In order to obtain the beautiful results you want from a facelift in St. Louis, it’s important to select a skilled plastic surgeon who can evaluate your individual situation, including your skin quality, skin thickness, and skin elasticity. Our facelift patients from Decatur and Champaign, Illinois; Terre Haute, Indiana; and surrounding communities enjoy looking years younger, yet natural. It takes the precision and intuition of a skilled surgeon to create harmony between how you feel on the inside and how you look on the outside.
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Are You a Candidate?
Facelift surgery is one of the most effective options for reducing common signs of facial aging. But different people age at different rates and in different ways, and facelift isn’t always appropriate for everyone. Typically, the surgery is most effective at treating the following concerns:
- Flattened, sagging cheeks and nasolabial folds
- Jowls or sagging skin along the jawline
- Lax, loose skin on the upper portion of the neck
- Lines and wrinkles around the mouth
During your initial consultation, you and your surgeon will examine each of your options for facial rejuvenation. In some cases, you may determine that a procedure that focuses on the upper face, such as a [link pid=”45″]brow lift[/link], or even a nonsurgical approach, such as [link pid=”95″]BOTOX® Cosmetic[/link], are more suitable choices.
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Procedure Overview
A facelift from St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery can tighten loose skin around the chin and jawline, lessen the appearance of folds around the nose and mouth, and reduce sagging in the mid-face. Depending on the extent of lifting required, as well as a person’s existing facial anatomy, a mini-, mid-, or full facelift may be recommended. Full (traditional) facelifts generally offer more complete rejuvenation benefits as well as more noticeable, longer-lasting results.
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Your Surgery
Facelift surgery is typically performed while using general anesthetic. Depending on the degree of lifting required, your surgeon may make incisions along your hairline, near your temples, around your ears, and on the lower scalp. In any case, these meticulously made incisions are well concealed in natural folds and creases, and typically fade to very discreet scars.
Once your surgeon has made the initial incisions, he tightens the muscles and supportive structures beneath the skin, pulling the tissue upward for a youthful, gravity-defying look. He re-drapes the skin over the new, more youthful facial contours, trimming away excess. Finally, he closes your incisions with sutures.
Facelift Recovery & Results
We Specialize in Rapid Recovery
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At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, we used rapid recovery techniques during facelift procedures to minimize tissue damage and promote healing. This results in less bruising, bleeding, and swelling so that you can get back to your normal routine faster. Most patients should expect to spend between 1 week and 10 days away from work and other daily obligations.
Facelift surgery can help to restore youthful facial contours and lessen the appearance of facial folds around the nose and mouth. Many people often combine a facelift procedure with other facial rejuvenation options, such as forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or BOTOX to create a more rejuvenated appearance overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do to prepare for a facelift?
At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, our facelift patients are scheduled for at least 1 preoperative appointment in addition to their consultations. During this appointment, you’ll discuss what you can expect after the surgery, as well as how to care for yourself. You’ll also receive your prescriptions for pain medicine. Our doctors recommend quitting smoking for at least several months prior to surgery to lower the risk of complications. It’s also a good idea to arrange for extra help with chores and errands during the recovery period.
Where will the incisions be located?
Most incisions are made behind the ears and along the hairline. This placement provides the surgeon with optimal access during surgery and also results in very discreet scars, no matter how you wear your hair. Most people will not notice any scars once the initial healing process has passed.
Will facelift correct the bags under my eyes?
Though a face lift can improve the look of under-eye bags, it does not specifically address them. If bags, dark circles, or fat deposits under your eyes are primary concerns, you may choose to add eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to your face lift. A blepharoplasty lifts and smooths the skin above and below the eye, resulting in a more alert, younger-looking appearance.
What happens during a facelift?
At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, your face lift is a highly customized procedure. No two of these surgeries are exactly alike, and the surgeon will make adjustments based on the patient’s needs, goals, and overall health. However, most facelift surgeries follow the same general outline. Once the patient is fully sedated, the surgeon makes the initial incision around the ears and partially up the hairline. The surgeon tightens the underlying muscles, repositions tissues and fat, and removes excess skin to create a natural-looking result. The incisions are closed, and the patient is moved to a comfortable recovery area where he or she will be monitored as he or she wakes up. Once the doctor has determined the patient is ready, he or she will be permitted to return home for rest and recuperation.
Will there be any dietary restrictions after surgery?
There is no medical reason to restrict your diet following facelift surgery, but you may have a reduced appetite for several days as a result of anesthesia and your prescription medicines. It’s important to nourish yourself during the healing process, so start with a liquid diet until you feel comfortable moving on to soft and solid foods. Applesauce, soup, gelatin, and soft fruits such as bananas are well-tolerated by most patients.
When can I get back to my regular activities?
Most patients feel comfortable enough to get back to everyday activities at the 2- or 3-week mark. Much of the bruising and swelling will have diminished by then, and other residual discoloration can be covered by makeup. You may also start easing back into an exercise routine and return to work at this point. Everybody heals differently, so don’t worry if you don’t feel ready by 2 weeks. It’s more important to give yourself plenty of time to heal than it is to strain yourself by rushing back into your normal activities.
How long will my facelift results last?
The results of a facelift can be beautiful and long-lasting, but the surgery does not stop the aging process completely. You can prolong your results for many years by maintaining a steady weight, not smoking, and practicing good sun protection habits. After several years, some patients may choose to undergo a second facelift, while others feel more comfortable maintaining their results with the use of BOTOX Cosmetic and dermal fillers. Your doctor will help you decide which course of action is best for you.
My face is showing signs of aging, but I’m not sure it’s enough for a facelift. What else can I do?
At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, we offer a procedure called a [link pid=”43″]Next Day Lift[/link]. This modified face lift is ideal for people whose primary concerns are skin laxity, especially around the lower face. This shorter procedure is performed under local anesthesia and requires less downtime than a typical facelift. Most Next Day Lift patients feel well enough to return to work and other activities in under a week.
Additionally, non-surgical [link pid=”8″]medical spa[/link] treatments including BOTOX Cosmetic and [link pid=”103″]Thermage®[/link] can help stave off minor signs of aging.
The experienced plastic surgeons at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery are devoted to providing subtle, natural-looking results that express your inner beauty and confidence. [consultation]Request a consultation[/consultation] online, or call [phone] to set up an evaluation with one of our surgeons.
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