Facelift and Neck Lift

“Look youthful and rejuvenated with eyelid, face and neck procedures customized for each patient from minimal to full lifts.”

The facelift is a procedure which tightens the neck, jowls, and repositions the cheeks to their youthful position. Extra and loose skin is removed via hidden incisions around the ear.

Depending on genetic and environmental factors, patients who would benefit from a facelift range in age from their 40’s to their 80’s. The details of technique depends on the degree of skin laxity and aging. Each patient is evaluated thoroughly and a personalized plan is recommended. We do not perform the same procedure on everyone. Rather, we customize the procedure to fit the patient’s needs and unique facial characteristics. Dr. Jumaily is one of few cosmetic surgeons who perform deep plane facelift which is known to produce the most natural results and has the best longevity. The amount of tightening and skin repositioning individualized for each patient to avoid over correcting or under correcting the skin and produces natural, youthful and long lasting results.

Our philosophy for facelift is similar in all our work: Beautiful natural results while minimizing downtime and complications. Overly pulled skin is NOT acceptable and is never performed. The facelift is often combined with other rejuvenation procedures such fat grafting (transferring fat from the stomach or thighs to the face), eyelid procedures, and skin resurfacing (laser or peels) to achieve the optimal results.

We perform the facelift procedure under intravenous sedation which is safe and significantly improves patient recovery over the traditionally used general anesthesia. Patients experience less nausea, headaches and grogginess with the use of intravenous sedation. Recovery time is usually one to two weeks while the bruising and swelling subside. Pain is minimal and after-surgery care is straightforward.

Dr. Jumaily’s surgical patients have excellent access to reach him at any time throughout the recovery to ensure all questions are answered and all concerns addressed immediately.

The facelift is one of the best and most effective techniques in rejuvenating the face and neck. The facelift is a procedure where the tissues of the neck and face are tightened and lifted and the extra skin is removed. The face and neck lift can vary in technique and extent depending on patient needs and surgeon preference. Unfortunately, many surgeons have come with various names for the same procedure for marketing reasons which can be confusing for the patients.

On Friday April 24, 2020 Dr. Jumaily performed a lower face lift, facial peel and neck. After 3 weeks I look amazing. Dr. Jumaily is amazing and takes great prde in his work. He is avilable to all his patients 24/7. His team is awesome. This was an early 60th birthday present to myself (July). Thank you Dr. Jumaily will never ever be enough. – Mandy D.

In general, if the jowls and mid face need to be lifted then incision is needed in front of the ear. If the neck needs lifting then an incision is needed behind the ears. Often both are needed because most patients would like their face and neck treated At the same time. Beyond the incisions, the surgeon has to decide the extent and depth of dissection. This is often debated in the plastic surgery community as many feel their way is better or safer or give them the best results. As a patient, you can ask your surgeon what they use and why. I personally prefer the deep plane facelift because I feel it gives the best lift and results last longer. However,occasionally, a SMAS technique (non deep plane) is used because patient factors make it a better procedure for that patient. SMAS is the layer of fat and muscle below the skin. The deep plane requires dissection deep to the SMAS layer rather than just pulling the SMAS.

The procedure is customized for each one of our patients. The face is fully analysed during the consultation for the skin quality, laxity, sun damage, degree of jowling, neck banding, as well as the facial bony skeleton. Most people will benefit from a facelift. Young patients in their 40’s occasionally need a mild tightening of particular areas without major dissection. meanwhile patients in their 50’s and 60’s often need a more substantial lift. The incisions and extent of dissection is customized to each face and we avoid cookie cutter approach. Let us not forget about volume. Adding volume is an important aspect of youthfulness and should be considered in every patients. Volume is added with fat grafting, fillers, or implants depending on patient preference and needs.

Patients who should consider the surgery with caution are those with medical conditions that make the anesthesia risky and or increase the of bleeding. Special caution is also given to patients with excessive skin laxity and sun damage. If the skin quality is poor, then no matter how much the skin and underlying tissues are tightened, the skin will stretch again within a short period of time. Those patients may need skin resurfacing and should expect the possible need for a repeat procedure

Like any intervention on the human body, there are risks to the facelift procedure. Although over the years the anesthesia and the procedure itself has been improved and now is very safe. Aside from anesthesia risks which are rare, the surgery can be associated with complications such as bleeding or infection among other more rare issues.

Recovery from the facelift surgery is not as significant as one expects. The pain is usually mild. The first few days are marked by a lot of swelling and some bruising. We take great care during the surgery to minimize the swelling and bruising. There may be drains that are removed after the first day. The patient only has to keep incisions clean and moist and that’s it. They can shower eat and talk. The sutures are removed on day five and ten. Compression and ice helps the swelling resolve faster. We tell patient they should have two to three weeks from work. However we had patients who looked good after 5 days and felt comfortable going to the mall. Adding fat grafting or other adjunct procedures such as brow lift, eye lid surgery etc can prolong the recovery.

BEFORE

AFTER

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FAQ’s

• How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

  There are many variables in the answer to this question. It depends on the surgeon, the location, the complexity of the surgery, and other procedures being done at the same time. It can range from $6000 to over $20000. Cost and quality are not always correlated. Generally good surgeons will charge a fair price. But the most expensive are not always the best (‘Best’ is different for different people). You have to see the surgeon and develop the trust and confidence to go ahead.

• What is the recovery for a Facelift?

  Recovery from the facelift surgery is not as significant as one expects. The pain is usually mild. The first few days are marked by a lot of swelling and some bruising. We take great care during the surgery to minimize the swelling and bruising. There may be drains that are removed after the first day. The patient only has to keep incisions clean and moist and that’s it. They can shower eat and talk. The sutures are removed on day five and ten. Compression and ice helps the swelling resolve faster. We tell patient they should have two to three weeks from work. However we had patients who looked good after 5 days and felt comfortable going to the mall. Adding fat grafting or other adjunct procedures such as brow lift , eye lid surgery etc can prolong the recovery.

• Effective and Long-lasting Procedure for Lifting Jowls?

  The best way for long lasting treatment of jowls is a facelift procedure. People have given the facelift procedure many names and variation for marketing reasons. But essentially one or more of 1. the neck, 2. lower face, and 3. mid face tissues are lifted and volume is restored. This will give you the best aesthetic and longest lasting results.

• Best Procedure for Firming Neck and Chin?

  The best procedure for patients who have loose neck skin and jowling is a face and neck lift. The procedure is tailored to the patient’s needs but essentially the neck muscles are tightened and the extra skin is removed.

• How Long does Swelling and Numbness Last After a Facelift?

  It depends on what exactly is being done and the technique used. A deep plane facelift will have slightly more swelling than a regular facelift. Adding fat grafting will add more swelling and bruising. Adding a chemical peel or laser will also add swelling to the skin. How the procedure is done does matter, gentle and careful technique makes a difference. We had patients who went out after 5 days. That is shorter than average but we do our best to minimize recovery.

• Is a Facelift the Only Answer for Marionette Lines and Jowls?

  It is not the only answer but it may be the best answer. Jowls and marionette lines can be treated with volume restoration with fillers and fat. If not effective or patient wants the best results then a facelift is needed. Facelift is great for jowls. A facelift will help the Marionette lines but not completely, fat grafting is important to treat them optimally.

• One Side of my Face Lower Than the Other?

  Asymmetry is normal in the human face. Of course there are degrees and sometimes it is more obvious than others. The asymmetry seems to get worse with age. Asymmetric face can be treated with facelift procedure to elevate the tissue. No one can guarantee the asymmetry will be completely gone but it can be improved. A careful assessment is needed to make this determination.

• How Long Does a Facelift Last?

  There is no duration of facelift. The facelift procedure tightens the skin and underlying tissues. We often say the procedure sets the clock back 10 years. So you will look at least 10 years younger. However the clock keeps ticking, and you continue to age. Maintenance and careful volume restoration can really slow down the appearance of aging while looking NATURAL.

• Swollen and Lumpy 3 Weeks after Facelift/necklift – Is This Normal healing process?

  After the facelift procedure, it is common to see swelling and bruising that can last up to 2 weeks. Occasionally the tightened SMAS layer (tissue under the skin) can be seen and can have swelling which looks like ‘lumps’, these are temporary and go away with time. Fluid collections, hematoma (blood collections), significant contour deformity is not expected after a facelift and should be addressed.

• What is the Best Age for Facelift?

  There is no ‘right’ ‘best’ or ‘perfect’ age for any procedure. The facelift procedure is designed to tighten the tissue and remove extra loose skin whether these issues arise in the patients’s 40’s or 70’s. The best time to do the procedure is when you feel like the aging appearance is makes you unhappy and you want to look your best. Commonly we do this procedure for patients in their early 50’s. Patients in their 60’s and even 70’s also request this procedure often. Discuss your concerns during a consultation and an honest surgeon should guide you to make the right decision for YOU.

• Is 40 Too Young for a Facelift?

  There is no specific age that is considered a cut off for facelift. It’s just that a facelift treats certain facial signs of aging such as jowls, loosen neck skin, and descended cheek tissues. Fillers help add volume when there is volume deficiency which is the earliest sign before jowls and neck bands appear. Lasers are good for resurfacing the skin, the facelift procedure does not change the skin and often is combined with lasers or peels to improve the skin. 40 is younger than average but if you have the facial findings that facelift treats then you are a candidate for a facelift.

• What is a Weekend Facelift?

  The short answer is that weekend lift is an abbreviated procedure that is supposed to emphasize short recovery. It’s mostly a marketing play to make it sound quick and easy. However keep in mind that it will not address most of the issues that a formal facelift is designed to treat. Often people are disappointed afterwards.

• How Long Until Swelling Is Gone After Face Lift?

  The swelling after a facelift is significant initially and immediately after surgery. After 2 weeks the swelling subside enough that patients can go out socially without looking operated on. Of course it depends on the patient, their diet. If gentle technique is used, the swelling is really not that bad after 2-3 weeks. However, it can take up to one full year before it is ‘completely’ gone. 90% of it is gone after 3-4 months.

• How is a Face Lift Different Than a Mini-face Lift or Midface Lift?

  The facelift involves incisions in front of the ear, and behind it and into the hairline. This allows maximum exposure and reach to the face and neck tissues and therefore, the best and longest lasting results. The mini facelift is similar to the full facelift but the incisions are shorter. Which part is shortened depends on the surgeon and which part of the face needs the lifting. Because the incisions are shorter, there is a more limited access to the muscle and skin for tightening hence more limited results. Mini lift may be appropriate for younger patients who just need one part of the face rejuvenated such as the neck or jowls.The midface lift is another form of the mini lift in that it is a limited access procedure to enhance one part which is the cheeks. The incisions are made in the temples and dissected under the cheeks which are then suspended with sutures. Midface lift does not replete the lost volume, just reposition it, hence sometimes we opt for fat grafting in lieu of the midface lift.

If you have any questions and would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jumaily, please call 310-285-0929 or email info@drjumaily.com and we would be happy to help you.