What Is a Facelift?
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure to correct the changes caused by the natural process of aging. Facial skin can sag because of weight loss, the lifelong effects of gravity, smoking, sun damage, or a combination of factors. With a successful facelift, smoothing your facial skin and supporting tissues can “turn back the clock,” making you look and feel years younger.
How Can a Facelift Enhance My Appearance?
A facelift can help you look as good as you feel and restore smoother, more pleasing contours to your face. This is accomplished by:
Removing loose skin and excess fatty tissue in your neck
Defining a more youthful chin and jawline
Softening deep wrinkles
Accentuating cheekbones
Repositioning fat to fill in “sunken” areas
Minimizing skin folds between your nose and the corners of your mouth
Who Is a Candidate for a Facelift?
You are an ideal candidate for facelift surgery in New Jersey with Dr. Ganchi if you are in good health and do not smoke. If you have poor jawline definition, loose skin or fatty deposits in your neck, or jowl formation, you should have excellent results.
Patients with strong facial bones and features (e.g., chin and cheekbones), as well as excessive skin damage or premature aging due to sun exposure or smoking, will most likely have an even better result.
The Facelift Consultation
Dr. Ganchi will perform your facelift in his New Jersey office only after a complete medical examination in advance of planning your surgery. Your skin will be evaluated based on thickness, texture, and elasticity, along with the severity of the wrinkles.
Any damage to your skin from environmental influences will be assessed and perhaps treated before surgery. Most importantly, Dr. Ganchi will evaluate your facial structure and shape. These are crucial elements in facial aging and, therefore, rejuvenation.
Where Is the Facelift Surgery Performed?
All facelift surgeries are performed at the Ganchi Plastic Surgery Center. Our plastic surgery Office is located in Wayne, New Jersey, where we welcome local and out-of-town guests for consultations and the best facelift in the state.
How Is Facelift Surgery Performed?
Dr. Ganchi almost always performs the facelift as an outpatient surgical procedure. Although some of our patients prefer to have general anesthesia, most are comfortable under local anesthesia with deep sedation.
Generally, Dr. Ganchi administers the facelift with a discreet, well-hidden incision that curves from within the sideburn, down in front of each ear, and then back behind the ear. The incision is designed to allow you to show off your beautiful results without worrying about or hiding your scar. Through this incision, we restore a more youthful appearance to your lower face and neck and create smoother skin.
Liposuction is usually done for excess fatty tissue in the neck or jowls. After shaping the underlying layers, we remove all excess skin and redrape the remaining skin over your face and neck for a well-rested, rejuvenated look.
How Long Does a Facelift Operation Take? Are There Any Risks?
Depending on the specific procedures you select, your facelift surgery with Dr. Ganchi may take anywhere from two to eight hours. Dr. Ganchi will consult with you to fully outline any pre-surgical requirements, which procedures we will be performing, and what you can expect afterward.
As with any surgery, there are associated risks. We are glad to guide you through this experience with thorough planning and preparation so you can recover with the best results and the fewest unexpected problems.
What Other Procedures May Be Performed Along With a Facelift?
Although a facelift can set back the clock, no cosmetic treatment can permanently prevent the effects of aging. In combination with your facelift, you may select other procedures to achieve your desired results:
- Liposuction is part of a facelift and is used to reshape a more youthful jawline and neck.
- Neck lift surgery (neck rejuvenation) is a crucial part of a facelift and may include repairing visible neck muscle bands, removing excess fat deposits, and smoothing loose skin.
- Fat injection (lipoinjection) is a minimally invasive way to restore shape and fullness to areas around the eyes, the cheeks, the temples, and the lips.
- Eyelid lift surgery (blepharoplasty) is often used to reduce heaviness and loose skin in the upper eyelids. Treatment of the lower eyelids will include filling out the deep creases to eliminate a tired look. This, along with fat injection, will brighten your eyes and energize your whole face.
- Dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels may be done to smooth wrinkle lines on the lips, cheeks, and forehead.
After facial rejuvenation, maintaining and improving the quality of your skin is very important. Periodic use of microdermabrasion, photorejuvenation, and peels, along with a good skincare regimen, are essential to maintaining your result. Skincare is often discussed as part of your surgical plan.
Before & Afters
What Can I Expect After My Facelift?
Minor bruising and swelling are common after a facelift procedure. Each patient is different, but for most, these side effects resolve within 2-3 weeks. We remove your bandages after several days and your sutures after 5 or 7 days. Some patients may wear light dressings for even longer as needed.
It is imperative that your newly rejuvenated skin be protected from sun damage after surgery. Avoid sun exposure, wear a broad-brimmed hat, and liberally apply SPF 30 or stronger sunscreen as instructed by your doctor.
How Long Is Facelift Recovery?
You will recover quickly after surgery and usually go home that same day. If you are having multiple procedures, you may need to stay overnight. A close friend or family member must drive you to and from the surgery center and care for you for the first 24-48 hours.
You’ll likely be able to return to work in about two weeks. You should wait three weeks or longer before participating in strenuous activity and exercise. You may need special makeup to camouflage any bruising for a short time.
Final healing may take up to three months and will continue to improve over the next year. We will closely follow your progress to ensure an effective recovery.
When Will I See Results After a Facelift?
Within a week, you should see a significant improvement. Once the swelling and bruising are gone, you might have minor scars that are hidden by your hair. These, too, will fade over time. Gradually, your new, younger face will emerge a few weeks after surgery.
Most of our patients enjoy the benefits of a facelift for many years. Depending on your age, you may have more than one facelift in your lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Do I Need to Be to Get a Facelift?
Most facelift patients are in their 40s to 60s, although genetics will always play a role in the degree of skin aging. Certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking and excessive sun damage, can move up this timetable.
What if My Symptoms Are Not Significant Enough for Facelift Surgery?
Not everyone with facial wrinkles and fine lines is automatically a facelift surgery candidate. For more mild to moderate symptoms, Dr. Ganchi may recommend one of our many non-surgical alternatives, such as dermal fillers, peels, lasers, and the IPL photofacial.
How Should I Prepare for My Procedure?
If you are approved for facelift surgery, Dr. Ganchi will provide specific preparation instructions, including (but not limited to):
- Refrain from smoking starting six weeks before your surgery date. You’ll also need to abstain for six weeks after to ease your body’s healing process.
- Temporarily stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and certain supplements 7-10 days before, as directed by Dr. Ganchi.
- Complete any prescribed lab testing or imaging.
- Do not apply makeup or moisturizer to your face on the day of surgery. Showering is acceptable.
- Be sure to arrange for a trusted friend or family member to drive you home and monitor your progress during the first 24-48 hours of recovery.
What Lifestyle Changes Should I Make Going Forward to Maintain My Results?
While the aging process will continue for every patient, there are some steps you can take to keep enjoying the effects of a facelift for as long as possible. For example, keep using sunscreen and wearing a wide-brimmed hat for additional protection when you go outside. Quitting smoking also greatly enhances the body’s ability to maintain and heal the dermal tissue.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost?
The price of your facelift procedure will depend on the severity and location of your symptoms and the exact surgical techniques required to address them. We also offer medical cost financing with CareCredit for qualifying applicants.
Imagine a More Beautiful You
A facelift in New Jersey is but one of the many procedures Dr. Parham Ganchi offers to revitalize your appearance. Please ask us about other procedures to refresh and renew your natural beauty, or click here for a brief list of procedures we offer. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
NOTE: Only a licensed professional with the knowledge and skill required to achieve optimum results should perform facelift surgery. Look for a plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who has completed training at some of the top plastic surgery institutions.
