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Facelift

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The plastic surgeons at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic use innovative techniques with a goal of achieving excellent results for facelift patients in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. A facelift rejuvenates the face and neck by removing excess skin and replenishing the youthful volume of the face, restoring smoother, more pleasing contours.

Men and women travel to The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic for facelift surgery from London, Guelph, Cambridge, Windsor, and other Southwestern Ontario cities. Find out what sets our team of surgeons apart by requesting a consultation using our online form or calling our office at (519) 746-1132.

How should I prepare for surgery?

You will first have a thorough consultation with one of our surgeons to determine your goals for your facelift. The Clinic's Patient Coordinator will guide you through all the details of the planning process for your procedure, including financing, scheduling, and paperwork.

Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time before surgery. If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery.

Don't eat or drink for 12 hours before your surgery.

How is a facelift procedure done?

Our surgeons use advanced facelift techniques with a goal of creating a refreshed appearance that still looks natural. Your surgeon begins by making incisions at or within the hairline and within natural contours in front of and behind the ear.

The next step is gently elevating the skin to reveal the supporting structures, such as deeper tissues and muscle. This is often called an SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) facelift. Instead of simply tightening the skin, as was commonly done in the past, the SMAS technique lifts and tightens the underlying tissue and muscle.

The surgeon then redrapes the skin in a way that aims to look youthful, but not unnatural. This restores the youthful volume of the cheeks and helps correct jowls.

We often combine facelift procedures with laser resurfacing of the eyelids, mouth, and chin areas. This helps to reduce fine lines that are not corrected by a facelift.

Fat grafting is also commonly combined with a facelift to further improve facial aesthetics. Fat can be placed in some of the deeper folds of the face that are not completely corrected by a facelift.

Facelift Incisions

Our surgeons hide incisions within the hairline and the natural contours around the ears. Using the SMAS technique, your surgeon creates results that look natural and last for years.

Should I get a neck lift or a facelift?

Because the face and neck are so closely related, it's rare that a patient will see signs of aging in one area but not the other. A neck lift is actually a lower facelift and is commonly performed at the same time as a facelift. In addition to the repositioning of the facial tissue and muscle, a neck lift includes lifting and tightening the platysma muscle and other tissue. In some cases, your surgeon makes an incision just below the chin to remove excess fat or tighten neck muscles.

Some patients with minimal sagging in the cheeks and jowls may be better off choosing a Silhouette InstaLift^™, which is a less invasive approach to facial rejuvenation. It won't provide results as dramatic as facelift surgery, but it could be right for your circumstances.

If you are dissatisfied with your neck because of persistent fat or the presence of a "double chin," it's now possible to reduce the fat in that area with BELKYRA™, a nonsurgical injection that encourages the body to naturally dissolve the excess fat.

Results of your facelift

The best plastic surgeons create a natural, attractive, and more youthful appearance for their facelift patients. This surgery can produce excellent results, and the scars are usually inconspicuous.

The results of your facelift may be dramatic or subtle, depending on how you look before surgery as well as the specific goals that you and your surgeon established. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks for an accurate picture of your "new look." Additional minor changes, or settling, may occur over several months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the day of surgery be like?

You will arrange for someone to drive you to The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic and to pick you up after the procedure. Our staff will assist you with planning for your ride home.

Our surgical staff will ensure your comfort and safety throughout the procedure. A facelift is usually done under a general anesthetic. Typically, the surgery takes about 3 or 4 hours.

When surgery is completed, you will be taken into our recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. A bandage may have been wrapped around your face and sometimes small tubes will be inserted beneath the skin to drain away fluids that might otherwise accumulate, but you will not feel these at all. In fact, there is usually little discomfort from the surgery.

You will be in the comfort of your own home approximately 2 to 3 hours after surgery.

How will I look and feel initially?

Your face will be swollen after surgery. There will likely be some bruising of the skin of the face. The swelling and discoloration may be more pronounced in some portions of your face than others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry caused by the variance in swelling and bruising, which is perfectly normal. Generally, the greatest amount of the swelling occurs 24 to 48 hours after surgery, but it may take several weeks before all puffiness is resolved. Most bruising will disappear within 2 weeks.

After a few days, you will be permitted to wear makeup, which will help conceal any discoloration. You will also experience some numbness in the facial area, which may be present for several weeks or longer. Your stitches will be removed 4 to 7 days after surgery.

It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals.

After surgery, you will be asked to restrict your activities and simply relax for a few days. Elevating your head when you sleep will help to minimize swelling and bruising.

When can I resume my normal activities?

You can resume most normal activities of daily living such as showering, walking outdoors, and shopping in 5 to 7 days. Depending on the extent of your facelift and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise after 4 weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal.

How long will results last?

The results of your facelift should last for many years. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually take their toll. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your face you may choose to undergo a second procedure to restore a more youthful facial appearance.