Facelift Questions

Hartford, Greenwich, Glastonbury, and Waterbury, Connecticut

What is a facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging facial tissue to reduce wrinkling and other effects of aging.

Will a facelift change my appearance?
A facelift will make you look younger, but Dr. Foster will design your facelift to protect the character of your face. You will still be you, only look younger.

What does a facelift treat?
A facelift will improve many signs of facial aging, including:

• Wrinkles and folds
• Loose, hanging skin
• Jowls
• Excess facial fat or displaced facial fat

A facelift can address all these signs of facial aging simultaneously.

What are the alternatives to a facelift?
Nothing gives the same amount of rejuvenation and the same long-lasting results as a facelift. However, some targeted areas can see short-term results with BOTOX® Cosmetic, facial fillers, or the skin-tightening Affirm laser. In general, these procedures are quick and require no recovery time but have very short-term results. The best treatment for you depends on your anatomy and your goals, which you can discuss with Dr. Foster in detail during your consultation.

What are my facelift options?
Dr. foster offers a number of different facelift procedures that are designed to target your specific signs of facial aging. For people with minor aging effects he can perform a short-scar facelift, which only involves incisions at the front of the ears that are very well hidden. For more correction, longer incisions and additional incisions may be necessary, although these are also well-hidden.

How is a facelift performed?
Minor facelifts may be performed with local anesthesia, but more extensive procedures are done with general anesthesia. Incisions are made, normally at the front of the ear, but sometimes around to the back of the ear and even in neck area. Once the incisions have been made, the skin, muscles, and other tissue that need lifting will be tightened and in some cases trimmed. Excess fat may be removed with liposuction. The skin and other tissues are replaced to give a more youthful and natural appearance. The incisions are then closed.

How long is recovery from a facelift?
The extent of the facelift and the length of its results are directly related to the length of recovery. For less significant improvement of facial aging, recovery may be a couple of days, but more extensive rejuvenation may require up to two weeks of recovery time. The amount of discomfort you experience is more individual, and not necessary proportional to the procedure. In any case, you will be given a prescription for medication to control any discomfort you might feel. Expect swelling and bruising for the length of the recovery period, sometimes slightly longer.

Are the results of a facelift permanent?
Your facelift will turn back the clock on your facial aging, but it cannot stop the continuing effects of time on your face. Many patients report looking "young" for ten years after their facelift. Though you will continue to age normally, you will still look younger than you would have without a facelift.

For further information, please see Types of Facelift Surgery.

To learn more about the facelift procedure and whether it is right for you, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Stanley Foster at his Waterbury, Glastonbury, or Greenwich office today.

 

Glastonbury, CT

Greenwich, CT

1625 Straights Turnpike/Suite 108
Middlebury, CT 06762

888-8CT-LIPO
(888-828-5476)