Facelift and Neck Lift

When performed by an experienced plastic surgeon such as Dr. David Lickstein or Dr. Craig Forleiter, a facelift provides many benefits, including:

• Removal of excess fat or skin at the neck (a double chin or “turkey neck”)
• Reduce the appearance of jowls
• Tighten sagging skin from the upper cheeks to the mid-face
• Improved cheek contours with less projection
• Improved appearance of vertical banding on the neck
• Enhanced jawline and chin definition
• Reduction of creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)
• Results that look natural
• Enhanced self-confidence

Who is a Candidate for a Facelift/Neck Lift?

If you are troubled by signs of aging to your lower face and neck, such as jowls, wrinkles, and loose skin, a facelift may be right for you. Ideally, facelift patients are in good overall health, do not smoke, and have realistic expectations about what can be achieved through plastic surgery.

Preparing for Facelift and Neck Lift

The first step in preparing for a facelift is to attend a private consultation with a plastic surgeon you trust. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to discuss your aesthetic goals and concerns. The doctor will review your medical history, then together you will create your facelift surgery treatment plan.

Before your procedure, you may be asked to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and supplements. You should quit smoking prior to surgery.

The Facelift and Neck Lift Procedure

A facelift/neck lift is an outpatient procedure, and is performed under general anesthesia. Before beginning the surgery, your plastic surgeon will create markings on your face and neck. Incisions will be placed within the natural contours of your face or behind the hairline, and may also extend behind the ears. The surgeon will strategically remove excess skin and fat, then tighten underlying muscles and reposition supporting tissues. Liposuction may also be used to achieve the most favorable face, neck, and chin contours. Once your cosmetic surgeon is satisfied that the results look natural and symmetrical, the incisions will be closed.⁴

Recovery After Facelift and Neck Lift

Following facelift/neck lift surgery, you will need to be driven home by a friend or family member. You may desire for this person to help you with daily care for the first few days after your facelift.

It is normal to experience some swelling and bruising after a facelift/neck lift, and your surgeon will prescribe medication to help you remain comfortable as you recover. You will also be prescribed antibiotics to minimize any risk of infection.

All patients recover from a facelift at their own rate. Most of our patients are able to return to their normal activities roughly two weeks after a facelift. The best way to ease your facelift recovery is to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions.

A common fear that many individuals have when considering cosmetic surgery, and especially a facelift and/or neck lift, is that their procedure will look noticeable in an unflattering way or will look “overdone.” Prospective patients may also fear that they will lose the facial characteristics which give them a unique look and make them attractive, or that these features will be altered in a way that makes them less recognizably “themselves” after surgery.

Indeed, a poorly performed surgery, a surgery performed by a surgeon who does not fully consider his patients’ desires or who does not agree with them can leave some patients with an unsatisfying result. However, this possibility is far from the norm. In most cases, a facelift preserves and enhances the patient’s signature facial features, helps them look more relaxed, refreshed and at ease and, most importantly, provides years of healthy rejuvenation.

A feeling of tautness, especially near the sutures, is entirely normal in the days and weeks immediately after surgery. However, as your incisions heal, your skin’s suppleness and fluidity will return, the taut sensation will quickly subside and you will find yourself able to resume your natural facial expressions as you did before, with ease, and you will look very much like a younger and more rested version of yourself.

To learn more about facelift, neck lift, and other facial rejuvenation cosmetic surgery procedures, please contact us. Lickstein Plastic Surgery proudly operates in Palm Beach Gardens and Port St. Lucie, Florida.