Facelift surgery is a suspensory procedure designed to elevate the facial tissues. The overall purpose of a facelift is to tighten the lax skin, restore muscle tone, and add volume to the face. Facelifts, also known as rhytidectomies, also serve the purpose of rejuvenating a patient’s face to create a younger appearance and youthful glow by eliminating wrinkles.
Dr. Joseph Michaels is passionate about practicing and advancing the field of plastic surgery and has faithfully served patients in the DMV with countless procedures and hours of experience. He is well-regarded as one of the best rejuvenating surgeons in the area and is committed to helping you look like a refreshed and improved version of yourself. At Michaels Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Dr. Michaels has helped countless patients achieve a more youthful, reinvigorated look. If your facial appearance is not what you want it to be, then do not hesitate to take the first step toward a new look. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Michaels at your earliest convenience to begin planning your treatment. If you have any further questions about our practice, Dr. Michaels, or anything else, please call one of our offices and speak with our dedicated staff members.
- Fairfax, VA: (703) 957-8610
- Rockville, MD: (301) 468-5991
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Facelifts
As we age, the effects of gravity, the sun, and genetics affect the quality and texture of our skin. Other factors like pollution, air quality, stress, and diet can also contribute to wrinkling and decreased skin health. (1) As time passes, the body’s cells slowly stop generating the two proteins that are integral for maintaining elastic, young-looking skin: collagen and elastin. When this happens, the skin loses its elasticity and starts to droop. Also, over time, muscle tone and fat are both diminished and lead to a decrease in facial volume and a potential “sunken-in” appearance. All these developments result in noticeable signs of aging throughout the face, including:
- Wrinkles
- Creases
- Furrows
- Deep Facial Folds
- Hollow Pockets
- Sagging Skin
- Jowls
With facelift surgery, Dr. Michaels’ principal goal is to correct these visible signs of aging on the face while delivering natural-looking results. With his experience and expertise, you can achieve a refreshed, youthful face that is the best version of your genuine self.
Benefits
Addressing the effects of age with a facelift offers countless benefits, including:
- Facial Rejuvenation: Provides a fresh, youthful look by removing excess skin and smoothing fine lines.
- Increased Definition: Enhances the jawline and restores underlying facial structures for a sculpted appearance.
- Long-Lasting Results: Unlike non-surgical treatments, the results from surgery can last for years with appropriate care.
- Improved Skin Quality: By removing sagging skin, patients often experience healthier-looking skin post-surgery.
- Boosted Self-Confidence: Many individuals report increased confidence and a more positive self-image following their procedure.
- Customizable Options: Tailoring the surgery to fit personal goals allows patients to achieve their desired aesthetic outcomes.
- Complementary Procedures: Patients have the opportunity to combine a facelift with other treatments, such as brow lifts, eyelid lifts, or dermal fillers, for comprehensive rejuvenation.
- Minimal Scarring: Skilled surgeons utilize techniques and incision placements designed to minimize visible scarring, leading to natural-looking results.
Candidates
Men and women in good overall health who are looking to improve the contour of their faces are good candidates for facelifts. Ideal patients:
- Are non-smokers
- Are concerned about facial aging symptoms such as jowls, sagging, and drooping skin.
- Are concerned about loose skin below the chin and neck
- Are in good overall health
- Have reasonable expectations of what a facelift can achieve
Personal Consultation
At your consultation, Dr. Michaels will assess your facial aging symptoms and examine the areas that you want to be treated. You will also discuss your goals and expectations for your facelift procedure. Facelifts are always planned according to each individual’s anatomy and their goals. Dr. Michaels will customize an individual treatment plan that best suits your needs and helps you reach your goals using the safest and most effective techniques. Preparation instructions will also be given at the time of the consultation. Schedule your consultation now and learn more about how a facelift can turn back the clock on the signs of aging.
Preparation
In preparation for your facelift, Dr. Michaels will ask his patients to adhere to the preparation guidelines and instructions that are provided at your consultation. You will be advised to:
- Refrain from smoking for up to 4 weeks before the procedure, avoid nicotine and other forms of tobacco or vaping for 6 weeks, and continue to exercise and maintain a healthy diet.
- Fill and pick up all prescriptions that you may need before the procedure.
- Prepare your home and arrange basic necessities so they are easily available.
- Make transportation arrangements before the procedure, as you will be unable to drive home on your own.
- Obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician or any other healthcare professionals involved in your health within thirty days of your procedure.
On the morning of the surgery, be sure to wash your hair well. This helps to prevent any unnecessary infections during the procedure. We also recommend washing your face with a strong cleanser and moisturizing properly. Dr. Michaels and his staff are available at any time to answer additional questions and provide you with tips on how you can best prepare for your treatment.
Procedure
Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Usually, Dr. Michaels requires that you stay overnight after surgery so you can be closely monitored by nursing staff and so Dr. Michaels can see you the following morning. During the facelift procedure, Dr. Michaels elevates the skin and then repositions the deeper connective tissues of the face (the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS) to improve the look of your cheeks and jaw contour. (2) This facelift approach involves making an incision that starts at the temple (either in front of the sideburn or within the hairline), continues around the ear, and ends behind the ear or in the scalp area. The incision pattern varies for each patient depending on the complexity of the individual’s facial rejuvenation needs and their aesthetic concerns. Dr. Michaels uses several variations on this incision pattern based on a patient’s unique needs. (1)
For patients desiring improvement in the neck, the incision will again begin within the hairline, starting in front of the earlobe, extending around the back of the ear, and terminating in the lower region of the scalp. For individuals desiring a smoother forehead and lifted eyebrow line, for example, Dr. Michaels makes an incision within the upper hairline to access the tissues in the upper facial region. Finally, Dr. Michaels creates an incision in the upper eyelid crease to address the sagging upper eyelids and/or directly inside the lower eyelid to address the “bags” that can form under the eyes for those who would like a more refreshed, youthful appearance around their eyes.
Once the incision has been made, Dr. Michaels carefully elevates a skin flap, restores the supporting tissues and muscles using suture suspension stitches, re-drapes the remaining skin, and excises any loose skin. He then carefully closes the incisions, using a technique that makes them minimally visible. (2)
Recovery
Dr. Michaels and his staff will place bandages and wrap the treatment area. Surgical drains will be used to improve healing and prevent fluid buildup and are removed the day after your procedure. Most patients will require an overnight stay in the hospital after their procedure is completed. For any continuing physical discomfort, prescription pain medication will be prescribed.
We advise keeping your head elevated while lying down and avoiding any intense exercise or activity. Any sutures that do not dissolve on their own are removed in the office about 5-7 days following surgery. The aesthetic results of a facelift generally last about 5-10 years, but this depends on lifestyle habits, environment, hereditary factors, and previous facelift procedures. (1) During your follow-up appointment, you will be given further recovery instructions regarding the best ways to resume exercise, work, and activity. Typically, patients are advised to refrain from exerting themselves for at least 3-4 weeks.
Results
Some improvement may be immediately visible after your treatment, but the final results of a facelift will become clear when the swelling has subsided and the healing is complete. Once your swelling is reduced, you will notice smooth, healthy skin and a new youthful glow. Dr. Michaels’ patients are regularly thrilled with their results.
Corresponding & Complementary Procedures
Facelifts are also commonly combined with a neck lift to rejuvenate and correct the contour of the neck. Dr. Michaels can perform a neck lift using the same incisions that he utilized for the facelift procedure, with the addition of a small incision placed underneath your chin fold to provide access to the muscle bands in the neck that frequently require tightening or repair. Facelifts can also be combined with other facial rejuvenating procedures such as eyelid surgery, brow lifts, and laser treatments to address wrinkles around the lips, eyes, and mouth.
Cost of a Facelift in Washington DC
The cost of a facelift will be based on several factors, such as the techniques used and any additional treatments involved. During your consultation, Dr. Michaels will be able to give you a precise estimate with a detailed breakdown of your treatment. We also offer financing options that can assist with covering facility costs and anesthesia fees. Please contact either our Fairfax ((703) 957-8610) or Rockville ((301) 468-5991) office today to schedule your consultation and be on your way to achieving a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.
References
- Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/
- Joshi K, Hohman MH, Seiger E. SMAS Plication Facelift. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531458/
