Facelift

Before your facelift consultation, you will be required to complete online paperwork for your medical history. Upon arrival at our office, we will request a copy of your identification for your electronic chart. During your consultation with Dr. MaDan, she will learn about you, your daily life, and your cosmetic goals. Together, you will discuss the elements and components of facial aging. Dr. MaDan will perform a comprehensive face and neck evaluation in the exam room. She will assess your hairline and brow position, eyelid function and position, facial support and volume, bone structure, glandular tissue, muscles and fat, deep wrinkles/folds, skin texture, hydration, pigmentation, and laxity.

Because aging impacts every area and all tissues of the face, Dr. MaDan will create a tailored plan to address the effects of aging on every level–facial fat, ligaments/musculature/structure, and skin. A facelift may be only one component of your comprehensive anti-aging plan. Performing a facelift without committing to a comprehensive rejuvenation plan is like planting grass with no plans for providing water or nutrients. Facial aging is multifaceted and comprehensive. Adequate treatment requires a comprehensive and multifaceted plan. Dr. MaDan and her team will create a custom, medical-grade skin care plan to get your skin ready. She may recommend certain treatments be completed before your facelift to optimize your results. Your aesthetic health is an investment requiring multimodal treatments rather than a single surgical fix.

Reserving your surgery date requires a 20% deposit. The remainder of the payment is due at your pre-operative appointment about 2 to 4 weeks before your surgery date.

Your pre-operative appointment with Dr. MaDan and BEYOND is typically 2 to 4 weeks before your surgery date. You may be asked to bring a copy of recent labs and an EKG. At this visit, you will review the surgical plan and take pre-operative photographs. We will provide the necessary surgery medications so you don’t have to go to the pharmacy. We will review a list of medications to avoid before surgery.

Wash and condition your hair before surgery. A leave-in conditioner or hair mask may be beneficial to apply before surgery to minimize tangles and knots. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery. Take essential medicines with a small sip of water. Wear loose clothing and a zip-up or button-up top so that nothing has to be pulled over your head after surgery. Typically, you will go home the same day of surgery with a bulky face and neck dressing. Dr. MaDan will see you in her clinic the next morning. If drainage tubes are placed, they will be removed at your first appointment on day 1.

The duration of your facelift procedure depends on individual characteristics and the degree of procedure complexity. A full face and neck lift typically requires 4 to 6 hours of surgical time.

Usually, you will be able to go home after your procedure. You will need someone to help you for the first 24 hours after receiving anesthesia.

No specific limitation or age requirement exists for a facelift, as genetics, aging, and environmental exposures differ for every individual. A facelift is often considered for patients aged in their late 40s to 70s.

A traditional facelift and neck lift will address the mid-face, lower-face, and neck. Access to these areas requires an incision at the hairline, in front of and around the ear, and into the scalp. The length of the incision is dependent upon the amount of redundant skin to be removed. A mini facelift may only address the lower face or neck. A mini facelift may require a shorter incision length as less skin is removed than a traditional facelift. The decision between a traditional and mini approach largely depends on the individual’s amount of tissue laxity, volume, and descent.

Surgical results cannot be achieved through non-surgical techniques. The key distinction between a facelift and non-surgical treatments lies in skin removal. A facelift is the only procedure that can permanently eliminate excess skin while lifting and repositioning the deeper facial structures. Non-surgical options, while effective for certain concerns, cannot remove excess skin or reposition underlying tissues. There are many non-surgical options for improvement of the face and neck. Typically, non-surgical options will target specific concerns like skin texture, pigmentation, and hydration. These non-surgical techniques are an essential aspect of comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

There are non-surgical options to address volume loss. Cohesive hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers with high-G, such as Juvéderm Voluma or Volux, Restylane Lyft, or RHA4, are intended to restore the volume from fat and bone loss secondary to aging, gravity, and genetics. Depending on the depth of placement and technique, Dr. MaDan believes these fillers can last longer than we originally thought.

Other non-surgical options include the family of bio-stimulators, such as Sculptra and Radiesse. Sculptra is a suspension of bacteriostatic water and PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid). This mixture is skillfully placed in areas where collagen stimulation is desired, like temporal hollowing. After the placement of the product, your body absorbs the solution and begins to lay down new collagen in the desired areas. Two or more treatment sessions are typically required, and results can be seen 6-8 weeks after your last session.

“Thread lifts” or “PDO threads” are absorbable, barbed sutures that do not alter the facial anatomy. They may cause collagen production secondary to inflammation. These thread lifts often fail to provide significant, long-lasting results, making them less effective investments of your time and money. BEYOND Collective does not offer thread lifts or PDO threads.

Dr. MaDan finds the term “liquid facelift” to be misleading. She feels this term implies that a surgical result (i.e., skin removal) can be achieved with “liquid” dermal HA fillers. This is not possible. Using dermal HA fillers for non-surgical facial rejuvenation can restore volume and improve skin appearance, but it does not remove excess skin. Facial optimization with fillers often requires a minimum of 4 syringes (4 mL) and multiple treatment sessions.

While a facelift will not stop gravity, aging, or genetics, you can protect your investment and prolong results with our medical-grade skin care, maintenance treatments like microneedling, Morpheus8, chemical peels, dermal fillers, and neurotoxins, and avoiding environmental exposures like UV/sun and nicotine.

Most people will experience some social downtime for the first couple of weeks after surgery. Depending on your occupation, it may be acceptable to return to work if you can abide by the restrictions and aren’t taking pain medication. Usually, the hairline sutures are removed within 5 to 10 days after surgery. Mild bruising and swelling are expected. The most significant swelling will dissipate by 6 weeks, and final results are typically appreciated 3 to 6 months after your procedure.

Dr. MaDan recommends avoiding exercise and heavy lifting for 3 weeks after facial surgery. After 3 weeks, the risk of bleeding or hematoma is minimal, so resuming light activity is acceptable. Gradual return to all normal activities is expected 6 to 12 weeks post-op.

The ability to return to work quickly largely depends on your occupation. For example, remote work can be resumed whenever pain medication is no longer needed. Any physical job requiring heavy lifting or straining may warrant 3 to 6 weeks off.

No. Dr. MaDan will not perform a facelift on anyone actively using any nicotine products. An active smoker will benefit from nicotine cessation and non-surgical skin treatments.

The biggest risk after a facelift is bleeding or hematoma. Dr. MaDan will never leave the operating room if a vessel is actively bleeding. Afterward, a blood vessel may open and start bleeding if you are not compliant with recovery recommendations. Bleeding after a facelift is an emergency requiring Dr. MaDan’s immediate attention. Other less common risks include infection, fluid collection, wound healing problems, poor scarring, damage to salivary glands and ducts, facial nerve damage, sensory nerves, asymmetry, and recurrent laxity.