Things to Consider Before Getting a Facelift or Necklift

People often consider getting a facelift or a necklift if they are looking for a more youthful appearance or want to deal with excess fat and skin. A facelift can reduce sagging, fix folds of the skin on the jawline and cheeks, and help alter changes in the face that happen due to aging or other external factors. A necklift concerns the jawline and the neck and focuses on fixing loose neck skin, excess skin relaxation known as jowls, and fatty deposits under the chin. Facelifts and necklifts provide long-lasting results that last around 10 years if the underlying deeper tissues are addressed, however, the natural aging process will continue so good maintenance of the skin and overall health is still important.

Procedure Time

The procedure time for both facelifts and necklifts last between 2.5 – 4.5 hours. It involves several stages, including the anesthesia stage in which medication is administered or other procedures are carried out to enhance the outcomes of the lift. These can include wrinkle reduction or facial implants. You will then go through a traditional facelift, limited incision facelift, or a necklift.

Traditional Facelift – A traditional facelift involves incisions at the temples at the hairline and continues around the ear and down to the lower scalp. 

Limited Incision – With alternatives for those with less skin relaxation, mini-lifts are performed where shorter incisions are made.

Necklift – A necklift works to fix sagging jowls, loose neck skin, and fat accumulation under the chin. The incision begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear.

After the incisions have been made, sutures or glue will help close them for the healing process but they will be removed or dissolved after a few days. Any incisions are generally hidden behind the hairline and around the ear so they are difficult to see after a couple of weeks.

Recovery

For both procedures, your neck and face may feel tight afterward and there may be some bruising, but bruising should fade in a couple of weeks. Incisions will unlikely be visible as they are hidden Recovery overall takes several weeks and requires a close following of the surgeon’s post-surgery instructions.

Cost

Because of its effectiveness, necklifts and facelifts can be costly, ranging anywhere between $6000 and $25000. However, the cost covered the permanency of results, where results last around 10 years and can only be affected by natural aging.

Surgeon

Before making an appointment for a consultation, do your research on your surgeon and find out who they are, where they did their training, their board certifications, and what pathway they took to become a facial plastic surgeon. During your consultation, it’s also important to feel comfortable with the surgeon

Health Conditions

Facelifts and necklifts are elective surgeries, and so the patient needs to be evaluated and determined to be medically fit. The procedure requires no weight shifts to ensure a lasting result and to make sure the patient’s goal can be met.

Results

After a facelift, you can expect a smoother, more youthful appearance that will allow you to feel much more confident about your appearance. Results are presentable to the public in about 10-14 days, although you will likely feel tightness in the face for around 2-3 months after the procedure.