What is a Face Lift?
Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, is a procedure to restore a more youthful appearance to the face by removing and lifting wrinkles and sagging skin on the face and neck.  This is done by tightening of the facial and neck muscles under the skin and removing any excess skin along the neck, jowl and jaw line through hidden incisions.  The procedure will often also be used to give a lifted, more youthful appearance to the cheek or midface area. It is typically done as a "mini-lift" for quick recomvery and minimal downtime in mild to moderate cases or in either a traditional fashion for patients with heavier skin and more aged appearance.
 
A facelift will have a most dramatic effect along the jawline and in the neck, improving contour and profile. A facelift is separate from forehead and eyelid procedures but is frequently performed in conjunction with them. It is commonly performed in conjunction with chin or cheek augmentation, or fat grafting to improve the critically important and youthful appearing volume lost through the aging process. Skin rejuvenation with chemical peel or laser resurfacing is also frequently done to maximize the rejuvenation of the face. A facelift will generally provide satisfactory improvement for 5-10 years depending upon the technique.
 
Who is a good candidates for a face lift?
·       Women  or Men
·       Age 40 to 75
·       Non-smokers
·       Generally in good health
·       Desire a more youthful appearance to the face and a smoother neckline
 
Benefits  of mini- vs. traditional face lift
Quick recovery - 5 to 7 days
Less anesthesia.  Only IV sedation and local anesthesia necessary.
Reduced operating time - Only about 2 hours.
Improved techniques and the use of fat grafting are giving longer-lasting results
You can wear your hair up or short with well-hidden scars
No pulled or plastic-"done" look