FACELIFT IN ATLANTA

Older facelift techniques were significantly flawed because they focused primarily on the goal of basic tightening on the surface skin layers. Moreover, past methods pulled the skin backward in a horizontal direction, which often resulted in an excessively tight, “pinched” look, or an unnatural “windswept” appearance. Modern facelift techniques allow plastic surgeons to lift the tissues upward in a vertical direction, and to lift from a deeper tissue level, which results in a more naturally rejuvenated facial appearance and avoids the facial distortions associated with previous methods. Dr. Wright A. Jones and Dr. Sabine Lovell take pride in keeping abreast of the latest advances in the field of cosmetic facial surgery, and have helped patients restore a naturally youthful facial appearance with cutting edge facelift procedures at their private plastic surgery practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

Facelift surgery generally lasts between 2-5 hours, and is performed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. During the surgery, Dr. Jones or Dr. Lovell will make carefully placed incisions in front of and behind your ear, taking great care to conceal the incisions so as to avoid detection. They will then perform the necessary liposuction of the face and jowls, muscle tightening, and repositioning (or removal) of any loose, hanging skin. As discussed above, your facelift will be customized specifically for your aesthetic needs, and the exact details of your facelift will depend upon your unique facial features and surgical goals.

Post-Op

Post-operative facial swelling tends to peak during the first 24-48 hours, and you will be advised to elevate your head to alleviate some of the swelling during this time. Most bruising should abate within 2 weeks; however, the swelling may take 3-4 weeks to completely subside. The length of your recovery period following facelift surgery will depend on the extensiveness of the surgical correction performed during your facelift and your body’s unique capacity to heal itself. Dr. Jones and Dr. Lovell will be available to you throughout your recovery period, should you have any questions or concerns about your healing progress.

If you have early signs of aging and are not ready for a full facelift, you may be a good candidate for mini facelift. This modified procedure focuses on restoring definition to the jawline by improving the sagging skin and fat on the face that create jowls. It is less invasive than a traditional facelift because it involves manipulating facial musculature and tissue for a lifting effect that does not require removing excess skin.

Although patients are understandably attracted to a surgery that offers a shorter recovery, it is not effective on patients who have moderate to severe signs of aging, particularly neck skin laxity. If this applies to you, a traditional facelift is probably your best option.

Because facelift focuses on the lower portion of the face, it is often paired with other facial procedures to achieve more complete rejuvenation throughout the face. You can choose to combine facelift with eyelid surgery, necklift or facial fat transfer to improve the look of the eyes, neck and cheeks, respectively. If you are interested in undergoing multiple surgeries, please discuss this with Dr. Jones or Dr. Lovell during the consultation phase.