DLM Internal

How do I prepare for a facelift?

Before your facelift surgery, you will want to quit smoking at least six weeks ahead of time (if you are a smoker), make arrangements for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery, stop taking certain medications like blood thinners, and fast starting the night before surgery. Most importantly, follow the instructions Dr. Walker provides.

Does a facelift make you look younger?

Absolutely!

How can I tighten loose skin on my face?

A facelift is a great solution to tighten loose skin. Dr. Walker will reposition the deeper structures to a more youthful position in your face and the skin will move along with it (similar to pulling a rug with furniture on top of it) to achieve a firmer, younger-looking appearance. If there is excess skin, that gets removed as well.

How do you take care of your face after a facelift?

After your facelift, you should simply follow the written instructions Dr. Walker gives including cool compresses, head elevation, avoiding excess sun exposure, and only perform light physical activity.

Is a facelift permanent?

The results of a facelift are considered permanent, but it will not stop the natural aging process. Most people therefore see results last for 10-15 years.

How long after a facelift can I exercise?

You can perform some light physical activity, like walking, a few days after surgery, but you should wait 2-4 weeks until you perform any strenuous activity.

How long does it take for bruising on the face to go away?

Most of the bruising on your face will be gone after 1-2 weeks.

When should you get a facelift?

There is no best time to have a facelift, but many of our facelift patients are in their 40s, 50s, or 60s and want to address visible signs of aging. However, there are facelift candidates in their late 20s/early 30s depending on the genetic makeup and findings on exam.

How do I reduce swelling in my face?

To reduce swelling after your facelift, apply cold compresses to your face, elevate your head, stay hydrated, avoid sodium/salt intake, and rest as much as possible. You will also be given a compression garment after surgery that you will want to wear.

How much does a Facelift cost?

The cost of your facelift will vary based on the technique used. During your consultation, Dr. Walker will develop a customized treatment plan for you based on your needs and goals. After the treatment plan is mutually agreed upon, a team member of Dr. Walker will discuss pricing with you. Although we are aware and sensitive to the fact that pricing matters, ultimately it is most important that you find a surgeon you trust, are comfortable with, and who is board-certified and very experienced in the procedure you are looking for. At WalkerMD, we can help you find low-interest financing that will make your surgery easier to afford. An average cost of a facelift can range between $8,000 - $15,000, depending on the type and extent of surgery.

Will I have visible scars after a facelift?

Dr. Walker is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery exclusively in the face and neck. He uses his extensive training, experience, and knowledge of facial anatomy to hide your incisions in the hairline and behind the ears in skin creases. They are essentially invisible to others. Initially, these scars will be pink, but after a few months, they will gradually turn white and become essentially unnoticeable to the casual observer.

Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

There are many great nonsurgical skin tightening options, but all of them can only produce mild improvements and none can produce results as long-lasting as a facelift can. The more invasive a technique, the greater the result and the longer-lasting the result. If you have moderate to severe skin sagging, a surgical facelift is the best choice to rejuvenate your face and neck. During your consultation, Dr. Walker will discuss your options, including non-surgical treatments, to help select the best treatment for your individual needs taking your goals and tolerability for downtime and financial means into consideration.

Is facelift and neck lift only for women?

No, not at all. Facelifts and neck lifts are performed in both men and women. Historically, all cosmetic procedures were more commonly done in women than in men. However, the trend of cosmetic surgery is rising in our male population so that cosmetic surgeries, including facelifts, are extremely common nowadays in male clients as well.

Fillers and BOTOX\u00ae after facelift?

Injectables such as fillers (Juvéderm\u00ae, Restylane\u00ae, Sculptra\u00ae, Radiesse\u00ae) or neuromodulators (BOTOX\u00ae, Dysport\u00ae, Xeomin\u00ae, Jeuveau\u00ae) are very popular to refresh the face. Also known as a liquid facelift, injectable treatments may be a great choice for clients with early signs of aging and who are not ready to undergo a surgery yet. Results are associated with no downtime, but are temporary, whereas a surgical facelift can produce more dramatic improvements, but are associated with some downtime. Please ask Dr. Walker about injectable treatment alternatives during your consultation.

How long do results from a full facelift and mini facelift last?

The changes made by Dr. Walker during your facelift are semi-permanent. Excess skin is removed and future sagging won’t recur to the same degree. Muscles and deeper supporting structures are repositioned, elevating the skin and support tissues. However, no surgery can stop the process of aging altogether. A full facelift provides the most dramatic results that can last for 10-15 years. Mini facelifts deliver more subtle changes and usually last up to five years. No matter which facelift technique is used, your face will still continue to age, but it will age from a younger starting point.

What is the difference between a mini facelift and full facelift?

A mini facelift is a variation of facelift that goes by many other names, oftentimes trademarked, that describe the same operation. Some of these names include \u201clifestyle lift, lunch lift, weekend lift, short scar lift, quick lift, etc.\u201d Mini-lifts are actually one of the oldest techniques used for a facelift and best for patients with more subtle signs of aging in the face and neck. A mini facelift can be performed in the office under local anesthesia or under light sedation. As you would expect, mini facelifts cannot deliver the same degree of change as a full facelift. Results are more subtle, as mini facelifts treat mild to moderate skin laxity in the jawline and jowls without addressing the neck at all. A full facelift addresses more prominent jowls and neck sagging. Mini facelifts involve a quicker and easier recovery with less downtime. Choosing an experienced, double board-certified surgeon like Dr. Walker will help minimize risks and complications during and after your surgery and assure proper post-operative care including in the rare event should a complication arise.

Will I look \u201coverdone\u201d after a facelift?

Many patients worry that with cosmetic surgery that they may look \u201cfake\u201d, \u201coverly done\u201d, or \u201cartificial\u201d. Some patients worry that facelift surgery will make their skin look too tight, shiny, or like they are in a wind tunnel. Dr. Walker prides himself on his natural results, focusing on giving you a natural-looking outcome with any surgical or non-surgical treatment he does, including facelifts. Dr. Walker listens carefully to your goals before establishing a customized treatment plan together with you.

Can there be nerve damage after a facelift?

Any facelift has a chance of skin numbness in the cheeks and ear lobes. Almost every patient has some level of numbness in these areas after surgery. However, the body quickly recovers and the sensory nerves usually recover after a few weeks to months for normal sensation to return. Only in rare cases may the numbness be permanent at the ear lobe. Another type of possible nerve injury is related to the nerve that moves the face (facial nerve), which could impact your ability to smile (corner of mouth asymmetry). This is a risk in any facelift surgery, but the risk is quite low, and almost always temporary if it were to occur. The risk is higher in revision surgery than in patients who never underwent a prior facelift or neck lift. A thorough understanding of facial anatomy is critical to minimize the chance for such occurrence, and Dr. Walker, as a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, possesses the necessary knowledge and skill to safely perform your surgery minimizing the chance for an untoward outcome.

Does insurance cover the cost of a facelift or neck lift?

Since a facelift and neck lift is a cosmetic surgery, insurances do not cover the cost of the procedure.