Neck Lift

The head is wrapped in a specific dressing or bandage after surgery. This typically remains in place for the first three days and is changed at the initial appointment one day after surgery. It is expected for there to be a degree of bruising for the first one to two weeks after surgery. Numbness around the incision lines often also occurs and resolves in the coming weeks. Bruising and numbness may also occur. Swelling will resolve predominantly within the first few weeks and is generally completely resolved by three months. Sutures are generally removed at your one week follow up appointment. Many patients find that they are well enough to return to work and many other everyday activities after ten to fourteen days. Strenuous activities should not be resumed for at least two weeks. Sun exposure will need to be minimized for the first few weeks.

Although rare, there are always risks with surgery. Dr. Song aims to provide you with only the best possible outcome with your procedure, but some potential issues are:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Fluid accumulation
• Infection
• Loss of hair around the incisions
• Numbness of the ear
• Poor wound healing
• Unfavorable scarring
• Weakness in facial muscles

Facelift surgery generally lasts several hours and is performed with either general anesthesia or a combination of local anesthesia and sedation. Incision patterns may vary; however, for the traditional facelift, the incision begins above the temples in the hairline and continue in a natural line in front of and behind the ear, ending in the lower scalp, hiding within natural shadows and creases. A separate small incision is made under the chin to help address the neck area. During the surgery the skin and subcutaneous tissue is separated from the structures, the “deep plane” is then entered, and further tissue elevation performed in order to successfully release all the ligamentous tether points for a natural and maximal suspension. The tissues are then resuspended in an anatomically more youthful position and the skin is gently contoured to remove excess skin and optimally hide incisions. Through contemporary techniques drains are typically avoided in this surgery, and a series of gentle compression dressings utilized the first few days after surgery.

Both men and women can be great candidates for lower facelift surgery. The most common reason to seek a facelift is loose hanging skin at the jowls and sagging of the neck. Most people seeking a facelift are in their 50s to 70s. 

The facial areas corrected in a deep plane facelift include:

• Cheeks: The deep plane facelift addresses sagging and loss of volume in the cheeks. By repositioning the underlying structures, youthful fullness can be restored to the midface region to enhance cheek contours.
• Jawline: The procedure addresses the appearance of jowls and sagging skin along the jawline. By lifting and tightening the deeper tissues, the deep plane facelift creates a more defined and youthful jawline contour.
• Neck: Deep plane facelift surgery also targets the upper neck area, addressing loose skin jowls. The procedure provides significant improvement in neck wrinkles and laxity. Likewise, the cervicomental angle is improved to sharpen the transition between neck and face as two distinct structures. 
• Nasolabial folds: The deep plane facelift effectively reduces the appearance of nasolabial folds, commonly known as smile lines, by lifting and repositioning the underlying tissues without the pulling effect of older, traditional surgical approaches.
• Lower face and mouth area: This technique also improves the lower face and mouth region, minimizing the appearance of marionette lines and creating a smoother, more refreshed appearance.

Facial aging is a process that occurs in all layers of the face. The bony skeleton resorbs and provides less structural support. With increased laxity in the retaining ligaments of the face, the muscle, fat and connective tissue layers descend over time with gravity. More superficially, the skin becomes thinner
with less elastin and collagen, with pigment and wrinkles reflecting chronic sun damage. The result is loose, hanging skin and heaviness in the lower face and neck, and hollowing and volume loss under the eyes and in the upper cheeks.

A facelift, technically known as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery aimed to tighten loose or sagging skin in the face and neck and reduce jowling. This is achieved by surgically removing excess fat and excess skin itself, tightening the underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin. With advancement in surgical technique in recent decades, extended deep plane facelifts have arose to become the gold standard approach.

Medically called a rhytidectomy, in simple terms, a facelift is a surgery that uses hidden incisions along the hairline and ear to lift and reposition the facial tissues to a more youthful position. Unfortunately, facelift surgery is associated with the stigma of “bad” cosmetic surgery – a look that appears unnatural or overdone. With proper use of modern techniques, a facelift surgery can yield
the most natural and powerful transformation in rejuvenation of the face and neck.

For marketing purposes, many surgeons often rename and rebrand their version of a facelift. This can create confusion for patients who are trying to research this surgery. Regardless of how it is phrased, the important distinction is that a deep plane face lift technique is being performed. This approach corrects the cheek, jawline and neck. Through an extended dissection in the sub-SMAS or deeper plane of the face, the necessary ligaments are released to successfully resuspend the soft tissue structure without tethering or relying on pulling skin too tightly. This provides the most improved and natural looking results, as well as the longest lasting results.