken cheeks and jawline-obscuring jowls.

We’ve all had those moments of looking in the mirror while pushing back the skin on our cheeks and wishing our face would always retain that tight, youthful look. Most of us have probably heard about facelifts before and have a basic idea of how they work. It’s a common misconception that facelifts result in an unnatural, “pulled” appearance, and this belief makes many people apprehensive about the surgery.

Wisdom and experience come with age, but the quality of our skin unfortunately takes a turn for the worse over time. The processes and elements that once made our skin lovely, firm, and radiant begin to slow and diminish. When we’ve lost a significant amount of moisture, fat, and elasticity from the skin, it naturally begins to droop downward, and our cheek areas may become more pinched in. Fat seems to go to all of the “wrong” areas. Facelifts are highly effective at correcting sagging skin around the jawline and cheeks.

However, age isn’t the only cause of those dreaded “jowls,” deeply etched laugh lines, and double chin. Genetics, photodamage from the sun’s UV rays, smoking, and other lifestyle and environmental factors can cause premature aging. Despite being sometimes viewed as a procedure for the middle-aged and over group, an increasingly large number of women are becoming open to facelifts at a younger age.

The procedure can be as dramatic as you need it to be. Facelifts also don’t always have to include the entire face, and the results can simply enhance your existing features rather than completely change them. A board-certified cosmetic surgeon who is experienced with facelifts can produce natural-looking results that make you look younger.

The first steps involve your initial consultation with your provider. You and your surgeon will discuss your overall medical history, including any previous surgeries you have had, and your current state of health. They may perform a physical exam and a facial exam to assess your bone structure, face shape, and how your fat is distributed, along with the condition of your skin. They will want to determine your overall goals for a facelift, and whether the surgery can realistically accomplish them. In preparation for a facelift, you may be asked to refrain from taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, a few weeks prior to the day.

During a facelift, the goal is to give leaner, more youthful contours to the lower two-thirds of the face. To do this, surgeons make small, strategic incisions around the face. They remove excess skin, reposition the fascia and tissues, close the incisions with sutures, and remove any excess skin from the area. The operation typically lasts anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the extent of the surgery being performed. Be sure to discuss these details with any prospective surgeon, as not all providers perform facelifts the same. Incision placement is key.

Patients can expect to experience some mild to moderate bruising, swelling, and numbness in the days and weeks after surgery. Bandages are used to apply pressure and accelerate the healing process. While a facelift can’t prevent aging from causing your skin to sag in the future, the outcome typically lasts around a decade.

Want to learn more about facelift surgery? The San Francisco area’s Jacobs Center for Cosmetic Surgery team provides a vast array of surgical and non-surgical procedures for patients in Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and beyond. To find out more, call 415-433-0303 (San Francisco) or 707-473-0220 (Healdsburg) or go online to fill out a contact form.