Facelift Overview
A facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a general term for any surgical procedure that improves signs of aging in your face and/or neck by repositioning or removing skin, fat and/or muscle. The goal is to smooth the skin and tighten underlying muscles to restore and redistribute the fat compartments in the face back to their original (and thus more youthful) position. A true facelift should result in a natural looking and dramatic improvement to your overall facial appearance. Dr. Kim’s expertise in repositioning the deep structures of the face has resulted in amazing and long-lasting results, with patients looking five to fifteen years younger.
A facelift can treat and restore the following signs of ageing:
Facelift Surgery
As we age, changes can occur in the upper, mid, and lower portions of the face and different surgical procedures target each of these areas. For example, the mid face lift specifically corrects the ageing changes of the lower eyelids, cheeks and nasolabial regions. The lower face/neck lift corrects these areas too but has a stronger emphasis on the jowls and neck regions. Dr. Kim believes in a very natural appearing face and does not produce a “pulled look” with his facelifts.
Types of Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Surgery
Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift surgery involves incisions around your ears, hairline and below your chin. Dr. Michael K. Kim separates your skin from the underlying tissues and tightens the muscles and other supporting structures of your face and neck.
Dr. Kim may also remove excess fat in your neck and jowls as needed. he then re-positions your skin over your face in a natural way and removes any excess skin.
This surgery is generally recommended for people who want optimal improvement of moderate to significant facial ageing.
SMAS Facelift
A SMAS Facelift (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the muscular layer of your face) targets the lower two-thirds of your face.
There are three main goals with this surgical procedure:
- Ligaments attached to the skin, fat and fascia are "released."
- Elevating facial volume, which restores a heart-shaped appearance to the face.
- and lifting and tightening SMAS muscles.
Deep Plane Facelift
In a deep plane facelift surgery, a surgeon lifts the SMAS (the muscular layer of your face), fat and skin as a single unit. Deep plane lifts generally address multiple areas of your face at the same time. It's a variation of the traditional facelift that targets tissues below the muscle layers, rather than those connected to them.
Mid-Facelift (Cheek Lift)
A mid-facelift, sometimes called a cheek lift, is a cosmetic procedure that tightens the skin from the upper mouth to eye area. This surgery involves making small incisions around the hairline and ear, so that your surgeon can reposition the fat in your cheek and tighten the skin in your cheek area.
Mini-Facelift
Mini-facelift surgeries focus on lifting mild to moderate sagging on the lower third of the face (the kind you get when you first start to notice a little bit of laxity along your jawline.) It’s a quicker and less invasive surgery than other facelift surgeries. Surgeons may recommend mini-facelifts to people who are younger and only have early signs of facial sagging.
Cutaneous (Skin) Facelift
A cutaneous facelift is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin from the face and neck to create a tighter look. A long incision is placed along the hairline and the surgeon will excise loose skin to tighten and smooth facial skin. The technique does not disturb the underlying muscles in the face.
The placement and length of the incision may vary depending on whether other areas such as the neck also need to be addressed. Usually an incision is made in front of or behind the hairline and then just in front of the ear, curving underneath the ear lobule along the back of the ear, and then into the hairline behind the ear.
Neck lifting aims to address the loose skin, muscle and fat that obscure the natural lines that separate the chin from the neck. A separate incision is made under the chin and the muscle under the neck is sutured tight (platysmaplasty) to restore a youthful contour. Liposuction of this area may also be required.
Facelift Recovery
Facelift recovery is usually quick and pain is usually minimal. Dr. Kim will check you the day after surgery and remove bandages. Then you will be able to shower and shampoo your hair 24 hours after surgery.
Week 1 Post-Op
After surgery, you may feel unsteady and sleepy. You should have set up support from family and friends to drive you home and care for you on your first night home. Day one is usually when you most need pain medication to stay on top of discomfort.
You will need to wear a facial compression bandage for a week to minimize swelling and bruising and support the new contour. By the end of the first week, you should start to see the swelling go down. You should also start feeling more comfortable moving about.
Week 2 Post-Op
Skin stitches are removed between 1-2 weeks after surgery. At two weeks, swelling will be significantly reduced but it will be several months before the result can be fully appreciated.
There may be sensations of numbness and tightness that subside as you heal. These are all common occurrences after a facelift and should not cause concern. At the end of the second week post-surgery, many people are feeling like themselves and ready to return to work and begin doing light activities like walking.
Week 3 Post-Op
You still may have some residual swelling and tightness, but for the most part, will start looking and feeling much better. Here is where patients often begin to see real improvements in their facial contour.
By this time, you can get back to exercising and enjoying activities without people noticing much, if any, outward signs of your procedure. Incision sites will have a pinkish-red hue but this should fade with time.
In the video, you'll witness an actual facelift and neck lift procedure. The patient gave written and verbal permission to film the procedure. She is doing great and was extremely satisfied with the results.
