San Diego Facelift - Face Lift Surgery Information

3252 Holiday Court, SUITE 206, La Jolla, CA 92037 | Phone: 858.658.0595

San Diego Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Roy Amir discusses facelift surgery

As we continue to live longer, healthier lives, more and more people are eager to "look as young as they feel." As a result, facelift surgery has become increasingly popular among women and men. The medical term for this procedure is rhytidectomy, meaning "removal of wrinkles." What facelift surgery does is remove or reposition excess sagging skin and soft tissue in the face and neck. The effect is as if you turned back the hands of a clock, often making you look as you did ten or sometimes fifteen years in the past.

The major areas addressed by the facelift operation are the eyebrows, the cheek and jowl regions, and the neck. Eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing, while sometimes done at the same time as a facelift, are separate procedures.

Surgical Philosophy

We believe strongly in achieving a natural-appearing, rejuvenated look in facelift surgery, as opposed to an excessively tightened, "windblown" appearance. The goal is to make you look as you did at a younger age, not to make you look like a different person.

Examples of Facelift Surgery

Before (front)

After (front)

Before (oblique)

After (oblique)

Patient also had upper and lower eyelid surgery

View More Photos

The Facelift Consultation

During your consultation for facelift surgery in our La Jolla, San Diego office, photographs will be taken for imaging purposes as well as for photodocumentation. Rest assured, your photos will not be shown to any other persons without your express permission.

After you have had an opportunity to express your concerns and areas of desired improvement, your face and neck will be carefully examined, including skin and muscle tone, bone structure, fat distribution, etc. The position of your brows and cheek pads will be assessed to determine if you are a candidate for browlift or possibly midface lift. We may suggest additional or alternate procedures to complement your desired changes. Some common adjunctive procedures to facelift surgery are fat transfer, eyelid surgery, skin resurfacing, and lip augmentation, any of which may be performed at the same time.

During your facelift surgery consultation you will have several opportunities to ask questions, and following the consultation our patient care coordinator will guide you through the surgery preparation and recovery processes.

The Surgery

Facelift surgery is commonly performed on an outpatient basis at our own fully staffed, AAAASF certified surgery facility. A mini-lift or lower facelift can often be performed with local or light anesthesia, whereas IV sedation or general anesthesia are common for longer procedures.

There are several variations to the facelift procedure. A "mini lift" or "mini facelift" may encompass only the cheek and jowls, or can include the cheek, jowls, and neck. The minilift generally involves a shorter skin flap and can therefore be done with local anesthesia and generally takes only one to two hours to complete. While utilizing a shorter skin flap, the lift still relies upon tightening of the muscle tissue layer beneath the skin to give a strong, permanent lift. This lift can be an effective and dramatic option for younger patients, or for older patients looking for conservative changes. Cost and downtime are significantly less than the deeper lifts, with most patients able to return to work in one week.

For a facelift in San Diego or La Jolla California contact Dr. Roy Amir today at 858.658.0595.

Example of Mini Facelift Surgery


Before (front)	After (front)	Before (oblique)	After (oblique)
		Pictures taken 2 weeks following mini- facelift. Note absence of bruising and minimal swelling.
Before (side)	After (side)	View More Photos

A "lower facelift" will include the cheeks, jowls and neck and generally involves a longer skin flap elevation than the mini lift. As with a mini lift, a lower facelift may include liposuction as well as skin and muscle tightening.

A "full facelift" will incorporate the upper third of the face or brows, as well as a lower facelift. The brows may be lifted using an endoscopic or small incision approach, or using an open approach. IV sedation is common.

A "midface lift" addresses the cheek pad and nasolabial folds or smile lines. Candidates for a midface lift include patients with heaviness below the cheek prominence and above the jowls. These patients often present with dark circles or hollowness beneath the eyes, which are due to a descent of the malar fat pad. The mid face is lifted through a small incision in the hair-bearing temple or under the eye. The mid face lift can be performed in younger patients in their 30's without signs of jowling or excess neck skin, or can be combined with a standard facelift when indicated.

The direct neck lift is a popular alternative among patients with prominent neck aging or "turkey gobbler neck," who may not be concerned about the jowls or cheek regions. The excess neck skin and fat can be removed with a well hidden incision under the chin. This procedure generally requires only local anesthetic or mild sedation.

Fat grafting or fat transfer at the time of facelift surgery has become a popular choice for our patients. While a facelift will tighten skin and remove or reposition drooping tissues, many patients also have volume loss in areas such as the temples, the area below the eyes, the cheek pads, and the lips. By replacing lost fat in these regions a very youthful and natural look is achieved.

Many patients benefit from eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty which can be done at the same time as the facelift. Another common adjunct is laser resurfacing which can address the wrinkles around the lower eyes and mouth (this skin is not tightened by the facelift).

The incisions for facelift surgery are nearly all hidden behind the hairline, and those that are not are placed within natural skin folds or behind the ear. When healing is complete, these incisions are usually very difficult to see.

The deep layer or superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS for short) is tightened and resuspended, restoring a refreshed, youthful appearance, without stretching the overlying skin.

Recovery

After facelift surgery in San Diego, patients spend the night in the luxurious Sheraton Hotel, which is immediately adjacent to our office. A qualified assistant is available to assist with any needs, and Dr. Amir personally visits his patients that evening. The following morning dressings are removed, and the patient is generally allowed to return home.

Swelling and even bruising are normal after surgery, but begin to resolve within a few days following facelift surgery. Pain is generally minimal and easily controlled. By one week, most patients feel comfortable enough to resume a majority of activities (with some restrictions).

Most patients are able to return to their usual routine within two weeks.

For a facelift in San Diego or La Jolla California contact Dr. Roy Amir today at 858.658.0595.