Facelift in San Diego, CA
No one can look like they are 25 forever. Eventually, over time, visible signs of aging in the face and neck will develop.
The fine lines, skin laxity, and loss of facial volume can be detrimental to anyone’s self-esteem, even when aging is expected. Facelift surgery in San Diego, California, helps men and women restore youthful face and neck contours while shaving the appearance of years off the clock.
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that tightens the underlying tissues in the middle and lower regions of the face. This time-tested facial plastic surgery technique helps provide smoother, tauter skin that maintains a natural-looking appearance.
The expert plastic surgeons at Coastal Plastic Surgery have years of experience performing results-driven facial rejuvenation procedures like the facelift.
What Can a San Diego Facelift Achieve?
Smoothingof Facial Wrinkles
Collagen loss, sun damage, smoking, environmental factors, and repeated facial movements cause facial tissues to weaken. This loss of firmness creates lines and deep facial creases. Facelift surgery lifts and tightens facial tissue and removes excess skin to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance. Because both the skin and underlying tissues are tightened, patients can maintain a very natural and smooth look. This technique also helps avoid the “wind tunneled” appearance associated with earlier facelift techniques.
Reductionof jowls
As the underlying muscles in the midface weaken, they begin to sag toward the jawline, where they remain to form jowls. Jowls are pockets of skin and tissue that mask the angular shape of the jawline and contribute to an aged appearance. Facelift surgery (usually performed with a neck lift) tightens the underlying tissues, which helps to lift the tissues that fell, thereby eliminating jowls. Men and women can once again feel pleased with the angular shape of their jawlines.
Restorationof Facial Shape
Although fat commonly develops in many regions of the body as you age, it actually decreases from the cheeks and chin the older you get, causing your face to look sunken and hollow. Facelift surgery tightens facial tissues to restore them to their natural elevation, oftent returning facial volume to the midface. Additionally, facelift surgery commonly combines facial fat transfer or dermal fillers to physically add volume to the areas where it was lost.
What Does a Facelift Entail?
What Is Discussed During a Facelift Consultation?
Facelift surgery is tailored to the unique aesthetic needs of every patient. This customization helps patients get results that exceed their expectations. No two facelift surgeries look the same; instead, they are as unique as you are.
During your consultation, Dr. Batra will examine your current facial aging, discuss your desires for the procedure, and explain what you can expect from the surgery and your recovery. Depending on your needs, you may be recommended a mini facelift, a traditional facelift, a face and neck lift, a GRBx™ facelift and neck lift, or some other facial rejuvenation combination.
To ensure your plastic surgeon’s view and expectations align with yours, you should ask a lot of questions during your consultation and request to see examples of their facelift before and after results.
How Is a Facelift Performed?
Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, a light general anesthetic, or local anesthesia, depending on the amount of facial correction you require. This is an outpatient procedure.
While the exact techniques used will vary depending on your needs and desires, most traditional facelift surgeries are performed using the following steps:
- Incisions start at the temples (in the hairline) and run down and around the ear. An additional incision may be made beneath the chin.
- Excess skin is trimmed, and underlying tissues are tightened to accommodate the cheeks and neck. Typically, more thorough elevation is needed to properly address the specific characteristics of patients seeking facelift surgery.
- Dr. Batra will artfully re-drape the skin over the new contours and suture it into place to maintain the correction.
- Incisions are closed with stitches that leave little to no visible scarring.
Drains are occasionally required to promote drainage and minimize swelling.
Will I Need a Neck Lift?
Neck lift surgery is almost always included in your facelift because most patient’s face and neck age simultaneously, and addressing one without the other would lead to an unbalanced aesthetic. Neck lift surgery reduces laxity and smooths vertical banding on the neck, and it can also remove submental fullness beneath the chin (double chin).
Should I Combine My Facelift With Other Facial Rejuvenation Treatments?
Facelift surgery targets the facial aging that develops on the lower two-thirds of the face. Additional cosmetic procedures can be combined along with facelift surgery to allow for a dramatic restoration of more youthful contours.
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) eliminates upper eyelid hooding and reduces bags beneath the eyes.
- Brow lift surgery raises drooping brows and lessens forehead lines.
- Injectable dermal fillers restore lost volume to the cheeks, lips, and nasolabial folds.
- BOTOX® Cosmetic reduces the appearance of crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines.
Your plastic surgeon will review your facial rejuvenation options with you during your consultation at Coastal Plastic Surgeons in San Diego.
Do You Have Concerns About Your San Diego Facelift?
How Long Is Facelift Recovery?
Facelift surgery manipulates the facial skin and tissues. You can expect to experience bruising and swelling after this procedure. Dr. Batra and his team at Coastal Plastic Surgeons will provide instructions on how to care for yourself and your incisions during your recovery. Following these instructions will allow you to heal quicker and provide you with more desirable results.
Most patients can return to work and their normal activities within one to two weeks, depending on how fast the swelling subsides. Patients can resume all activities after four to six weeks.
How Painful Is a Facelift?
Facelift surgery is done under general anesthesia to prevent pain during or immediately following the procedure. You may experience mild to moderate discomfort and pain after the anesthesia wears off. Dr. Batra will prescribe you an oral pain medication; however, some patients find that over-the-counter medications and cold compresses are adequate.
Most patients find the discomfort after facelift surgery to be very bearable.
Will I Have Scars After My Facelift?
The incision for facelift surgery is traditionally made along the hairline and around the ear. Dr. Batra works tirelessly to make these incisions as small and inconspicuous as possible, but scarring may still develop along these areas.
Scarring can be minimized by properly caring for your incisions, keeping them out of the sun, or applying silicone strips or gel. All scars will fade with time.
How Much Is a Facelift in San Diego?
The cost of facelift surgery varies on several factors; therefore, it is not easy to give an accurate estimate. Some of these factors include the geographical location and the combination of procedures as well as anesthesia fees, facility fees, surgical fees, and the cost of all pre-surgical tests and post-surgical dressings and medications.
You will be given an estimate of your San Diego facelift costs during your consultation. Coastal Plastic Surgeons offer financing options through Alphaeon® and CareCredit® to help their patients make their dream surgery a reality.
Facelift Results
View our gallery page for the procedures and treatments at Coastal Plastic Surgeons. At Coastal Plastic Surgeons, we believe in our methods and techniques for lasting results that can change your life. We offer procedures on everything from breast augmentation and body contouring, to facial aesthetics, hair restoration, and skin resurfacing. Every treatment is displayed here in our gallery.
Patient Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
- Negative reactions to the anesthesia
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Prolonged swelling
- Nerve injury or weakness
- Fluid accumulation
- Persistent pain
- Changes in skin sensation
- Poor wound healing
- Unfavorable scarring
- Hair loss at the incision sites
- Skin discoloration
- Facial asymmetry