Face Lift/Rhytidectomy

This information has been assembled to familiarize you with the facts regarding face lift surgery. You are requested to read the following information thoroughly and to discuss any questions which might arise with your surgeon before you proceed with the surgical procedure known as rhytidectomy.

Introduction

Face lift procedures are among the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures at Dr. Gerlach's office. Most people feel physically and mentally vigorous and energetic long after their appearance has begun to deteriorate due to aging. A face lift procedure is designed to provide you with a rejuvenated appearance. The degree of improvement achieved depends on the severity of the initial deformity and the age of the patient.

A face lift may be beneficial whenever you have too much sagging of the facial or neck skin. In a younger patient with minimal sagging, the degree of improvement will be subtle, but frequently the result is extremely satisfying to the patient caring about personal appearance.

This is considered to be a major operative procedure. Contrary to popular belief and despite newspaper and magazine stories, this is not as simple as having your hair set or having a facial. Also, contrary to many of the non-medical reports, it is not possible to remove all the folds and eliminate all the wrinkles of the face, regardless of the treatment applied.

You must realize that your surgeon will remove as much skin as can be done safely to provide a natural result for your particular facial contour. The face lift procedure provides improvement but does not remove each and every wrinkle or fold from the face. The type of skin, the degree of pre-existing sun damage, the age and the aging rate of each patient are factors that help determine your final result.

A common question regarding a face lift is, "How long will it last?" This is impossible to state for a given individual, as there are many factors involved: The amount of skin removed, the age of the patient, the patient's type of skin, healing ability, changes in weight, smoking history and general health of the patient.

Patients who have a very marked degree of skin laxity in the neck area will occasionally require a second face lift within a year of the initial procedure if optimal correction is to be achieved. Skin aging continues after any operation. This surgical procedure merely turns back the aging process; it cannot stop the "hands of time".

Regardless of how tightly the facial skin is pulled, aging and stretching of the facial skin begins to occur immediately after the operation. It is usual to see some recurrence of jowls or looseness of the neck within three months of the operation. You can look forward to some degree of improvement permanently. Most patients have sufficient improvement following a face lift which keeps them looking younger than their friends forever. However, you may choose to have another face lift in future years to maintain a more youthful appearance.

Call Dr. Gerlach's office at 310-540-0144 for a complimentary consultation.