Cosmetic surgery procedure

Facelift

Advancements in facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, have helped to make this treatment more mainstream. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons are striving for a more natural-looking results, while also focusing on minimizing scarring and downtime.

With these changes, more and more people are choosing to get facelifts. Facelifts fulfil a need that minimally-invasive procedures cannot, namely the ability to significantly transform the lower face and neck areas.

Procedures / year: 5,874

What is a Facelift?

As we age, skin and tissues in the face and neck area lose elasticity, and this leads to sagging and wrinkles. A facelift works to reduce the signs of aging through a surgical procedure to lift and tighten tissues in the face. It may involve removing excess skin, smoothing folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissues.

A facelift focuses on the bottom two-thirds of the face and may be combined with a platysmaplasty (neck lift) or a brow and eye lift. While there are many reasons for getting a facelift, the most common is to correct the signs of aging.

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Facelift

The popularity of facelift surgery increases every year as people become more comfortable with the idea of surgical anti-aging interventions. However, in some cases, it might not be the ideal choice. Here are the pros and cons of the surgery.

Pros

Advancements in facelift surgery have reduced the downtime that patients can expect to experience
Pain after the surgery is much lower than patients anticipate
The procedure removes excess skin and fat to reduce sagging in the face and neck area
Facelifts are outpatient procedures, and, in most cases, the patient goes home after the surgery
Risk of scarring has been reduced significantly - incisions are hidden in front of, or behind the ears and in the hairline, and the scars are barely visible once fully healed

Cons

A facelift won’t help with fine lines, superficial wrinkles, pigmentation issues, or sun damage
The surgery doesn’t create a new look; it only helps you to look younger
Doesn’t help with signs of aging in the eyelids or brow area
Some risks, such as scarring, numbness, blood loss, and infection
Downtime is approximately two weeks, although it may be less
A facelift may cost more than $12,000
Results are not permanent, although the results last longer than many other cosmetic procedures