Face & Neck Lift

 

(Overview)WHAT IS  FACE LIFT?

**NEED A SUMMARY** 

Facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomies (literally, “removal of wrinkles”), rejuvenate the mid-to-lower face and neck.

In time, gravity, sun exposure and the stresses of daily life take their toll on our faces and necks. Deep creases appear beside the mouth, the jaw line slackens and becomes jowly, and the neck develops loose folds and fat deposits. Facelifts counteract these signs of aging by tightening muscle, removing fat and trimming excess skin, giving your face a fresher, youthful look. 

 Dr. Giuffre has been performing face & neck lifts with excellent cosmetic results for many years. Whatever your reasons for surgery are, Dr. Giuffre personalizes the procedure according to your needs and treatment goals to obtain your ideal face.

Facelifts are most effective for patients who want to correct:

  • Midface sagging

  • Deep creases under the eyes

  • Deep creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds)

  • Jowls due to loss of muscle tone

  • Sagging areas of fat

  • Loose skin and fat under the chin and jaw


WHAT WON’T A FACELIFT CORRECT?

Facelifts can produce a dramatic improvement in appearance for patients with the problems mentioned above. However, facelifts do not stop the aging process; in time, signs of aging will gradually appear once again

The fine wrinkling in the skin around the upper and lower lips is not corrected using a facelift procedure. This skin ageing is addressed using either non-surgical (injectables) or surgical techniques (dermabrasion, chemical peels or laser resurfacing).

Further, facelifts will not rejuvenate the brow, eyelids, nose, and some of the midface. Patients who want to improve these areas may consider combining a facelift with a brow lift or eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

 

AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A Facelift?

The best candidates for a face lift are in good physical condition who wish to improve one or more of the signs of aging indicated above.

During your consultation, Dr. Giuffre will discuss whether a facelift is right for you.


FACE LIFT  PROCEDURE

The face lift procedure lasts two and a half to three hours and is performed most often under local (freezing) anaesthesia with intravenous sedation. Much less commonly it may be done under General Anaesthesia. The surgery is done in a private surgical facility adjacent to Dr. Giuffre’s office.

A full facelift is where both the lower face and neck requires rejuvenation: an incision is placed in the temple area, proceeds along the front of the ear, following the ear contours, behind the earlobe and ear, and then into the hairline. An additional incision is made below the chin in a natural crease.

A short scar facelift (MAC lift) is used where only the cheeks and jaw line are rejuvenated with no neck rejuvenation. The incision is modified and is shorter.

A facelift addresses a composite of three tissues: 

  • Fat

  • Muscle

  • Skin

 

After the incisions are made, excess fat is removed from the neck and chin area. Neck and cheek muscles are then tightened. The neck and cheek skin is re-draped over the face, removing any excess skin.

Fat graft (see FAQ Fat Graft) may be injected into the hollow areas of the face to provide increased volume where needed.

Lastly, Dr. Giuffre will close the incisions with both dissolving and non-dissolving sutures. If the neck has been rejuvenated, there is a drainage tube placed in the area.  The drainage tube, along with all bandages, are removed the next day.


RECOVERY AFTER Face Lift

After the surgery is completed, the patient is kept in the recovery room for an hour before they are escorted home by their ride.  The patient is sent home with a large bandage and a small drain. The patient returns the next day to have all bandages removed, along with the drain. 

You will have to arrange a ride and aftercare with a responsible adult. You are not permitted to leave unaccompanied or in a taxi. If your driving distance from Edmonton exceeds 90 minutes, you should make arrangements to stay overnight in Edmonton. The surgical centre does not have an overnight care facility. You will then be seen the following day for dressing removal and assessment by Dr. Giuffre and his staff.

On day 5, the patient returns to have some of the sutures removed. The patient returns on day 10 to have all the remaining sutures removed.

There will be bruising and swelling for 7 – 10 days after surgery. The amount will vary from patient to patient.  The use of Aspirin, Advil and Herbal supplements are discouraged as these products will increase the bleeding and bruising during and after surgery.

The recommended recovery time is two weeks off work. You should limit strenuous activity for at least six weeks. Male patients who wish to shave their facial beard should avoid a rotary electric razor for 6 weeks. Dr. Giuffre will give you specific instructions for your individual recovery.  

Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number to his cosmetic patients in case there is a patient concern.  In the rare instance that a patient requires hospitalization, Dr. Giuffre has admitting privileges to all of the major hospitals in Edmonton.


Face lift RESULTS

With the exception of the younger patient having surgery for acne facial scarring who may require repeat surgery every 5-10 years, most patients in their forty’s and onward will often enjoy the results of the surgery for many decades. Facelift surgery does not change the inherited ageing of a patient which is most often determined by their inheritance (95%).  5% of facial aging is controlled by environmental factors, such as sun and wind exposure, and choice, such as smoking.     A patient looking at their parents and grandparents, and how they age, is a good reflection of what will happen to them as time passes.


After facelift surgery, the patient’s time clock is rolled back 10 – 12 years. They will maintain this as they age.  For example, a patient aged 55 yrs. old will look 45 yrs. old or younger after a facelift.  When they are 65 years old, they will look 55 yrs. old or younger.



RISKS OF Face Lift

With any surgery there are surgical and anesthetic risks.

Aside from the rare risks of an anesthetic event, some of the general and specific surgical risks for this procedure would include:

  • Excessive swelling and bruising

  • Scarring

  • Infection

  • Sensation change to the cheeks for up to 3 months

  • Discomfort: this is mild to moderate. Most patients may require pain medication for up to one week after surgery. Avoid driving a vehicle if you are taking narcotic medication.

  • Asymmetry

  • Bleeding (hematoma)

  • Poor healing especially in patients who smoke

  • Muscle weakness around the eye or the mouth (facial nerve bruising or injury)

  • Time off work and exercise


*This list is not complete.


During the consultation with the patient, Dr. Giuffre will outline and explain each of the risks in detail.With any surgery there are surgical and anesthetic risks.



FAQS

How long does the surgical improvement last?

With the exception of the younger patient having surgery for acne facial scarring who may require repeat surgery every 5-10 years, most patients in their forty’s and onward will often enjoy the results of the surgery for many decades. Facelift surgery does not change the inherited ageing of a patient which is most often determined by their inheritance (95%). 5% of facial aging is controlled by environmental factors, such as sun and wind exposure, and choice, such as smoking.  A patient looking at their parents and grandparents, and how they age, is a good reflection of what will happen to them as time passes.

After facelift surgery, the patient’s time clock is rolled back 10 – 12 years. They will maintain this as they age.  For example, a patient aged 55 yrs. old will look 45 yrs. old or younger after a facelift.  When they are 65 years old, they will look 55 yrs. old or younger.

I have heard of the ”noon hour facelift or the thread lift”. What is this? Does it work?

This technique is an attempt to tighten the muscle and skin of the face by threading a non-dissolving nylon thread under the skin through the cheek area and then tightening the thread to draw up the skin and cheek, attempting to reverse the effects of facial gravity.

This is usually done by non-Plastic surgeon cosmetic practitioners.

This technique has a number of risks. The beneficial effect of the procedure is short lived, lasting for 6 weeks to 3 months, before the effect of this pull is lost and the gravity changes to the face recur. 

Dr. Giuffre does not recommend this procedure.

Will AHS (Alberta Health Services) cover  Facelift surgery?

Facelift surgery is not covered by Alberta Health Services.