Facelift
Facelifts are designed to provide a more youthful appearance. This is accomplished by removing excess facial and neck skin, as well as lifting areas of sagging skin and fat back to where they were when you were younger. Our facial rejuvenation can be done in our office surgery center in Paramus or, in some cases, at a New Jersey hospital. Mini-facelifts, which target facial jowls, can almost always be done in the office.
It is very common to perform other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a browlift or eyelid surgery at the same time as facelifts.
Facelift Pre-Operative Care
Routine laboratory testing is often performed and photographs are taken to assess post-operative effectiveness of facelifts and mini-facelifts.
No aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar drugs should be taken within two weeks of the facial rejuvenation surgery in New Jersey. These medications can cause serious excess bleeding during and after the operation. If you have any questions about drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter preparations and natural herbs, please call us at (201) 225-1101.
Smoking can cause significant healing problems. Facelifts are extremely sensitive to smoking. Patients who smoke should quit at least three weeks prior to surgery and remain free of smoke for three weeks post operatively, or, preferably, for life. If you do not quit, you must tell the surgeon prior to surgery so modifications to the surgery can be made; otherwise, significant complications may arise.
Men should not shave their face for two days prior to surgery in order to better assess their beard growth for proper scar placement.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight of the night before your surgery. This includes coffee and juice in the morning. Oral medications can be taken with a sip of water.
Facelift Operation
If you are having a full facelift, you should be at the office surgicenter or hospital at least 90 minutes prior to your scheduled surgical start time. Bring all paperwork from the office with you, as many of these papers will save time on the day of surgery. Mini-facelift patients should be at the office 1 hour prior to the scheduled start time.
Before the surgery, lines will be drawn on your face to guide the incision placement. A small strip of hair may be shaved on the sides and back of your head and rubber bands may be used to keep your hair away from the incisions.
During the procedure, the skin of the face will be lifted and the layer beneath the skin (SMAS) will be tightened. The skin will then be redraped in an upward fashion and the excess skin cut away. Fat may be removed from the area below the chin if needed. Additional fat may be taken from the abdomen and injected to facial lines around the mouth to help rejuvenate the area. Additional fat is often added to the lips to correct thinning that comes with age. A small piece of cartilage may be taken from your ear and placed at the base of the nose near the upper lip. This helps correct the look of an aging, drooping, nose and keeps your entire face looking younger with minimal pain or expense.
At the end of the procedure, drains will often be placed, and a soft wrap put around your head to help prevent blood/fluid collections. If you have also had eyelid surgery, a cold pack will be placed over your eyes.
Facelift Post-Operative Care
Mini-facelift patients go home after the procedure and will follow up in the office the next day. Full facelift patients done in the hospital will stay in the hospital overnight. Those cases done in the office will go home with a private duty nurse. This is a safety measure. Though serious complications are rare, I believe that this precaution to ensure your safety, is worthwhile.
Pain is usually minimal and medications will be given. The nurses will repeatedly check you overnight. In the morning the dressings and drains will be removed and you will be able to wash your hair.
The day after surgery you can shower normally. A small amount of blood may be left in your hair that rinses out at home in the shower. Do not worry. A small amount of dried blood can look much worse than it really is. You may shower daily but do not color or perm your hair for 2 weeks.
Do not lift anything heavy or exercise for two weeks.
Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar drugs for two weeks. Use Tylenol for headaches and the pain medicine prescribed for surgical pain.
The stitches will be removed 6-8 days after surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please confirm your pre-operative appointment with our office. At this visit, you will undergo a history and physical examination and Dr. Moskovitz will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding your surgical procedure. The surgical fee will also be collected at this visit.Please confirm your pre-operative appointment with our office. At this visit, you will undergo a history and physical examination and Dr. Moskovitz will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding your surgical procedure. The surgical fee will also be collected at this visit. Pre-operative laboratory tests (blood work) will be done at least one week before the operation.If the procedure is to be done at the hospital, you will be sent to the hospital for a pre-operative interview with an anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist will review your medical history with you and determine what type of anesthesia is most appropriate. Any laboratory (blood work) or diagnostic examinations will also be performed during this visit. The hospital and anesthesiology fees will also be collected during this visit.
- Please arrange to have someone drive you home and to receive post-operative surgery instructions.
- Do not eat or drink anything, (this includes coffee, candy and chewing gum) after 11:00PM the night before surgery.
- Avoid aspirin and smoking for two weeks before and after the surgery.
