What is Facelift Surgery?

Board Certified Female Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Beverly Friedlander

As we age, gravity, heredity, stress, and weight change take their toll on our facial tissues and cause the significant loss—or displacement—of fullness. Facial fullness is essential to a youthful complexion, and when it is gone, you may find that your face starts to look gaunt, tired, and worn-out. A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that restores youthful facial contours by lifting sagging cheeks, smoothing your jawline, tightening loose neck skin, and removing excess fat beneath the chin.

Am I a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

If you are feeling tired and are unhappy with the facial aging that you see in the mirror, a facelift may be right for you. While there is no age requirement to undergo facelift surgery, most patients are between the ages of 40 and 60. This surgery has provided dramatic results for patients who are both older and younger than that. The extent of facial aging and your skin quality plays a much more significant role in candidacy than your age.

Do not smoke
Are in good overall health
Do not have any conditions that impair healing
Have some skin elasticity
Have realistic expectations

What are the Benefits of Facelift Surgery?

Beverly Friedlander, MD

Most women consider facelift surgery to:

Tighten skin on the lower two-thirds of your face
Restore facial volume
Lift and secure sagging muscles
Define the jawline

To see if you are a candidate for her facelift in Short Hills, New Jersey residents are encouraged to contact Dr. Beverly Friedlander by calling (973) 912-9120.

New Jersey Facelift model looking in mirror

What can I Expect During my Facelift Consultation With Dr. Bev?

Your consultation with Dr. Friedlander is essential to your facelift. During this meeting, Dr. Friedlander will:

Discuss your goals and expectations
Examine your skin and tissue laxity
Recommend the technique/s that will provide optimal results
Design your surgical plan
Inform you about how to prepare for your facelift

Where are my Facelift Incisions Located?

Board Certified Female Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Beverly Friedlander

Traditionally, incisions are made in the hairline that extend in front of and wrap behind the ears. An additional incision may be made beneath the chin to address laxity on the chin and neck. The placement of these incisions allows the resulting scars to be easily concealable with hair or makeup.

These incisions may be less extensive, depending on the amount of correction needed.

Through these incisions:

The skin and underlying fat are separated from the muscle.
The fat may be reduced or repositioned to restore desirable volume elsewhere.
The muscles of the face and neck are tightened and secured with sutures.
The skin is lifted, trimmed, and re-draped.

Some New Jersey facelift patients may require the placement of drains to prevent fluid accumulation. Dr. Friedlander will give you instructions on how to care for these drains, if necessary. Most drains are removed the following day.

Should I Combine Other Surgical Procedures with my Facelift?

Beverly Friedlander, MD

A facelift can be performed as a standalone procedure, or it can be one part of a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation treatment. It is important to maintain facial harmony. After all, you want all of your face to look younger, not just some of it. Combined facial cosmetic surgeries may be recommended to prevent one area from appearing more youthful than another.

Common combination procedures include:

Neck lift/neck liposuction, to improve the definition and youthfulness of the jawline and neck
Eyelid surgery, which addresses excess skin on the upper and lower eyelid and helps reduce the look of puffy eyes
Brow lift surgery, which raises drooping eyebrows and reduces the appearance of forehead laxity
Fat transfer, to restore lost volume to the cheeks, nasolabial folds, jawline, or under the eyes

What can I Expect During my Facelift Recovery?

Facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure, and you can return home once the anesthesia wears off. You can expect bruising, swelling, and tightness that will start to disappear after a few days. There is usually little pain associated with facelift surgery, and any post-operative discomfort can be alleviated with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses.

It is important to sleep and rest with your head in an upright position to ensure proper blood flow. Your stitches around the ear are removed after five to seven days, and stitches made in the hairline are removed within 10 to 12 days. Most patients take two weeks off of work and their day-to-day activities, but it is not uncommon for patients to return to their social activities sooner. Strenuous activity should be limited for at least four weeks.

New Jersey Facelift model looking over shoulder

Are there any Risks Associated with Facelift Surgery?

As with all surgical procedures, facelift surgery does come with some degree of risk. Dr. Friedlander will carefully review your medical history and medications to determine any factors that could potentially increase your risk. These factors include high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, and a history of smoking. If you smoke, you will be asked to quit for at least four weeks before your NJ facelift surgery.

While complications are rare, they can include:

Bleeding
Infection
Prolonged swelling
Hematoma
Seroma
Scarring
Asymmetry

You can reduce your chances of experiencing these complications by following all of Dr. Friedlander’s recommendations before and after facelift surgery.

When will I see my Facelift Results?

The results of your facelift surgery will start to become apparent once the bruising and swelling subsides, typically, a few weeks after your surgery. Once it does, you will see noticeably smoother skin, fuller contours, and angular features.

Most facelift patients see a reduction of about seven to 10 years off of their appearance, and results are long lasting. Facelift surgery does not stop the natural aging process, and you eventually develop additional signs of aging and skin laxity. You can help prolong the quality of your results by staying out of the sun, keeping your skin hydrating, eating a healthy diet, and undergoing non-invasive cosmetic procedures—such as dermal fillers, laser treatments, or BOTOX® Cosmetic.

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Schedule your consultation with Dr. Bev today.

Dr. Friedlander became a plastic surgeon to make a real difference in the lives of her patients. She started her practice in New Jersey three decades ago, and still treats some of her very first patients to this day! Experience the difference that comes from working with a true plastic surgery professional who cares about your results by scheduling your consultation with Dr. Bev.

636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 1A, Short Hills, NJ 07078

Facelift

Facelift Before & Afters

What is Facelift Surgery?

Am I a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

What are the Benefits of Facelift Surgery?

What can I Expect During my Facelift Consultation With Dr. Bev?

How is a Facelift Performed?

Where are my Facelift Incisions Located?

Should I Combine Other Surgical Procedures with my Facelift?

What can I Expect During my Facelift Recovery?

Are there any Risks Associated with Facelift Surgery?

When will I see my Facelift Results?

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