Facelift / Neck Lift

Facelift / Neck Lift in Wisconsin

HOW CAN A FACELIFT IMPROVE MY APPEARANCE?

As the face ages, the skin on the face and neck begins to loosen, and crow’s feet become visible at the corners of the eyes. The jawline is no longer straight and jowls begin to develop. Under the chin, a “second chin” or vertical folds in the skin appear at the front of the neck. Forehead lines start as fine wrinkles, become defined creases, and gradually, end up as deeper folds. The pull of gravity, heredity, personal habits, and sun exposure contribute to this aging process.

The goal of the facelift operation is to reduce the sagging and wrinkling caused by loose skin and to lift or reposition the fatty tissues of the face and neck which tend to sag with advancing years or premature aging. The facelift has become one of the most popular cosmetic operations performed in the head and neck because as medical advances and new technology increases the average life span, many women and men find that they look older than they feel, physically and mentally. With facial cosmetic surgery with Dr. Parfitt, it is very possible to correct many facial flaws and signs of aging that can chip away at self-confidence.

CANDIDATES FOR A FACELIFT

As with any elective surgical procedure, realistic expectations and good health are prerequisites. Men and women can both be candidates for a facelift procedure. There is no specific ideal in a facelift, however, the goal is to improve overall facial appearance.

You may be an ideal candidate for a facelift procedure, if you wish to correct one or more of the following conditions:

– Deep wrinkles or lines around the corners of the mouth
– Wrinkling and sagging around the midface
– Jowling (loss of a well-defined jawline)
– Loose skin, wrinkles or excess fatty tissue “double-chin” appearance in the neck

This procedure is occasionally performed on patients in their thirties, and has been performed on patients in their eighties. Although a facelift cannot stop aging, it can reverse the signs of aging and help your face look its best and give you a look of energy, youth, and a more healthy appearance. Increased self-confidence is a side benefit that many patients experience as well.

YOUR FACELIFT CONSULTATION

Your consultation with Dr. Parfitt will help you decide on the type of surgery that best addresses your concerns. He will determine if a facelift surgery is the best procedure to achieve your facial harmony. Patients often decide to have neck liposuction in conjunction with a facelift to remove excess fatty deposits. If a number of flaws need correction, then more than one procedure may be desired for the best overall result.

If you are interested in a facelift, your choice of a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon is extremely important. During your consultation, Dr. Parfitt will examine your facial anatomy and also obtain a medical history, so he can consider any medical conditions that may heighten any risk. Dr. Parfitt will weigh other factors that could influence the results of surgery such as skin type, age, ethnicity and your expectations of surgery. Once you and Dr. Parfitt arrive at a mutual understanding and trust, he will tailor a treatment plan that is best suited to you.

At your consultation you will receive detailed information of the following:
– Surgical procedure(s)
– Technique indicated
– Type of anesthesia
– Risks involved
– Middleton/Madison on-site surgical facility
– Additional surgery recommendations
– Scheduling and booking options
– Financing policies
– Surgical quote of costs involved

FACELIFT PROCEDURE

The facelift surgery will be performed at our Madison on-site surgical facility. The incision for the facelift starts in the area of the temple hair, just above the ear, and then continues downward around the earlobe, circling up in the groove behind the ear before returning into the hair of the scalp behind the ear. The skin is elevated from its attachments to underlying tissue before Dr. Parfitt repositions and tightens the underlying connective tissue and muscle. A quantity of fat may be removed, as well as the excess lax skin. In facelifts for men, the incision is designed to accommodate natural beard location. In all cases, the incision is designed to fall in a natural crease of the skin for concealment. After trimming excess skin, Dr. Parfitt then closes all incisions with very fine sutures. Some metal clips are also used, which permit surgery without shaving hair from the incision site. Following surgery, a dressing will be applied to protect the entire area where incisions were made.

RECOVERY AFTER A FACELIFT

Dr. Parfitt will wrap your head with a conforming type of gauze post procedure to reduce swelling and bruising. You will also be instructed to keep your head elevated while lying down, and to report any undue discomfort. We recommend being elevated with extra pillows while you rest. Some degree of bruising and swelling is expected and will subside, however all patients are required to follow the post-operative instructions to ensure better healing and to reduce any possible complications.

After a facelift, Dr. Parfitt requires stay in our on-site Private Recovery Suite for the first night following surgery, so you can stay as rested as possible. The first night post facelift your head will be supported with a conforming wrap to reduce swelling and bruising. The first wrap is removed the next morning and a less conforming, smaller wrap is applied for an additional day. On the second morning post facelift surgery this final wrap is removed. At this time, patients may start to shower. Sutures are removed 6 days following surgery and any metal clips are removed on the day 10 following facelift surgery. Light activity is encouraged starting the second day following facelift surgery. Vigorous activity, which raises blood pressure, is discouraged until 1 month out from surgery.

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