What Can a Facelift Correct?
A facelift can dramatically rejuvenate your facial appearance with long-lasting results. This procedure can address the following concerns:
- Wrinkles and fine lines around your mouth
- Sagging cheeks
- Drooping tissue along the jawline (jowls)
- A “turkey wattle” beneath the chin
- Wrinkled skin and loose muscles in the neck
Am I a Candidate for a Facelift?
A facelift can be a great option for men and women looking to restore their youthful facial contours.
Facelift candidates generally identify with the following:
- Appear older than their actual age because of facial wrinkles and skin laxity
- Wish to have a more defined jawline
- Want to appear more alert and refreshed instead of perpetually tired
- Are in good overall health
- Do not have any previous medical conditions that can impair their healing
- Do not smoke
- Have realistic expectations of their results
Are you a candidate for a facelift? Call Dr. Agullo at (915) 590-7900 to set up a consultation.
What Will Be Discussed During My Facelift Consultation?
Your facelift procedure will be personalized to you based on your specific needs and goals. Therefore, your consultation with Dr. Agullo is an essential part of the surgical process.
During your meeting, Dr. Agullo will:
- Discuss your wishes and expectations with you
- Evaluate your skin and muscle laxity
- Suggest additional techniques that may provide optimal results
- Take measurements and photos
- Give detailed instructions on how to prepare for your facelift
What Are the Different Types of Facelifts?
Dr. Agullo uses the latest techniques in facial plastic surgery. Most of his facelifts entail the use of the high SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) facelift technique. In a high SMAS facelift, the actual pull of the facelift is done in the deeper layers all the way up to the cheekbones. In the end, this procedure creates very dramatic yet natural results that are long lasting. At the same time, this technique avoids the feared “over-pulled” look.
Dr. Agullo offers the following facelift surgery options:
Mini Facelift
- Targets the cheeks and jawline
- Requires less recovery time and shorter scars than a traditional facelift
- A mini facelift is also called the S-lift, MACS lift, or weekend lift
Mid Facelift
- Targets the cheeks, lower eyes, mouth area, and jawline
- Slightly more extensive than a mini facelift
- Uses a slightly longer incision to shift the fat just above the cheekbones
Full Facelift
- Targets the cheeks, lower eyes, mouth area, jawline, and neck
- Incisions start within the hairline at the temples and run down around the ear into the lower scalp
Neck Lift
- Tightens sagging neck tissue and can correct a double chin
- Requires small incisions around the ears
- May use liposuction to remove excess fat
- Can be done alone or combined with any type of facelift
- A neck lift is also known as “cervicoplasty”
How Should I Prepare for My Facelift?
Planning and preparation are essential for a quicker and smoother facelift recovery. Before your facelift, you should:
- Stop smoking for at least six weeks, as this can increase your risk of complications like blood clots
- Avoid medication and herbal supplements that thin your blood for at least two weeks
- Do not eat or drink after midnight the day of your facelift
- Ensure that you have and bring your paperwork and identification on the day of your surgery
- Line up a family member or friend to drive you home after your procedure
- Have a friend or family member stay to assist you for the first 24 hours after the operation
Common Facelift Concerns
Is a Facelift Painful?
During the procedure, you will be asleep under anesthesia and unable to feel any pain. Following the procedure, it is normal to experience some mild discomfort as you heal. Any discomfort can be managed with pain medication.
What Should I Expect During My Facelift Recovery?
After surgery, your face will be wrapped in bandages, and a drainage tube will likely be placed under the skin to remove excess fluid. Noticeable swelling and bruising will be present for several days. Although the bruising will subside sooner, some degree of swelling can last for several weeks.
Most patients take one to two weeks off work. Strenuous activity should not be resumed until four weeks after facelift surgery.
When Will I See My Facelift Results?
Your face will immediately appear more lifted and your skin will be tighter, but bruising and swelling will initially camouflage your results. Most of this will resolve within a few days, and patients are generally comfortable appearing in public after one to two weeks.
Will I Have Scars After My Facelift?
Depending on the technique used, there may be some mild scarring following your procedure. Dr. Agullo carefully places incisions to ensure that they heal well and are very discreet. Unless you have a health condition that could make you prone to scarring, any scars can usually be handled with fading creams.
Facelift Surgery FAQs
General anesthesia is most commonly used for facelift surgery to ensure patient comfort during the procedure.
Dermal injectables offer temporary correction by filling facial wrinkles, whereas a facelift removes the wrinkles by smoothing the underlying tissues and tightening the skin. Only a facelift can improve sagging tissues for a semi-permanent result, while facial fillers must be re-administered every six to 12 months to maintain results.
Contact the MedSpa at Southwest Plastic Surgery to learn more about injectable fillers.
It is important to understand that facial aging does not only entail sagging skin but also the loss of facial volume, especially in the upper cheek area. Dr. Agullo often recommends that patients combine facial fat grafting with their facelift to restore lost facial volume and achieve more youthful and natural results.
Facelift surgery can significantly reduce signs of aging in the lower two-thirds of the face. It cannot address wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging in the forehead and around the eyes. If you’d like to address aging in your upper face and lower face, Dr. Agullo may recommend that you combine an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) or brow lift (forehead lift) with your facelift for more complete facial rejuvenation.
Some who are interested in the facelift procedure are concerned that their results will look unnatural, too tight, or “pulled.” Dr. Agullo avoids this look by tightening not only the facial skin but also the muscles and tissue beneath to provide natural-looking results.
As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with a facelift, which typically decrease in individuals who do not smoke and are in good health. Although rare, risks include (but are not limited to) the following: facial nerve injuries, facial asymmetry, skin sensation loss, fat necrosis, visible sutures, anesthesia risks, infection, persistent pain, poor healing, scarring, and the need for revision surgery. Dr. Agullo will discuss these risks with you during your consultation.
Are You Interested in a Facelift in El Paso?
If you want to learn more about getting a facelift with Dr. Agullo, please feel free to contact his office by calling (915) 590-7900. Patients come from all over for Dr. Agullo’s facial rejuvenation procedures in El Paso, Texas.
Visit our resource for out-of-town patients if you’re traveling, and fill out our plastic surgery contact form to make an appointment.
Catch the full facelift transformation live on Snapchat or Instagram @RealDrWorldWide! #StayBeautiful
