Face Lift / Neck Lift

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

If you believe that your face makes you look older than you desire, a face lift and/or neck lift can help restore your appearance. Gravity, sun exposure, and changes in your skin, muscles, and other tissue cause the skin of your face and neck to loosen and begin to sag. Wrinkles and folds in the face, hanging jowls, loose skin in the neck, and neck banding sometimes described as a "turkey neck" can all contribute to an aged appearance. Many of these can be corrected with face lift and neck lift procedures.

You may hear the terms mini face lift, Lifestyle lift, midface lift, or limited incision facelift. A current trend in facial rejuvenation is to subdivide the face and neck into smaller areas of focus. Your personal consultation will help determine the appropriate procedure to best address your concerns.

If you would like to learn whether a face lift or neck lift might be able to correct the aged appearance of your face, please contact Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery to set up a personal conversation today.

What a Face Lift and Neck Lift Can Correct

A neck lift and face lift are so closely related that they are often described together as a face lift, or rhytidectomy. A face lift is used to correct many visible signs of aging, including:

• Midface sagging
• Creases below the lower eyelids or nose
• Displaced fat that can create both facial hollowness and deep creases
• Muscle laxity in the skin and neck
• Excess fat in the skin and neck

Face lifts are customized procedures that are designed to address the specific aging of your face. During your consultation, Dr. Widenhouse will talk about what is appropriate for you.

Complementary Procedures for a Face Lift

Sometimes other procedures are recommended in combination with a face lift to achieve the best possible results. Common ones include eyelid surgery, forehead lift, and laser skin resurfacing. These procedures work together with a face lift to provide overall rejuvenation for your face, and sometimes they are a better alternative for your symptoms of facial aging.

The Face Lift Procedure

Face lifts are performed under IV sedation. An incision is made near your ear. The length and exact placement of the incision depends on how much lifting you desire and the specific places to be lifted. The incisions are well-hidden either above your hairline or in the curve of the ear. The skin and underlying supporting tissue are lifted up and shaped. They are not just tightened, but shaped to give a natural, youthful appearance. This may include repositioning of fat and superficial muscles. Excess skin, fat, and other tissue may be removed. Once the reshaping is complete, your incisions are closed.

Recovery and Results of a Face Lift

Recovery from a face lift is variable because the procedure is highly customized to your personal needs.

After your face lift, you will need to have someone drive you home, and it is often recommended that you have someone around to help you during the immediate recovery period. Your face will be swollen and may be bruised. Discomfort can be controlled with prescription medication. You may require a week or two before you are able to return to work.

Although recovery from a face lift is longer than for many other facial plastic surgery procedures, most patients believe the results justify the wait. No other procedure is able to make so dramatic and so long-lasting a difference in helping you maintain your youthful appearance as a face lift.

To learn more about face lift and neck lifts, please consult our Questions about Facelift Surgery page or schedule an appointment with Dr. Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina today.