Facelift Questions

Serving Fort Collins, Northern Colorado & Cheyenne, and Southeastern Wyoming

Am I a good candidate for a facelift?

You are a good candidate for a facelift if:

• You're 40 or older
• You have skin laxity in your face, jowls, jawline or neck
• Your face is sagging in the cheek area, or you have wrinkling and loose skin in front of your ears
• You don't smoke
• You don't have breathing problems

What results can I expect from a facelift?

A facelift will provide tightening of the skin of the face and neck. In particular, expect to see the most dramatic improvement in terms of your jowls, cheeks, jawline, and neck. It will improve sagging, some wrinkles, and hanging jowls.

How is a facelift performed?

A facelift is performed using incisions around the ears, starting in the hairline, running along the ear and behind the ear. There also is a small incision under the chin. The fat, muscle, and other soft tissues of the face are gently separated and elevated, with any excess in the skin, muscle, and fat removed. The incisions are closed with fine stitches under the skin so no "trackmarks" are visible. Cosmetic Surgeon Dr Duncan is very particular about the closure; incisions are placed so they are very difficult to detect after they're healed.

How long does a facelift take?

A facelift takes between 3 and 5 hours, depending on your anatomy, the level of adjustment necessary, and whether the facelift is being combined with other procedures such as eyelid surgery or fat grafting. It takes a little longer than some cosmetic surgery procedures because of the level of artistry necessary to give you a natural, more youthful appearance.

Will I be awake for the facelift procedure?

Generally, Dr. Duncan prefers a light general anesthesia for facelift patients. Safety is the most important consideration. Your airway and breathing are protected and you won't get a lot of narcotics that can cause nausea, vomiting, confusion, and constipation.

How long will recovery take?

You'll probably feel fine within a week or two of your procedure. At first, you'll have some bruising and swelling. You will also have numbness in the face. These should be very temporary. The bruising and swelling will diminish within a week, but some bruising may linger if you bruise easily. You may return to work in 7–10 days. At 3 weeks, your face will look almost normal, and at six weeks you can begin exercising.

Will I have a scar?

All surgery leaves scars, but facelift scars are concealed either in the hairline or in the contour around the ear. The actual level of your scarring will depend on your genetics, but you will also be given instructions on how to minimize scarring. Dr. Duncan creates a minimal scar behind the ear so you can still wear your hair up.

If you're interested in learning more about facelifts, contact cosmetic surgeon at the Plastic Surgery Associates in Fort Collins, Colorado to set up your initial facelift consultation.

970.493.7445
1701 E. Prospect Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Contact Our Plastic Surgery Associates Now

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