Facelift and Neck Lift
At Plastic Surgery Tijuana we specialize in facelift and neck lift surgery, for plastic surgery patients who want to look younger and more refreshed.
Facelift and neck lift are performed at our plastic surgery practice to correct the sagging of the facial and neck tissues that occurs with aging and/or weight loss. The procedures act to lift and tighten the internal structures and then any excess skin present after the tightening is removed.
During a face lift, loose skin from the neck is removed and the underlying muscles are tightened. This restores definition to the neckline, and eliminates jowls from around the mouth in the process. The overall result is a young looking neck and face, with newly tightened skin and muscles.
About The Procedure
The procedures require a day stay at the hospital and are usually performed under general anesthetic, but occasionally will be done under local anesthetic. Pain following surgery is not excessive and fully controlled by oral medication.
The goal of a face lift is to tighten the skin and muscles of the neck, and eliminate jowls from around the mouth. The skin of a young person’s neck adheres tightly to the underlying muscles, but with age the muscles become lax, and the skin becomes loose, which can lead to the appearance of a “turkey neck.”
Face lift surgery restores the appearance of the neck and jowls. A facelift can be combined with a brow lift and/or eyelid surgery to rejuvenate the entire face.
After The Surgery
Wound healing will occur in seven to 10 days, and the resolution of bruising or swelling will occur in about two weeks. Scar resolution will occur within three months. If you work in an office, you may return to work in 10 to 14 days after surgery, or two to three weeks if your work is more physical.
You may resume low-impact physical activity in two to three weeks and high-impact physical activity in three to four weeks.
Facelift Surgery Information
For more information about facelift surgery, request a consultation online. Or you can call our office at +1 (619) 598 – 2517 and one of our helpful staff members will schedule your appointment.
- STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. It is best to avoid smoking, second hand smoke and cigarette replacements, such as nicotine patches or gum, in the perioperative period. While you should ideally stop smoking for 2 weeks before and after your surgical procedure, YOU MUST NOT SMOKE FOR A MINIMUM OF 24 HOURS BEFORE AND 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY.
- TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your surgery.
- TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.
- START TAKING AN IRON SUPPLEMENT: A good iron supplement, such as Feosol, is required starting one week before surgery and four weeks following surgery. Bowel movements may appear darker than usual as a result. Feosol is available without prescription.
- DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
- LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.
- FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of surgery and bring them with you.
- CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at +1 (619) 598 – 2517.
- PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.
- CLEANSING: The night before surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase III.
- EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight except for a small amount of water to rinse your mouth while brushing your teeth.
- SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning.
- ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.
- CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with an antibacterial soap such as Dial, Safeguard, pHisoHex, or Phase Ill.
- MAKE-UP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.
- CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. NO TIGHT PANTS. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.
- CHECK IN/PREPARATION: Surgery Time:
- You should plan to arrive 45 minutes earlier than your scheduled surgery time. Patients less than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. When you arrive at our office on the day of your surgery, give the receptionist the phone number of the pharmacy you would like us to call for any special medications our surgeon and associates might prescribe.
- CARETAKER: Someone must spend the first night after surgery with you.
- After surgery elevate your head and shoulders on a 45° angle wedge (no pillows!) or rest in a reclining chair. Don’t use any pillows as you want to avoid bending forward at the neck for the first 2 weeks.
- Avoid straining of any kind for the first 5 days. When awake in bed please flex your ankles and legs up and down 4-6 times every hour.
- Avoid turning your head to either side as this will pull on the stitch lines. To turn, move your head and shoulders as a unit.
- DO NOT SMOKE. This is very important.
- Facial movements (smiling, talking, chewing, yawning, etc.) should be kept to a minimum for the first week.
- Do not use hairspray, conditioner, gels, etc. while the stitches and clips are in place. You may start washing your face gently with a mild soap (Neutrogena, Ivory, etc.) and use a moisturizer on your face, being careful to keep it away from the stitch lines.
- Your hair may be dried with a blow dryer on a cool, not a hot, setting.
- Hair coloring should be delayed until 3 weeks after surgery when healing is completed and no crust remains.
- Normal activity can be gradually resumed after 3 weeks but strenuous activity (heart rate above 100 beats per minute) should be avoided for another week.
- Your face/neck will feel tight but not necessarily look tight (it will look natural) and there will be a feeling of numbness in these areas for several weeks to months after surgery. This is normal and will disappear over time and the feeling will return.
- The incision and any areas of bruising can be massaged with moisturizing cream, such as Vaseline intensive care. This will promote softening and maturation of these areas.
- Cosmetics can be worn on the face as early as 10 days after surgery.
- Immediately after the procedure the scars may also look red and swollen. This can sometimes be slightly alarming.
- The skin of your face is sensitive to sunlight after surgery. Protect your facial skin from excessive exposure to the sun for 8 weeks. Wear a wide brim hat and sunscreen (SPF 20 or greater with UVA and UVB protection) if you are in the sun for prolonged periods.