Facelift

Facelift surgery, or a rhytidectomy, is designed to restore a more youthful appearance by removing major wrinkles and sagging skin. It involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles as well as the removal of any excess skin.

The skin begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of age, sun exposure and genetics. Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to evenly distributed fatty tissues in facial contours. Over time, the skin sags and folds are the chin, jaw line and neck become prominent. Not only does a facelift improve facial appearance but also has a dramatic effect on the neck, enhancing its contour and profile.

Call us for information about facelifts in Colleyville / Forth Worth, TX, (817) 552-3223.

A facelift can make a patient look 5 to 10 years younger. It not only turns back the clock, it also slows down the clock because of suspension techniques and surgical scarring.

Dramatic as the end results are, this is not a simple procedure. It requires a week to 10 days of recovery.

Types of Facelifts

The Mini-Facelift (a.k.a. S-Lift or J-Lift) places incisions in front of the ear only. There is less surgery involved. The Mini-Facelift does not address the neck laxity as effectively as the classical facelift.

The classical facelift involves incision into the temporal hair region, in front of and behind the ear. A facelift can offer dramatic results by diminishing jowling, neck laxity and cheek folds.

The VIP (Vectors in Plane) Facelift

The Four Dimensional VIP Facelift utilizes sophisticated, high-tech instrumentation to allow the skin and muscle facelift to evolve to a completely new and revolutionary level. Several principles are utilized.

• ...Good form follows good function. Problems with the old techniques of facelifts revolved around improper positioning of the skin and muscle which overtime descended due to gravity and laxity of the collagen matrix, or the scaffolding complex of the skin. Aging pushes the skin down and forward. The classical facelift address only the downward sagging skin. Often, the classical facelift gives patients developed the “unnatural, operated “ look because the vector of the pull of the tissues was straight back, instead of back and up. The Four Dimensional VIP Facelift addresses this issue by repositioning the tissues back and up.
• ...Reposition and add to before you take away. The traditional techniques always applied a stretch to the tissues and then involved a removal of “excess.” This is a false pretence. We do not typically grow “excess” skin as we age (unless accompanied by large weight gain) in the facial tissues. Rather a laxity of the collagen matrix occurs and the underlying skeletal structure resorbs, or melts away with time, much like elderly family members seem to get shorter every year. Therefore it is logical to address the aging effects of skin laxity with the skin-tightening effects of the laser to tighten the collagen matrix and consider adding volume by augmentation of the resorbing skeletal features with biocompatible implants or grafting techniques. These are minor parts of the procedure that yield tremendous rejuvenating effects!
• ...Consider the face as a whole and don’t divide it into anatomic parts. As analytical surgeons and as artists, we learn to study the symmetry of the face in parts: the forehead, the eyes, the cheeks, the nose, the lips, the mouth, the chin and the neck. We have been trained in multiple techniques in order to address these “parts” of the face that patients want addressed. The problem is that the over thirty muscles of facial expression don’t adhere to this division of anatomy. That is to say that the bone, skin and muscles are all connected and if we effect change on one part, it may adversely effect change or prevent change as desired. The whole face is greater than the sum of the parts. Dramatic results are achievable with addressing the entire face as is done in the Four Dimensional VIP Facelift

The components of the complete Four Dimensional Facelift include an brow/midface lift, a multivector/mulitlayer face and neck lift and facial skin resurfacing. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis in our state-of-the-art surgical center. Additionally patients may benefit from simultaneous eyelid lifts or chin or cheek augmentation. For patients who have limited skin laxity, a Three Dimensional Facelift may be performed which does not utilize the component of laser resurfacing. The finesse of this procedure involves a tailoring of the technique to each individual in order to achieve long-lasting, natural-appearing rejuvenated results.

Before Surgery

We will evaluate your medical history in order to determine your overall health.

Dr. Tye will discuss with you how your face can look and what you can expect from surgery. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. Before and After photographs will reveal what the surgery has accomplished.

Preoperative Instructions: Avoid drugs that contain aspirin several weeks prior to surgery to minimize excess bleeding. You will be required to take antibiotics to prevent infection. You will be instructed to shampoo your hair with an antibacterial wash the night before surgery. A small amount of hair may be shaved around your ears and temples.

The Procedure

A facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow lift, chin augmentation, and/or liposuction, to create an overall rejuvenation of the face.

Facelifts are often performed in our outpatient surgical center for patient’s comfort, safety and confidentiality. Local anesthesia with intravenous sedation is most commonly used, with premedication to help you relax. General anesthesia is generally not required but can be used if desired.

Dr. Tye will make incisions inside the hairline at the temple, in front of the ear, then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Incisions are closed with small sutures.

The procedure may take up to 5 hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time.

Post Operative Care

It is necessary to have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Initially you will have a large dressing wrapped around your head. Stitches around the ears will be removed in a five days. The scalp sutures will be removed in 7-10 days.

To minimize scarring, Dr. Tye may remove the sutures in stages. Scarring fades quickly. Swelling and discoloration decrease within two weeks. Tightness in your face will be present for several weeks and there may be slight changes in your hair pattern around the incision.

We recommend that you avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery.

Complications following facelift are rare. These include bleeding, infection, loss of skin behind the ears, facial nerve injury, weakness of or loss of facial expression, discoloration of the skin, numbness, asymmetry and scarring. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. As mentioned, the risk of bleeding is greater if you take aspirin or blood thinners within 2 weeks of the surgery. The risk of wound complications increases in diabetics, persons with a history of radiation, autoimmune and collagen disease as well as in smokers.

By following pre- and post-operative instructions, you will minimize potential problems.

Recovery: What to Expect

In the weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few months to disappear. Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function or sensation. However, actual permanent damage to the facial nerve is rare.

The healing process is gradual. A single procedure often achieves the desired results. Most patients who have had facelifts are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.