Facelift
The facelift has long been considered the “gold standard” of facial rejuvenation. No other cosmetic procedure can compare to its profound rejuvenating effect. Improving skin laxity, reducing facial wrinkles, smoothing out deep lines, and restoring youthful facial contours are just a few most notable benefits of a facelift. However, looking years younger does not have to mean looking entirely different. There are various techniques in facelift surgery. You may hear buzzwords about a specific procedure that takes away years and makes you look 10 years younger with minimal surgery and minimal recovery. We strive to offer you the best minimally invasive procedures with short recovery and maximum results. However, you should know that many studies and clinical experience has proven to us that facelifts are very individualized procedures.
There is not one single recipe or miracle procedure that can address all the goals in correcting an aging face. During your consultation in our Orange County, California office, Dr. Bolourian will perform a complete facial and neck evaluation and discusses your specific goals and concerns.
Restore Youthful Definition to Your Face and Neck with a Custom Facelift
“There is no one facelift technique that fits all. Each procedure is individually tailored for each patient. This individualized, targeted approach enables me to achieve the utmost rejuvenation possible in a minimally invasive fashion.”
What Areas Can Be Improved with a face lift?
As with any other cosmetic procedure, evaluation for a facelift starts with Dr. Bolourian’s thorough analysis of a patient’s facial features, skin texture and elasticity, the amount and distribution of excess of fat, and the degree of facial aging. Photographs are taken and reviewed to establish and prioritize the goals of facial rejuvenation procedures.
The specific areas targeted by a facelift may vary from patient to patient, so for each case, Dr. Bolourian develops a highly individualized surgical plan. Some of the most common facial areas for improving and rejuvenating the face are:
- Visible muscle bands in the neck called platysma bands
- Neck skin laxity (addressed through a neck lift)
- Excessive fullness under the chin
- Noticeable jowls
- Sagging of facial tissue
Once Dr. Bolourian performs a complete facial analysis and determines the areas where most improvement is needed, he can select a proper facelift technique. He can also make recommendations about other procedures which may include upper facial treatments such as browlift and eyelid surgery.
Facelift FAQ
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How is a facelift procedure performed at our center?
Facelifts are performed in our surgery suite in a very safe and sterile environment. You and Dr. Bolourian together may decide to choose local anesthesia alone or intravenous sedation to help you relax. General anesthesia is generally not required but can be used if desired. Most of our patients choose twilight anesthesia (very light sedation) or local anesthesia for many of the facial aesthetic procedures. We believe it is the safest technique with the fastest recovery time and also most cost effective.Fine incisions are made inside the hairline at the temple, in front of the ear, then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging muscles and connective tissues are lifted, released and repositioned. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Many times, small amount of your own fat maybe harvested and used to augment certain areas to restore lost fat and hollow appearance of the face. Incisions are closed with very small sutures. Generally, the incisions are barely visible by the patient or another individual after complete healing. The procedure may take up to 2-5 hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time.We have found that the combination of a facelift with laser resurfacing or chemical peeling enhances the benefits of both procedures and results in a greater improvement of the overall facial appearance. Using the tumescent technique of injection, there is minimal bleeding during surgery, therefore we generally but not always do not have to use any drains. Swelling and bruising vary and resolve within a week or two.
How long does a facelift last?
The results of a facelift are long lasting and depend on many factors among which genetics, degree of skin elasticity, and personal habits and stress play a major role. Although the procedure does not stop the aging process, it certainly slows down the clock. One of the ways you can maintain your results is by taking good care of your skin and maintaining an ideal weight with minimal fluctuations.
What to expect after facelift surgery?
You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed. Following your facelift surgery, you will receive a head wrap to minimize bruising and swelling. The head wrap is usually removed the next day in our office. You should be able to get up and move around the next day after surgery. Since majority of our patients do not go under intravenous anesthesia, they amazingly bounce back to an active lifestyle quickly. If you wish, special post-surgery make-up maybe used to help cover up the areas of bruising. In the weeks following the surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few weeks and months to disappear. The healing process is gradual, so you will not notice final results for few months.
What makes our facelift procedure superior?
Our anesthetic techniques make it possible to perform this procedure safely and efficiently with minimal downtime. We always address the underlying structures below the skin by releasing and repositioning the muscular structures, this is also called deep plane facelift. We believe and research has proven that simply placing purse-string sutures (stitches) into the muscular layer, does not give the long lasting and natural results.
For further information about this procedure please call our office and speak directly to Dr. Bolourian or e-mail us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about any procedures and treatments.
