A facelift and neck lift benefit patients with loss of volume and sagging of the cheeks, and soft tissue at the jawline and neck in Virginia including McLean, Falls Church, Tysons, Arlington plus the Washington DC area. It is performed by Dr. Vartan Mardirossian at the Mardirossian Facial Aesthetics fully licensed surgical suite in McLean, VA.
What is a Facelift and Neck Lift?
A facelift and neck lift is the lifting of the soft tissue of the cheeks, jowls, and the neck in a more aesthetically pleasing position. Along with the lift, a certain degree of redistribution of the soft tissue is obtained for a naturally youthful appearance.
Am I a Candidate for a Facelift and Neck Lift?
There are many theories about facial aging. Many believe that facial aging is mostly associated with sagging of the soft tissue, while others feel that it is the loss of volume and subsequent deflation of the facial compartments that results in an aged look.
The reality is that facial aging is a multifaceted process that can be slowed down by the synergy of different procedures. Many of the most common characteristics of aging include a redistribution of volume which can manifest as drooping jowls, neck wattles, and sagging bags around the eyes. The loss of volume in the cheeks and other areas may create a sunken, hollow appearance.
If you feel that your cheeks, jawline, and soft tissues in the neck are sagging and give you a tired and less attractive look, then you are probably a candidate for a facelift and neck lift. Along with the aesthetic benefits, a facelift can have some functional benefits as well. For example, it can improve the sensation of dry eyes in patients who have undergone eyelid surgery, given its potential to lift the cheeks and improve eye closure.
What is the Difference Between the Different Types of Facelifts and Neck Lifts?
All procedures of this type essentially involve the lifting of the soft tissue of the face and the neck. The lifting of the deep tissues is performed with permanent or slowly absorbing sutures, while the redundant skin is excised along the incision lines.
Different facial plastic surgeons propose and defend various modifications of the procedure, some of them claiming that the procedure they perform is longer-lasting than others. To this day, the literature fails to suggest that one facelift technique can outlive another one. An exception to this rule is the “skin only” facelift where only skin is excised, the benefit of the latter being only several months.
Just as aging is a multifactorial process, so are the facelift and neck lift procedures. Healthy lifestyle habits, nutrition, and adequate hydration are key to the persistence of the good results a facelift and a neck lift can yield.
How is a Facelift and a Neck Lift Performed in Our Practice?
An important initial part of the procedure is the marking of the points of best suspension or mobility of the face and the neck. This performed with the patient sitting in an upright position in order to best simulate everyday conditions. The vector of lifting is also marked to guarantee the natural aesthetic outcome of the procedure.
The procedure can be performed either under local anesthesia or under twilight sleep. It can often be combined with other procedures such as a brow lift, blepharoplasty, or laser skin resurfacing. The incision is hidden in the hair, behind and in the ear, and in the natural folds of the face and neck.
All the incisions are performed in an “irregularly irregular” fashion to help further camouflage the incision. The soft tissues of the face and the neck are accessed and repositioned at a higher aesthetically pleasing and natural position. Appropriate tissue dissection, manipulation, and several deep and superficial sutures are used to accomplish this.
If performed correctly, there is minimal bleeding throughout the procedure. Excess skin is then removed and the wound is closed with sutures and surgical clips. Despite being performed through a fine hidden incision, the facelift and neck lift involves manipulation of deep tissues in the vicinity of vessels and important nerves that move your face. To avoid unnecessary risks, make sure you trust your face to an expert in the field like Dr. Mardirossian when considering this procedure.
What is Recovery Like After A Facelift and Neck Lift?
Swelling generally lasts one to two weeks. We generally recommend that the compression dressing be worn for four full days after the surgery followed by four nights. You may be advised to use ice for three to seven days following your procedure to allow for proper wound healing.
Before you leave, you will be given instructions on when to follow up and how to properly care for the incision sites. Most of our patients go back to their everyday activities seven days after the procedure. Strenuous physical activity can be resumed after three weeks.
How Long Will My Facelift/Neck Lift Results Last?
The result of the facelift and neck lift are permanent in the sense that the face and the neck will always look much better than the starting point. There are many factors involved in the longevity of a certain procedure, such as proper hydration, healthy lifestyle, sun protection, diet, and presence of concomitant disease. Generally speaking a facelift and a neck lift will last five to 10 (even 15) years before a new procedure is needed.
Contact Mardirossian Facial Aesthetics today to schedule a consultation with Vartan Mardirossian, M.D., F.A.C.S., to see if this procedure is the right solution for you. We offer facelift and neck lift procedures to patients in Virginia including McLean, Falls Church, Tysons, Arlington plus the Washington DC area.
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