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What Is A Facelift?
A facelift, or facial rhytidectomy, is an operative procedure done to treat loose or sagging skin of the cheeks, jawline, and neck area. A facelift is designed to “set the clock back” by tightening excess skin and underlying muscle and tissue of the face and neck through hidden incisions in the hair and around the ears. This will result in a younger, refreshed, and enhanced facial appearance.
Dr. Sargent offers 30+ years of experience in Plastic Surgery to Chattanooga, TN., and has his own in-office operative suite.
Are You A Good Candidate For A Facelift?
A facelift can re-contour the neck and jawline better than all other techniques. You are a good candidate for the procedure if you have any of the following:
- Sagging skin in the neck area
- Deep folds from your nose to the corners of your mouth
- Jowls or poorly defined jawline
- Double chin, loose skin, and fat in the neck area
- Creased and sagging neck skin
If you are in good health, have a positive attitude and realistic expectations, you could be a good candidate for a facelift. A facelift may be customized to your specific needs. Other procedures that can be performed besides the full or traditional facelift are:
- Limited incision or mini facelift. Short incisions starting at the temples and continuing in front of the ears designed to tighten the cheek area.
- Neck lift. Incisions begin in front of the earlobe extending behind the ears. The skin is tightened to correct sagging skin in the neck area only.
How Should I Prepare For A Facelift?
Make sure to understand the following:
- Fully understand the procedure to be performed so that you have realistic expectations.
- If you smoke -STOP! Smoking affects blood flow to the skin and can cause slow healing or skin loss.
- Excessive weight loss after surgery can lead to more wrinkles and/or skin laxity to the face.
- Avoid taking blood thinners, aspirin, ibuprofen, anti-inflammatories, and vitamin E as they lead to excessive bruising or bleeding after the procedure.
Facelift Recovery
After your facelift, you will be able to go home the same day, but you should avoid exertion and keep your head elevated 30-45 degrees. You will have a bandage on your face that will stay in place for 2-3 days. Swelling and bruising vary with each individual. It could resolve in 10-14 days but may take as long as 3 weeks. Facial numbness may be present for several weeks.
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Length Of Operation
Usually 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 hours
ANESTHESIA
Intravenous sedation or general anesthesia
LENGTH OF STAY
Outpatient procedure
RECOVERY
- Mild to moderate discomfort for the first 1-2 days
- Bandages on face for 1-3 days
- Drains may be present for 1-2 days
- Wash hair after dressing is off
- Sutures are taken out in 5-7 days
- Swelling & bruising for 10-12 days
- Back to work with makeup 10-14 days
- No strenuous exercising for 4 weeks
- Fully healed 6-8 weeks
SCARS
- Inconspicuous scar that is mostly hidden in hair
- Scars are in front (inside) of & behind ears
- An incision under the chin is frequently used
RISKS / POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Serious complications are highly uncommon. Patients should carefully follow postoperative instructions to avoid complications.
- Keep head elevated 30-45 degrees
- Eat a soft diet
- Avoid over exertion/lifting
- Avoid medication that may make you bleed (aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, etc. … )
Complications are usually rare but include:
- Bleeding
- Slow wound healing
- Skin loss
- Nerve damage to facial muscles
- Infection
- Hair loss
- Scarring
- Numbness of the face that can last 1-2 months
RELATED PROCEDURES
A facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with other procedures:
- Eyelid Surgery
- Brow Lift
- Chin Implant
- Rhinoplasty
- Fillers
HAVE QUESTIONS? CALL US TODAY.
HAVE QUESTIONS? CALL US TODAY.
Larry A. Sargent, MD FACS
World Renowned Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Meet Dr. Sargent:
Larry A. Sargent MD, FACS is a native of Atlanta, Ga. where he excelled in both academics and athletics growing up. He was a recipient of The Bobby Dodd Scholarship at The Georgia Institute of Technology, where he studied mathematics and played baseball. Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, he attended medical school at Emory University School of Medicine. He completed general and plastic surgery training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. While at Johns Hopkins he studied craniofacial surgery under Dr. Paul Manson and then furthered his education under Dr. Paul Tessier in Paris, France.
Dr. Sargent is internationally recognized as a leading expert in his field and has given over 190 invited presentations and over 100 publications. He has patients from over 45 states and numerous countries.
Education
Education
Military Service
Dr. Larry A. Sargent, Major U.S. Army
Received the Army Commendation Medal
Exceptional Meritorious Service as a Plastic Surgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for starting the first Military Craniofacial Surgery Program serving all armed forces.
University of Tennessee, College of Medicine
Larry A. Sargent MD, FACS, FAAP
- Professor and Chairman
- Department of Plastic Surgery
- Program Director Plastic Surgery Residency
- Director and Founder Tennessee Craniofacial Center
- The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
- 30 Years of Service
Societies
Honors
Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars
To honor the significant accomplishments of men and women who spent part of their careers at Johns Hopkins, the Society of Scholars was created by the board of trustees in May 1967 on the recommendation of former president Milton S. Eisenhower.
The society–the first of its kind in the nation–inducts former postdoctoral fellows and former junior or visiting faculty at Johns Hopkins who have gained marked distinction in their fields of physical, biological, medical, social, or engineering sciences or in the humanities and for whom at least five years have elapsed since their last Hopkins affiliation.
The Committee of the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars, whose members are equally distributed among the academic divisions, elects the scholars from the candidates nominated by the academic divisions that have programs for postdoctoral fellows. There are currently 430 members in the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars.
Baroness Erlanger/University of Tennessee
Lifetime Achievement Award for
Integrity, Commitment and Contributions to
Healthcare
Dr. Sargent’s Appearances On The Emmy Award Winning Nationally Syndicated TV Show:
