Facelift

A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that removes loose facial skin and repositions facial tissue for a more youthful look. No matter our age, most of us feel young at heart! But when we look in the mirror, we may cringe as we see new wrinkles, thinner skin, and gaunt cheeks that were once plump. Jowls and loose skin around and under our necks are also bothersome signs of aging. However, a well-performed facelift can turn the clock back.

Contact Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery in San Antonio to schedule a consultation. You can reach us by calling (726) 227-6847. Dr. Koneru will help you decide if a Facelift is the right cosmetic procedure for you. 

About

Facelifts help counteract aging by tightening muscles, removing fat, and trimming  away excess skin. This provides your face with a fresher, more youthful look. Today’s advanced facelift procedures address the deeper layers of facial tissue, rather than just tightening skin, so you will not have to worry about ending up with the “Joan Rivers” pulled-skin look. Instead, the result will be a more natural, refreshed, and rested appearance. Known as rhytidectomies (the “removal of wrinkles”), facelifts rejuvenate the mid to lower face and neck.

Facelift with Liposuction

In some cases, liposuction of the jowls can be performed during a facelift if a significant amount of fat has to be removed. It is common for some fat to be removed during a facelift, but the aid of power-assisted liposuction can achieve more fat removal easier. A thin cannula is inserted into the areas where fat removal is needed. Its vibrations break up and loosen fat deposits. The cannula then suctions out the fat with ease. ^[1] The removal of fat from the lower face can help you gain back jaw definition. And, once the rest of the underlying tissues have been repositioned into a more lifted, youthful position, you’ll be able to say goodbye to pesky jowls. 

When you look good, you feel good! Contact Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery today by filling out our online form. 

Benefits

Candidates

The best candidates for Facelifts are men and women with:

Patients on blood thinners and those who smoke or use nicotine are not good candidates for Facelifts. These can cause blood flow problems. In these instances, Evoke, a non-invasive procedure may be a better solution for you.

Personal Consultation

Call (726) 227-6847 and make an appointment with Dr. Koneru to share your concerns about your face and neck. During your initial consultation, Dr. Koneru will discuss your cosmetic goals in detail. He will let you know if you need a full facelift, a mid-facelift, a neck lift or if other less invasive procedures will achieve your goal. You may also have a chance to see the expected outcome through a 3D Imaging Simulator. At every stage of the process, Dr. Koneru explains what he plans to ensure you get “the look” you expect.

Preparation

Before Facelift surgery, patients will be given instructions specific to their Facelift surgery. This includes, but is not limited to: 

Procedure

Dr. Koneru usually performs Facelifts using general anesthesia in the surgery center or hospital. The procedure can take anywhere from two to eight hours depending on what is needed. The facelift procedure varies from patient to patient. It depends on facial structure and the extent of corrections that need to be performed. Some may patients can have an outpatient procedure, and some patients may need an overnight stay.

The three most common Facelift surgeries are:

Traditional Facelift

The traditional Facelift is intended to rejuvenate the face, jowls, and neck. This includes fat sculpting, lifting and repositioning of muscles and deeper tissues, and skin trimming and redraping. The incision begins at the temples and travels down to the front of the ear, around the earlobe, and behind the ear to the lower scalp at the hairline. Sometimes, another incision is made under the chin.

There are several facelift techniques that can achieve varying degrees of rejuvenation. These address the SMAS, or superficial muscular aponeurotic system, which is the layer of tissue that separates the fat just under the skin from the underlying muscles. During these procedures, the skin is separated from the underlying tissues, which are then repositioned to “lift” the cheeks and lower regions of the face. ^[2]

Mid-Facelift

A Mid-Facelift is reserved for those who do not need a full facelift. Dr. Koneru uses surgery techniques to rejuvenate the areas around the eyes and mouth. This reduces nasolabial folds and other deep creases and wrinkles. Short incisions are made at the temples, and possibly, in the lower eyelids and/or in the mouth as well. Sometimes Dr. Koneru will use the Endotine, a device designed to help secure the lift.

Neck Lift

A neck lift concentrates on jowls, loose skin around the neck, and fat under the chin. The incision may be just under the chin, or behind the ear to make them almost invisible.

With all three procedures, stitches are used to close the incisions. Dr. Koneru makes every attempt to hide the scars in the hairline or in the natural contours of the face.

Recovery

The recovery varies with the exact Facelift procedure performed. Most patients take at least one week off from work, while others may prefer to stay out of the public eye for two weeks. The affected areas may be bruised for as long as two weeks, and swelling can last a little longer. After surgery, there may be drains and dressings that will be removed soon after surgery. Dr. Koneru will prescribe pain medication as needed for a more comfortable recovery.

Results

The results of a facelift can be enjoyed when the swelling goes away in a couple of weeks. Final results will take a few months to be seen. Facelifts can produce a dramatic improvement in the appearance of patients who suffer from signs of aging. Unfortunately, facelifts do not stop or cure aging. The signs of aging will gradually reappear, but usually, it takes about 10 years before another facelift is needed. Dr. Koneru strives to provide you with natural results that will make you look refreshed.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

A facelift and neck Lift address the mid to lower face. They do not address deep forehead creases or sagging eyebrows. These effects are best treated with a Brow Lift. A Brow Lift raises the eyebrows by pulling the forehead skin from an incision either made along the hairline or behind it. Muscles that may cause drooping eyebrows can be repositioned during this process. 

If you want rejuvenation of the top third of your face but only have mild forehead creases, you may only need dermal fillers. Dermal fillers can fill wrinkles and creases for smooth, vibrant results. This treatment is temporary. Depending on the filler brand, results can last several months to several years. Dermal fillers cannot combat loose forehead skin.  

Persons who choose to have a Facelift also consider Pixel8-RF. This treatment combines radiofrequency energy with microneedling for non-surgical skin tightening. It is great to perform in the interim to maintain results when you are not quite ready for another facelift yet.

If enhanced volume and facial contours are desired, facial fat grafting can be performed. This is a procedure that takes your own body fat and injects it into desired locations like the cheeks. 

You can also read our blog to learn about other procedures. We are happy to discuss your options during a consultation. 

Cost

The cost of a San Antonio Facelift depends on the type of facelift you receive and if you also include a neck Lift. Adding additional surgical or non-surgical procedures will affect the price as well. A quote will be provided during a consultation with facelift expert Dr. Suresh Koneru.

Interested in looking younger, refreshed, and rejuvenated? Call (726) 227-6847 for a consultation!

FAQ

Are Facelifts covered by insurance?

Facelift Surgery is a cosmetic, elective procedure. For this reason, most healthcare insurance does not cover this type of surgery. We will not file for insurance coverage for this procedure.

Are Facelifts considered a popular cosmetic procedure?

Facelifts are very popular. In 2019 almost half a million people worldwide received a Facelift procedure. It was one of the top 10 most performed plastic surgery procedures. ^[3]

References

1. Caplin DA, Perlyn CA. Facelifts: A Contemporary Perspective. Missouri Medicine. 2010;107(3):195-197. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6188335/
2. Ilankovan V. Recent Advances in Face Lift to Achieve Facial Balance [published correction appears in J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2017 Mar;16(1):134]. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2017;16(1):3-12. doi:10.1007/s12663-016-0981-8
3. ISAPS INTERNATIONAL SURVEY on AESTHETIC/COSMETIC PROCEDURES. Accessed September 13, 2022. https://www.isaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Global-Survey-2019.pdf