Facelift (Rhytidectomy) The Surgery

Our office will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it is especially important to stop at least two weeks before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas. If you hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it is long enough to hide the scars while they heal. Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.

Where your surgery will be performed

A facelift may be performed in our state of the art office operating room, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. Some patients choose the hospital so they can take advantage of a special "23 hour" ambulatory surgical package. In this arrangement a patient can stay in the hospital for up to 23 hours from when they leave the recovery room without additional charges. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and may also require a short inpatient stay.

Types of anesthesia

Most facelifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You will be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.) Some cases are better done under general anesthesia. In that case, you will sleep through the operation. A tube will go down your throat to protect your airway. This tube may cause some soreness in the back of your throat after surgery.

Picture Before Surgery

Picture 6 Months After Surgery

The surgery

A facelift usually takes several hours - or somewhat longer if you are having more than one operation done. For extensive procedures, you may need to divide them into separate sessions. Dr. Bermant will usually move back and forth between the two sides. The exact placement of the incisions and sequence of events depends on your facial structure. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the at the front of your ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin.

In general, Dr. Bermant will separate the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Dr. Bermant then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions. Metal clips may be used on the scalp.

Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. Your head will then be wrapped loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.

Body Shaping
Without Surgery

Guide to
Richmond

How To Choose Your
Plastic Surgeon

Bookmark and Share This Resource.

Our Encyclopedia

Our Facebook Page

Like This Page

Integrated Discussion Board
If you like what you see and have learned here, come join our A Body Beautiful Plastic Surgery Forum: a meeting place for