Washington, DC and Maryland Face Lift
If You're Considering a Face Lift
A face lift, also called a "rhytidectomy," smoothes the loose skin on your face and neck, tightens underlying tissues and removes excess fat. As a result, your face will appear firmer and fresher.
The Best Candidates for Face Lift
One or more of the following conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate for a face lift in Maryland from Dr. Chiaramonte:
- A deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth
- Jowls, or loss of a well-defined jaw line associated with youthfulness
- Deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging of the "highlight" areas of the cheekbones
- Loose skin, wrinkles, vertical "cords" or excess fatty tissue in the neck
A face lift can improve all of these problems. It cannot, however, correct conditions such as sagging eyebrows, excess skin and fatty deposits in the upper and lower eyelids, or wrinkles around the mouth. Dr. Chiaramonte encourages you to Request a Free Consultation if you are considering Maryland face lift surgery so that you can learn more about this procedure and receive a professional opinion about your cosmetic needs.
Face Lift in Maryland
Although there are many variations to the face lift procedure, generally an incision is hidden in the natural contour of your ear, then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline. Following surgery, incisions can be easily concealed by your hair or with makeup. There may also be a small incision hidden underneath your chin.
Through the discreet face lift incisions, Dr. Chiaramonte frees the skin from the underlying tissues to the extent necessary according to the particular surgical technique selected. After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed. In some instances, the deeper tissues may also need to be repositioned in order to restore a more youthful contour to your face. If necessary, a small incision beneath the chin permits the removal of fatty tissue in that area and smoothing of the cord-like structures of the underlying muscles in the neck.
Your face lift may be performed in a hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite.
When your surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. A bandage may have been wrapped around your face to help minimize swelling. Sometimes small tubes will have been inserted beneath the skin to drain away fluids that may accumulate, but you will not feel these at all. In fact, there is surprisingly little discomfort from the surgery.
After Your Face Lift Surgery
After surgery, you will be asked to restrict your activities and simply relax for a few days. Elevating your head when you sleep will help to minimize swelling and bruising. Remember, you must not take aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medications and you should not smoke or be exposed to heavy secondary smoke for a while.
Any bandages and drain tubes will usually be removed in one or two days. At that time, you will notice puffiness and discoloration, which may be more pronounced in some portions of your face than others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry caused by this variance in swelling and bruising, which is perfectly normal. Generally, the greatest amount of swelling occurs 24 to 48 hours after surgery, but it may take several weeks before all puffiness is resolved. Most bruising will disappear within two weeks. After a few days, you will be permitted to wear makeup which will help to conceal any discoloration. You will also experience some numbness in the facial area, which may be present for several weeks or longer. Your stitches will be removed from four to seven days after surgery.
Getting Back to Normal
Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the early postoperative period. In many instances, you will be able to resume most of your normal activities within two weeks and begin to exercise three to four weeks after surgery. You will be instructed to temporarily avoid exposure to direct sunlight and, for the long-term, to be conscientious about the use of a sun block to protect your skin.
Your New Look
The results of your face lift may be dramatic or subtle, depending on how you look before surgery as well as the specific goals that you and Dr. Chiaramonte established during your consultation. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks for an accurate picture of your "new look." Additional minor changes, or settling, may occur over several months.
To visit our cosmetic plastic surgery office in National Harbor, Maryland, serving Washington, DC and Alexandria, Virginia, Request a Free Consultation online or call the office at 866-BELLA 06.