Facelift: FAQs

Time and gravity can take their toll, especially on your face. When you look in the mirror and no longer see your more youthful self, it may be time to talk with us about a facelift. Everyone has seen lots of bad facelifts where the person’s skin is pulled too tight, making them look plastic. But that’s not how I think you should look. My goal is to create subtle changes; to give you natural-looking results. I want you to have a more refreshed version of yourself with smoother and wrinkle-free skin, with a more youthful contour to your jawline and neck. Patients often have questions about this procedure. Here are the most commonly asked ones:

What is a facelift?

This is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging skin, deep creases, and volume loss that contribute to an aged facial appearance. I do more than lift and trim your sagging skin; I lift the underlying muscle and tissue, which ultimately puts less tension on the skin.

Why a facelift?

You may have noticed skin drooping on your lower cheeks, which results in the appearance of jowls. Diagonal folds on the sides of the mouth have become more apparent. Lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet are more visible, and the corners of the mouth sag. If you’ve tried nonsurgical or minimally invasive procedures but they just aren’t enough anymore, consider a facelift; it’s the procedure that can give you the most effective and longest-lasting results.

By reversing the aging process with a facelift, you could look 5–10 years younger or even more, helping you regain a more youthful appearance.

What does a facelift do?

Depending on what you need and the decisions we make in your pre-surgical consultation, your surgical goals may include some or all of the following:

• Remove loose skin to tighten and smooth the skin on the mid to lower face, which also reduces drooping cheeks
• Remove jowls
• Remove excess neck skin to improve neck laxity
• Improve the jawline appearance
• Add fat to cheeks to fill them out

Many patients choose to have additional procedures performed at the same time, such as a brow lift or eyelid surgery for more balanced results.

What about scars?

Patients don’t want to go through a facelift only to be left with visible scars. That’s why I “hide” and minimize the scars. I make incisions where I can camouflage them in natural creases, at your hairline, and in lines. For sagging skin below the jawline, I often place a tiny incision underneath the chin where it is least visible.

How long do the results last?

Facelift results are permanent. Keep in mind that they don’t stop the aging process. Although you will continue to age, you may not see aging effects for several years. Even then, your skin will remain firmer and smoother than it would have been without the surgery. It’s important to note that although your skin position changes, skin quality does not change with a facelift. That’s why we stress the importance of doing treatments that can improve the quality of the skin before and after your facelift.

Do I still need nonsurgical treatments after a facelift?

To enhance and prolong your facelift results, you’ll want to maintain a regular regimen of skin rejuvenation treatments. We’ll work with you to design a customized skin care program that includes nonsurgical treatments for improved skin quality.

Lift your face and your spirits

We know you may have a lot of questions about what a facelift can and will do for you. That’s why we are here to answer your questions and help you plan your procedure. Please contact my experienced patient coordinators at [email protected] or click here to schedule your confidential consultation. ________ Lawrence Iteld, MD, is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Illinois Society of Plastic Surgery. A highly regarded Chicago based plastic surgeon, Dr. Iteld has received awards from Chicago Magazine’s Top Docs, and Castle Connolly Top Doctors®, and is a Key Opinion Leader with Allergan Aesthetics.