Renaissance Medical Center for Aesthetic Surgery, Serving Patients from the Beverly Hills / Santa Monica Area and Beyond – Facelift Procedures

As we age, gravity and the repetitive motions of facial muscles contribute to signs of facial aging. Skin becomes loose and redundant, wrinkles appear in the skin, fat pads within the face descend, and muscle banding becomes visible in the neck. These signs of aging may be out of proportion to the individual’s overall health, or how the individual actually feels and acts.

At our Beverly Hills office, we offer facelift procedures to temporarily reverse some of these visible signs of aging. By making incisions in the areas of the ears, sideburns, hair-bearing scalp behind the ears, and under the chin, the descended facial fat may be repositioned, superficial muscle tightened and the redundant skin diminished. In addition, attempted correction of the bands in the neck may be undertaken. The effects of the facelift are only temporary, and the effects of gravity begin immediately once again. Complete elimination of signs of aging is not achieved, but frequently significant visible improvement is seen. Patients usually describe looking more rested and more youthful. Facelift surgery is often combined with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), forehead lift (brow lift) or resurfacing of wrinkles around the mouth.

The Facelift Consultation

Dr. Orringer will typically spend 45 minutes to an hour obtaining your medical history, examining you and discussing in detail your concerns and his observations and recommendations. Suggested skin care to prepare for facelift surgery will also be addressed.

The examination performed at our Beverly Hills office includes an assessment of facial characteristics that will affect facelift results, including brow position, forehead contour, eyelid appearance and bony contours. He will also evaluate your skin changes, the degree of soft tissue descent in the face, and your chin position. In addition, the degree of skin and fat redundancy and muscle banding within the neck are assessed.

Dr. Orringer will discuss his observations and recommendations regarding what might be done to potentially improve facial aesthetics. Every patient is a unique individual, and only certain signs of aging may be bothersome to that particular person. Therefore, only certain procedures may be desired by some of our international, national, and Beverly Hills / Santa Monica facelift patients. Dr. Orringer understands this and will attempt to individualize and understand your unique concerns.

The Surgery

The state-of-the-art Surgery Center of Santa Monica, just west of our Beverly Hills office, is the location for our facelift procedures. This modern accredited facility is located two blocks north of Saint John’s Hospital. Anesthesia is administered by board-certified anesthesiologists. Prior to surgery, Dr. Orringer will again discuss and plan your incisions with you.

The facelift surgery usually involves tightening of the superficial muscle and muscle cover (SMAS) and removal of excess skin and fat. Within the neck, the muscle bands may be re-approximated and divided in an effort to decrease their visibility. In addition, excess skin and fat is removed by sculpting the neck. Other procedures such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), brow lift, and chin augmentation may accompany the facelift as desired by the individual. A customized booklet which further discusses the facelift procedure, risks, and instructions to follow before and after your surgery will be provided for you at your preoperative visit.

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The Recovery

During facelift surgery, local anesthetic will be administered to the face, neck and scalp to decrease postoperative pain. Pain is usually adequately controlled with oral pain medicine and a cooling mask. Patients spend typically one to two nights at Serenity, a warm, comfortable facility in Santa Monica perfect for the care of postoperative facelift patients. Ambulation is encouraged the night of surgery. However, any strenuous exercise should not be done for at least three to four weeks following surgery.

Many facelift patients notice an overall improvement in appearance by the end of the first week. However, it typically takes at least two weeks for most of the swelling and bruising to resolve. Healing continues, particularly with regard to scars, for one to two years. The skin will feel tight for at least the first postoperative month. Normal stretching of the skin usually eliminates this sensation by about six weeks. However, individual healing is variable. It will take some time to become accustomed to your appearance following your facelift, even if you perceive it as younger and more rested.

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What are some of the particular concerns regarding facelift surgery?

The results of facelift surgery are usually very pleasing. However, there are some very important considerations that must be taken into account before proceeding. With this surgery, a change in facial appearance will occur. This must be accepted before surgery. It is Dr. Orringer’s goal to achieve a natural but improved appearance. If the tissues are pulled too tightly, the result can be an unnatural appearance. If they are not pulled tight enough, a patient may wish for greater change. Thus, Dr. Orringer attempts to find a happy medium. He prefers a “less-pulled” rather than a “more-pulled” facelift result.

Scars are present with facelift surgery. While they fade over one to two years, they never totally disappear. Inherent to facelift surgery is the risk of temporary or permanent injury to facial nerve branches, resulting in the inability to move areas of the forehead, face or neck. This is usually temporary but can be permanent. Poor healing can occur, particularly in smokers, which is why Dr. Orringer considers it essential that a patient stop smoking at least one month prior to the procedure and for at least two weeks after surgery.

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Making the Decision

Every surgical procedure has inherent benefits, risks and limitations. Dr. Orringer wants you to feel comfortable asking any and all questions that you may have at your initial consultation, preoperative visit, or at any time that he can assist you in determining whether or not facelift surgery is right for you. He believes that taking sufficient time to discuss, plan, individualize and perform your facelift procedure is time well spent.

Contact the Renaissance Medical Center for Aesthetic Surgery in the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica area for more information if you are considering a facelift procedure.

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