Facelift Surgery
What effect does age have on your face ?
Aging is not just a matter of loose or sagging skin. As we grow older, multiple changes combine and conspire to give us a “tired”, “sad” or “old” appearance.
This is why different small procedures performed on the lips, cheeks, chin, nose, eyes and eyebrows, are often suggested to be performed together with a face lift in order to achieve a younger, more natural appearance. If only the skin of the face is stretched, the patient may look artificial, with a “pulled” look.
If you are relatively young, say 35 years old or so, it is ideal for you to undergo a minor surgical or non surgical procedure every few years as soon as the first signs of aging begin to appear (i.e, Wrinkle reduction agent can be used to reduce wrinkles, Fillers can re-contour the cheeks and fill in deep creases, eyelid surgery can improve hooded eyes, followed by liposuction and tightening of a double chin, etc.)
The idea is to maintain youth in a natural and gradual way, rather than to treat aging !
Calgary Facelift Expert
During your facelift consultation for facial rejuvenation in Calgary, Alberta, Dr. Zakhary will examine your face to assess the thickness and texture of your skin, the elasticity of your tissues and the severity of the creases and wrinkles. She will carefully examine your hairline so that she can determine the best places for incision placement for maximum camouflage of scars. Dr. Zakhary will tailor your surgery to you individually for your specific case and facial structure.
Dr. Zakhary performs Facelift surgery as an outpatient, in an accredited surgical facility, under general anesthesia. Recovery from a traditional facelift takes about three weeks, during which bruising and swelling will resolve, although final healing of incisions may take up to six months. After surgery, it is important to rest and allow your body enough time to heal, and reduce stress or pressure on the operated areas of your face. For the first few weeks, patients are advised to refrain from any activity that would stress or put pressure on the operated areas so that the tissues can have time to heal in their new positions. Dr. Zakhary will provide important instructions on caring for the incisions after facelift surgery, and will prescribe medications to prevent infection, and help with any discomfort.
Facelift surgery rejuvenates the lower two-thirds of the face by tightening sagging cheeks, removing jowls, and improving loose neck skin. It is commonly chosen by patients in their 50s and 60s, with treatment options tailored to each person’s degree of aging, goals, and overall health.
In a traditional facelift, incisions are discreetly placed along the hairline and around the ear. The skin is lifted so the underlying muscles and tissues can be tightened, excess skin removed, and—when needed—fat deposits under the chin reduced for a more defined neck and smoother jawline.
After surgery, incisions are easily hidden by hair or makeup and fade over time, including the small incision under the chin. Patients considering significant weight loss should discuss timing with Dr. Zakhary to ensure the best surgical outcome.
A facelift improves the jawline and neck but does not lift the eyelids or eyebrows; these can be treated with eyelid or forehead lift surgery. Dr. Zakhary performs the Optimum Mobility Facelift, a technique designed to achieve strong results with minimal dissection, less swelling, no hair shaving, and safer skin healing.
Incisions are placed in the hairline above the ear, around the natural crease between the ear and cheek, and behind the ear, allowing scars to remain discreet and easily hidden by hair.
The deeper facial tissues are tightened and excess skin removed. Fat under the chin may also be reduced using a small liposuction tube to improve neck definition. The surgery typically takes four to five hours.
Most sutures dissolve on their own, with a few removed after one week. Mild tightness and temporary numbness around the ears are expected but improve within weeks. Most patients feel presentable with makeup and return to work within two to three weeks, while the final results continue to refine for up to six months.
A facelift mainly addresses sagging of the jawline and neck. Additional treatments, such as filler injections, may be needed to improve wrinkles around the nose and mouth. Although facelift surgery cannot stop aging, it can make patients look five to ten years younger, with results that can be maintained through occasional minor cosmetic treatments.
With age or prior weight gain, a pocket of fat can form below your chin creating the appearance of a double chin. This double chin can be improved either at the same time as a facelift surgery, or in younger patients, can be performed alone. To improve a double chin, a small incision is placed under the chin. The fat is suctioned out with a small tube connected to a liposuction machine. If you also happen to have a weak chin, which can worsen the appearance of a double chin, Dr. Zakhary can improve this at the same time, with a small chin implant.
As you age, you develop thin lips. Thin lips can make you look older than you really are. If you have thin aging lips, you can correct this either during your facelift surgery, or shortly before or after, to give you a younger and more rejuvenated appearance.
Thin lips can be improved with Filler Injections: Lips may be made fuller and more attractive with different injections, such as Restylane.
Thin lips can be improved with Surgery (Bull horn upper lip lift surgery): This type of surgery needs expertise and great precision. Dr. Zakhary has performed many of these lip lift surgery procedures. An incision is made at the border of the nose and upper lip. A segment of skin is then excised along the incision to lift the upper lip and make the red lip look larger. Following surgery, you will have a small scar underneath your nose which will rapidly fade, and you will be socially presentable in around 2 weeks. The resulting scar is easily camouflaged by makeup and hair, and they will continue to fade for at least one year following surgery.
As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, there are certain risks associated with facelift surgery. Although they are rare, possible complications may include reactions to anesthesia, bleeding, hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin), or infection.
Facelift incisions are usually well hidden and typically fade into a thin white line over time. However, individual healing varies, and in some cases a more noticeable scar may develop. While a surgeon cannot control personal healing tendencies, Dr. Zakhary can assist with scar revision if needed.
Temporary skin numbness is also common after surgery and generally fades over time as healing progresses.
Ideal facelift candidates are healthy non-smokers. If you smoke, take medications, or have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, a tendency to form thick scars, or bleeding or clotting issues, you should discuss these risks with Dr. Zakhary during your consultation in Calgary.
Healing does not occur immediately after facelift surgery, so it is important to be patient while waiting for your final result. Most patients are socially presentable after about two weeks, and the final outcome becomes more evident around six weeks after surgery.
Fine lines, deep wrinkles, and skin pigmentation issues cannot be fully corrected with a facelift alone. Other treatments are available to address these concerns, and you are welcome to discuss these options with Dr. Zakhary during your consultation.
Facelift surgery can soften deep nasolabial folds (smile lines), but it cannot completely eliminate them. Despite this, Dr. Zakhary’s patients are typically very pleased with their results for many years.
Some individuals may choose to pursue additional treatments in the future to maintain or enhance their facial rejuvenation over time.
Facelift surgery does not change your facial structure or your fundamental appearance, and it cannot stop the aging process.
A facelift can only be performed by surgery. Non-surgical procedures can help you to look younger and more refreshed, but they cannot improve sagging tissue or remove excess fat, like a surgical facelift can, and non surgical procedures will not achieve the same results as a Facelift surgery. That is to say that non surgical cosmetic procedure can indeed complement the results of surgery. Facelift surgery is a very individualized procedure, and you should want do it for yourself, not to impress someone else or to fulfill someone else's desires or fit any sort of ideal image.
Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:
- You are physically and psychologically healthy.
- You do not smoke.
- You have a positive outlook and specific, realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your look.
- You understand that the results of a facelift will not last forever, and other procedures may help to compliment your look and improve your overall appearance.
For some patients, a cosmetic neck lift is the best option to remove excess skin and fat and to tighten loose neck muscles caused by aging or genetics. This procedure may be done alone or combined with a facelift to create a smoother, more youthful neck.
A neck lift uses incisions behind the ears and under the chin to remove fat with liposuction and tighten the underlying muscles with sutures, improving the contour of the jawline and neck. The surgery lasts about three to four hours under general anesthesia, and recovery is similar to a facelift. A compression bandage is typically worn to reduce swelling, and patients should plan for at least two weeks of healing time.
A mini facelift or mini neck lift offers a less invasive option with shorter incisions and a quicker recovery. While results are more subtle than a traditional facelift, the procedure targets specific aging concerns around the jowls, jawline, and neck.
Mini facelifts use fewer and smaller incisions, making them popular for younger patients, those seeking maintenance treatments, or individuals who want minimal downtime. They provide natural improvements, reduce the need for larger surgeries later, and have fewer potential complications due to the limited dissection involved.
