After looking at photos from the past, you may notice how much time has altered your appearance.
Maybe your skin doesn’t look as firm or youthful as it once did. Or maybe you’ve developed jowls and a double chin that show your age more than you would like.
Whatever the reason, a facelift in Jacksonville could be the anti-aging procedure you need to restore your youthful facial features.
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we understand that the facelift process can be confusing and overwhelming. We also know it can be hard to choose the right type of facelift for your aesthetic needs.
To put it simply, we’re facelift experts. Our surgeons have performed over 2,500 facelift procedures in the past 20 years. We know exactly how to help you achieve results you’ll feel confident in.
Whether you choose a full or mini facelift, rest assured that you’ll be more than satisfied with your results. To book your facelift consultation appointment at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, give us a call or request an appointment online.
What is a facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure that improves the physical effects of aging in your face and neck. Facelifts reverse the signs of aging by repositioning or removing skin, fat, and muscle tissue.
Also known as a rhytidectomy, a facelift in Jacksonville pulls the facial skin back to make it appear tighter and smoother.
A facelift can improve and eliminate:
- Sagging or relaxed skin on the face
- Dropping skin on your cheeks or jaw (jowls)
- Deep folds or creases between your nose and the corners of your mouth
- Loose skin and extra fat on your neck (double chin)
The facelift procedure has multiple variations, with each version specially designed to address different aesthetic needs.
The most common facelift procedures performed at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates are full and mini facelifts.
What is the difference between a full and mini facelift?
The main difference between a full and mini facelift are the areas each procedure targets. A full facelift focuses on the entire face, while a mini facelift only addresses the chin and jaw area.
Full Facelift
Full facelifts, or traditional facelifts, focus the bottom two-thirds of the face and the neck.
A full facelift in Jacksonville makes the face tighter and smoother by surgically removing excess skin. It also tightens the muscles and redrapes the skin over the face.
This procedure includes longer incisions starting around the ears and extending into the hairline. The surgery process is usually more intense and results are more dramatic for a traditional facelift than with other variations.
The best candidate for a full facelift is an older patient looking to reduce the physical effects of aging. This includes patients experiencing advanced cheek and nasolabial fold sagging, as well as skin laxity in the neck area.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift is a modified version of the traditional facelift that focuses on the neck and jawline. Mini facelifts involve a limited amount of muscle tightening and skin removal for more subtle results.
A mini facelift in Jacksonville involves fewer and smaller incisions than a full facelift. These incisions are usually made around the ear and do not extend into the hairline.
It’s important to note that despite its name, a mini facelift is still a major cosmetic procedure.
The best candidate for a mini facelift is typically patients in their late 30s and 40s with less skin laxity in the jaw, neck, cheeks, and nasolabial folds.
What to Expect From Your Facelift
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we’ve perfected our facelift process to an exact science to continuously deliver incredible results.
Consultation
Like all other procedures, your facelift experience begins with a consultation appointment. This appointment will determine which method will best address your cosmetic concerns.
During your consultation, you’ll talk with one of our expert medical professionals to create a treatment plan for your needs. Be sure to tell your surgeon about all areas you would like to address through your facelift procedure.
Your surgeon will decide if you’re a good candidate for a full facelift, mini facelift, or another facial procedure.
You will also have an opportunity to review your medical history with your physician. Be sure to alert them of any conditions or past medical illnesses you have had. These include skin conditions and habits of smoking and alcohol use.
As always, use this consultation to voice your concerns or questions about the facelift process.
Procedure
A full or mini facelift procedure can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on which variation you choose. Adding any associated treatments could increase the duration of your facelift in Jacksonville.
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we commonly add the following procedures to a facelift:
- Upper and lower eyelid surgery
- Browlift
- Lip lift
- Lower face and neck lift
- Skin resurfacing
You will have the opportunity to discuss additional procedures with your surgeon during your preoperative consultation.
Recovery
The recovery period from a mini or full facelift in Jacksonville can last 7 to 14 days. It can also take up to 6 months to see the final outcomes from your procedure.
It’s completely normal to experience bruising and swelling during the recovery period after your surgery. You may also feel as though your face is being pulled tighter and up towards your hairline.
We recommend that you use a cool compress to help with swelling. Be sure to keep your face clean and dry to avoid infection, and continue to avoid alcohol and tobacco use as instructed by your surgeon.
Your Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates doctor will provide you with more detailed information on rest, incision care, and follow-ups after your surgery.
Notify your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Infection: increased redness, warmth, or discharge at the incision site
- Excessive swelling or bruising: exceed anticipated recovery time or accompanied by pair or fever
- Hematoma: a collection of blood under the skin
Frequently Asked Questions About Facelifts
Is a facelift a one-time procedure?
A facelift in Jacksonville can be considered a one-time procedure, depending on your aesthetic goals. However, many patients come in for revisions, tightenings, or additional procedures as time passes and the natural aging process continues.
The age and condition of the patient at the time of the procedure will determine the longevity of the results.
It’s important to acknowledge that facelifts don’t prevent aging; they modify the existing effects of aging on your face.
You can discuss facelift expectations and further procedures with your Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates surgeon.
Are some people better candidates for a facelift than others?
There are facial characteristics that make some individuals better facelift candidates than others.
Facial bone structure serves as an important foundation in facelift procedures. The best physical features for a facelift include:
- High cheekbones
- Strong chin
- Well-defined jawline
- Longer neck
If you don’t have these traits, don’t stress! Implants can be used to enhance the face and produce better results. You and your surgeon will discuss the use of implants during your initial consultation.
Aside from physical traits, patients who are in good health and are experiencing undesirable signs of aging may be ideal candidates for a facelift. This mainly includes patients who are 40 to 70 years old.
Will I have facial scars?
Yes, you may have scars from the incisions made around the ears, hairline, and chin after a facelift procedure.
We will make these incisions in discrete areas so that they cannot be easily noticed once they have healed. The extent of your scarring will depend on the type of facelift procedure you undergo.
Our medical team will provide you with a detailed care guide to ensure your incisions heal properly. You will have a better chance of reducing scars if you follow this guide.
Will I have to take off work for a facelift?
Yes, you will likely have to take off work in order to recover from your facelift procedure.
More invasive surgeries like a full facelift may require you to take up to 3 weeks off of work. Mini facelifts may require you to take off 5 to 7 days.
Your surgeon will provide you with a more detailed guide for recovery during your consultation.
Book Your Consultation
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we know it can be discouraging to lose some of your favorite facial features to the effects of aging. Our surgeons are facelift experts and can help you achieve the youthful results you’ve been searching for.
We take a respectful and reasonable approach to all facial plastic surgery in Oklahoma City. Here, we want you to always leave feeling better than ever before.
Are you ready to learn more about facelifts in Jacksonville? Contact us to start your facelift journey.
Want to learn more about facial procedures like abdominoplasties, breast lifts, and more? Visit our website to see all of our surgical options.
