Facelift
Marina del Rey & Santa Monica

• Helps rewind the clock 10-15 years
• Tightens the underlying facial muscles
• Firms sagging skin
• Provides more definition in the jawline
• Corrects jowling
• Enhances self-confidence
• Natural-looking outcome
• Can be well combined with a neck lift, blepharoplasty or brow lift surgery

A vertical facelift is designed to address the lower face. This type of facelift specifically focuses on sagging skin on the jawline and under the chin. With a vertical facelift, the features are more sculpted and defined, and the lower face is tighter and more youthful.

The incisions for a vertical facelift extend from behind the ear to the back of the hairline. This provides the added benefit of minimal scarring after the surgery, leaving the appearance balanced and natural-looking, taking years off the face.

A vertical lift provides the following benefits:

• Achieves a more youthful, refined appearance
• Minimal scarring
• Defines and sculpts the jawline
• Removes sagging skin on the lower face and under the chin
• Results appear natural
• Shorter recovery time than other facelift procedures

• The day of surgery – After a facelift or deep plane facelift, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home and look after you for the first 24 hours. This initial period will produce the most swelling, tenderness and bruising, but side effects are well controlled with prescription pain medications and cold compresses. You will have a bulky bandage on for the first night, but this will be removed the next day. You should sleep with your head elevated to minimize swelling.
• 1-3 days post-op – Most of us are very active and find it difficult to just do nothing, but it’s important that you rest and heal and not try to do too much early in your recovery. Your swelling and bruising will still be visible, but everything will feel a little more manageable as the days progress. Be sure to eat a healthy diet and drink enough water.
• 1 week post-op – Gradually your swelling will subside and you will be in much less pain. Your skin will still feel numb, however, and it may take a few more weeks for the feeling to come back. Keep taking your pain medications and using cold compresses. By the end of week 1, you should be looking a lot more refreshed.
• 2-3 weeks post-op – Within a few weeks after surgery, many clients return to work or school. The bruising and swelling at this point will be much reduced, but dry skin and numbness may persist a bit longer. Your sutures will have dissolved by now and you’ll be able to begin wearing makeup to camouflage any lingering discoloration. You will still need to avoid intense physical exertion, however.
• Several months post-op – By now you’ll be able to completely resume all exercise, activity and movement. You can use a daily moisturizer to combat dry skin. You will continue to experience improvements in your appearance for the next 6-8 months as your scars fade.