faceliftAs we age, the effects of gravity, the sun, and your particular genetics affect the quality and texture of your skin. As time passes, the body’s cells slowly stop generating the two proteins that are integral for maintaining elastic, young-looking skin: collagen and elastin. When this happens, the skin loses its elasticity and starts to droop. Also, over time, muscle tone and fat are both diminished leading to a decrease in facial volume and a potential “sunken in” appearance. All these developments result in noticeable signs of aging throughout the face, including wrinkles, creases, furrows, deep facial folds, hollow pockets, sagging skin, and jowls, among others.

With facelift surgery, Dr. Michaels’ principal goal is to correct the visible signs of aging on the face while delivering natural-looking results. With his experience and expertise, you can achieve a refreshed, youthful face that is the best version of your genuine self.

Dr. Michaels strives to ensure that you simply look like a refreshed and improved version of yourself.

About Facelifts

Facelift surgery is a suspensory procedure designed to elevate the facial soft tissues. The overall purpose of a facelift is to tighten the lax skin, restore muscle tone and to add volume to the face. During the facelift procedure, Dr. Michaels elevates the skin and then repositions the deeper connective tissues of the face (i.e., the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS) to improve the look of your cheeks and jaw contour.

Facelifts are most commonly combined with a neck lift to rejuvenate and correct the contour of the neck. Dr. Michaels can perform a neck lift using the same incisions that he utilized for the facelift procedure, with the addition of a small incision placed underneath your chin fold to provide access to the muscle bands in the neck that frequently require tightening or repair. Facelifts can also be combined with other facial rejuvenating procedures such as eyelid surgery, brow lifting and laser treatments to remove the wrinkles around the lips and mouth.

At Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Dr. Michaels has helped countless Rockville and Fairfax facelift patients like you achieve a more youthful, reinvigorated look.

Before and After Photos

Who is a Good Candidate?

Men and women in good overall health who are looking to improve the contour of their face are good candidates for facelifts. Good candidates for a facelift will have the following characteristics:

  • are non-smokers
  • are concerned about facial aging symptoms such as jowls, sagging and drooping skin.
  • are concerned about loose skin below the chin and neck
  • are in good overall health
  • have reasonable expectations of what a facelift can achieve

Consultation

At your personal consultation, Dr. Michaels will assess your facial aging symptoms and examine the areas that you want treated.. You will also discuss your goals and expectations for your facelift procedure with Dr. Michaels.

Facelifts are always planned according to each individual’s personal anatomy and their goals. Once you are considered a good candidate, Dr. Michaels will customize an individual treatment plan that best suits your needs and helps you reach your goals using the safest and most effective techniques. Preparation instructions will also be given at the time of the consultation.

Contact us now to schedule your consultation and learn more about how a facelift can turn back the clock on the signs of aging.

Preparation

In preparation for a facelift, Dr. Michaels will ask his patients to adhere to the preparation guidelines and instructions that are provided at your consultation.

You will be advised to:

    • Refrain from smoking for up to 4 weeks before the procedure, avoid nicotine and other forms of tobacco or vaping for 6 weeks, and to continue to exercise and maintain a healthy diet.
    • Fill and pick up all prescriptions that you may need before the procedure.
    • Prepare your home, arranging basic necessities so they are easily available.
    • Make transportation arrangements before the procedure, as you will be unable to drive home on your own.
    • On the morning of the surgery, be sure to wash your hair as this can prevent any unnecessary infections during the procedure.
    • Obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician or any other healthcare professionals involved in your health within thirty days of surgery.

Dr. Michaels and his staff are available at any time to answer additional questions and provide you with tips on how you can best prepare for your treatment.

Procedure

Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Usually, Dr. Michaels requires that you stay overnight after surgery so you can be closely monitored by the nursing staff and so Dr. Michaels can see you first thing the following morning.

The traditional facelift approach involves making an incision that starts at the temple (either in front of the sideburn or within the hairline), continues around the ear, and ends behind the ear or in the scalp area. The incision pattern varies by person depending on the complexity of the individual’s facial rejuvenation needs and his or her aesthetic concerns. Dr. Michaels uses several variations on this incision pattern based on a patient’s unique needs. For patients desiring improvement in the neck, the incision will again begin within the hairline, starting in front of the earlobe, extending around the back of the ear and terminating in the lower region of the scalp. For individuals desiring a smoother forehead and lifted eyebrow line, for example, the surgeon makes an incision within the upper hairline to access the tissues in the upper facial region. For those who would like a more refreshed, youthful appearance around their eyes, Dr. Michaels creates an incision in the upper eyelid crease to address the sagging upper eyelids and/or directly inside the lower eyelid to address the “bags” that can form under the eyes.

Once the incision has been made, Dr. Michaels carefully elevates a skin flap, restores the supporting tissues and muscles using suture suspension stitches, re-drapes the remaining skin and excises any loose skin. He then carefully closes the incisions, using a technique that makes them the least visible.

Any sutures that do not dissolve on their own are removed in the office about five to seven days following surgery. The aesthetic results of facelift generally last about five to 10 years, depending on lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking), hereditary factors and previous facelift procedures.

Alternative or Complementary Procedures

In some cases, especially after a consultation, it’s determined that a facelift isn’t the appropriate treatment for a patient’s particular goals and anatomy. Dr. Michaels may recommend alternative treatments that may better address their facial aging symptoms or if they are more interested in non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatment including Forma and Fractura.

Dr. Michaels is pleased to offer the following facial rejuvenation treatments:

There is no perfect treatment designed for all scenarios and patients. Rather, each treatment offers a unique set of benefits designed to address specific issues depending on how they present in a patient.

Dr. Michaels will be able to make the best determination on which treatment will benefit you the most during a consultation. Any questions about the facelift or alternative treatments are happily addressed by Dr. Michaels and any member of his staff.

Recovery

Dr. Michaels and his staff will place bandages and wrap the treatment area. Surgical drains will be used to improve healing and prevent fluid buildup. They are removed the day after surgery. For any continuing physical discomfort, prescription pain medication will be prescribed. We advise keeping your head elevated while laying down and to avoid any intense exercise or activity.

During your follow-up appointment, you will be given further recovery instructions such as when you can resume exercise or strenuous activity. Typically, patients are advised to refrain from exerting themselves more for at least three to four weeks.

Results

Some improvement may be immediately visible after your treatment, but the final results of a facelift will become clear when the swelling has subsided and the healing is complete.

Pricing

The cost of a facelift will be based on a number of factors such as the technique used and if there are additional treatments involved. During your consultation, Dr. Michaels will be able to give you a precise estimate with a detailed breakdown of your treatment package.

We also offer financing options that can assist with covering facility costs and anesthesia fees. Please contact our office today to schedule your consultation and be on your way to achieving a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance.