Facelift


While a facelift will create smoother, more pleasing contours to your face and neck, it is intended to give a
"refreshed" appearance rather than address specific conditions such as sagging eyebrows, fatty deposits
in the eyelids, or wrinkles around the mouth. Conditions such as these must can be dealt with individually
using other surgical means such a brow lift, eye lift and laser resurfacing.

Dr. Guichon will assess the thickness, texture and elasticity of your skin, and the severity of wrinkles and
folds. Your hairline will be examined to determine where incisions can be placed. The structure of your
face will be considered to tailor surgery to you individually.

If your hair is short you may want to let it grow enough to cover your incisions while they heal. If you are
overweight and you have a realistic desire to lose more that 15 pounds, you should discuss this with your
surgeon.

An incision is hidden in the contour of your ear, then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline.
Following surgery, incisions can be easily concealed by your hair or with makeup. There may also be a
small incision hidden underneath your chin.

After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed. In some instances, the deeper tissues
may be repositioned. A small incision beneath the chin may be used to aid the removal of fatty tissue in
that area and smoothing of the cord-like structures of the underlying muscle in the neck.

Hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin), infection and reactions to anesthesia are possible
though infrequent. Facelift incisions are most often inconspicuous though this cannot be entirely predicted
due to individual patterns in healing.

Most people return to normal activities within two-four weeks. Dr. Guichon will instruct you to temporarily
avoid exposure to direct sunlight even in the long term.

Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several months for an accurate
picture of the way you will look.

Our patients are usually very happy with their appearance for many years following a facelift, though some
patients may find they want to make additional improvements later on.