As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be
seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and
jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A facelift (rhytidectomy) cannot stop the aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock,"
improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles,
and redraping the skin of your face and neck. Surgery counteracts the affects of gravity but does
not improve the quality of your skin. Dr. Baroody will recommend other procedures to improve
fine lines and skin discolorations. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other
procedures such as a forehead lift and eyelid surgery.
If you are considering a facelift, the following will give you a basic understanding of the procedure
when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It cannot answer all of
your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient. Please ask Dr. Baroody about
anything you do not understand.
THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR A FACELIFT
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but
whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most
patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their
seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in
the process. But it cannot give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality
of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and
discuss them with Dr. Baroody.
ALL SURGERY CARRIES SOME UNCERTAINTY AND RISK
When a facelift is performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent
and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and
their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must
be removed), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and
reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.
You can reduce your risks by closely following Dr. Baroody's advice both before and after
surgery.
PLANNING YOUR SURGERY
Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation Dr. Baroody will evaluate
your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Dr. Baroody will review your medical conditions that may cause problems during or after surgery,
such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form
excessive scars. Be sure to tell Dr. Baroody if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications,
especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a facelift, Dr. Baroody will explain the techniques and anesthesia he will
use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Do
not hesitate to ask Dr. Baroody any questions you may have, especially those regarding your
expectations and concerns about the results.
PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY
Dr. Baroody will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines
on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.
Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it's
especially important to stop at least four weeks before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood
flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for
someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
WHERE YOUR SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED
A facelift may be performed in an outpatient surgery center or a hospital. It is usually done on an
outpatient basis. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be
monitored after surgery, and may also require a short inpatient stay.
TYPES OF ANESTHESIA
Dr. Baroody prefers general anesthesia where you will be asleep through the operation.
Another option includes local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You will
be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some
tugging or occasional discomfort.)
THE SURGERY
A facelift usually takes several hours if you are having more than one procedure performed. For
extensive procedures, Dr. Baroody may schedule two separate sessions.
Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line just inside the
cartilage at the front of the ear, and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck
needs to be addressed, a small incision may also be made under the chin.
In general, Dr. Baroody separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or
suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Dr. Baroody then tightens the
underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure
the layers of tissue and close the incisions.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube is temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain
any blood that might collect there. Dr. Baroody will also wrap your head loosely in bandages to
minimize bruising and swelling.
AFTER YOUR SURGERY
There usually is not significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the
pain medication prescribed by Dr. Baroody. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of
your face should be reported to Dr. Baroody immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite
normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Keep the swelling down by elevating your head and keeping your head as still as possible for a
couple of days after surgery.
The drain will be removed one day after surgery. Bandages are usually removed the next day.
Do not be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few
weeks you'll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal,
and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after
surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair.
Dr. Baroody will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities.
Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and
mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all,
get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted
from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you will probably be
self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may
tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.
By the third week, you will look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about ten
days to two weeks after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most
bruising that remains.
YOUR NEW LOOK
The chances are excellent that you will be happy with your facelift; especially if you realize that
the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the
hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months.
Men may find they have to shave in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard-
growing skin have been repositioned.
You will have some scars from your facelift, but they are usually hidden by your hair or in the
natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they will fade within time and should be
scarcely visible.
Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may
want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in
another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you will continue to look
better than if you'd never had a facelift at all.
seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and
jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A facelift (rhytidectomy) cannot stop the aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock,"
improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles,
and redraping the skin of your face and neck. Surgery counteracts the affects of gravity but does
not improve the quality of your skin. Dr. Baroody will recommend other procedures to improve
fine lines and skin discolorations. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other
procedures such as a forehead lift and eyelid surgery.
If you are considering a facelift, the following will give you a basic understanding of the procedure
when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It cannot answer all of
your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient. Please ask Dr. Baroody about
anything you do not understand.
THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR A FACELIFT
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but
whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most
patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their
seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in
the process. But it cannot give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality
of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and
discuss them with Dr. Baroody.
ALL SURGERY CARRIES SOME UNCERTAINTY AND RISK
When a facelift is performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent
and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and
their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must
be removed), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and
reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.
You can reduce your risks by closely following Dr. Baroody's advice both before and after
surgery.
PLANNING YOUR SURGERY
Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation Dr. Baroody will evaluate
your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Dr. Baroody will review your medical conditions that may cause problems during or after surgery,
such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form
excessive scars. Be sure to tell Dr. Baroody if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications,
especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a facelift, Dr. Baroody will explain the techniques and anesthesia he will
use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Do
not hesitate to ask Dr. Baroody any questions you may have, especially those regarding your
expectations and concerns about the results.
PREPARING FOR YOUR SURGERY
Dr. Baroody will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines
on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.
Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it's
especially important to stop at least four weeks before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood
flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for
someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
WHERE YOUR SURGERY WILL BE PERFORMED
A facelift may be performed in an outpatient surgery center or a hospital. It is usually done on an
outpatient basis. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be
monitored after surgery, and may also require a short inpatient stay.
TYPES OF ANESTHESIA
Dr. Baroody prefers general anesthesia where you will be asleep through the operation.
Another option includes local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You will
be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some
tugging or occasional discomfort.)
THE SURGERY
A facelift usually takes several hours if you are having more than one procedure performed. For
extensive procedures, Dr. Baroody may schedule two separate sessions.
Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line just inside the
cartilage at the front of the ear, and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck
needs to be addressed, a small incision may also be made under the chin.
In general, Dr. Baroody separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or
suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Dr. Baroody then tightens the
underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure
the layers of tissue and close the incisions.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube is temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain
any blood that might collect there. Dr. Baroody will also wrap your head loosely in bandages to
minimize bruising and swelling.
AFTER YOUR SURGERY
There usually is not significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the
pain medication prescribed by Dr. Baroody. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of
your face should be reported to Dr. Baroody immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite
normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Keep the swelling down by elevating your head and keeping your head as still as possible for a
couple of days after surgery.
The drain will be removed one day after surgery. Bandages are usually removed the next day.
Do not be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few
weeks you'll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal,
and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after
surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair.
Dr. Baroody will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities.
Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and
mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all,
get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted
from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you will probably be
self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may
tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.
By the third week, you will look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about ten
days to two weeks after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most
bruising that remains.
YOUR NEW LOOK
The chances are excellent that you will be happy with your facelift; especially if you realize that
the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the
hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months.
Men may find they have to shave in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard-
growing skin have been repositioned.
You will have some scars from your facelift, but they are usually hidden by your hair or in the
natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they will fade within time and should be
scarcely visible.
Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may
want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in
another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you will continue to look
better than if you'd never had a facelift at all.
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| FACELIFT CONSENT, INSTRUCTIONS |
| DOWNLOADS |
| 10 South Street . Suite 204 . Ridgefield, CT 46 Federal Road . Danbury, CT 203.790.5700 |
| Plastic surgeon Michael Baroody, MD offers a variety of plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Baroody's practice is located in Danbury, and Ridgfefield, CT and serves both Fairfield and Litchfield Counties. The doctor specializes in forehead lift, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, facelift, neck liposculpture, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, and others as well as a variety of reconstructive procedures. Examine the website and learn more about Dr. Baroody and the various services provided. Financing options available. 10 South Street . #204 . Ridgefield, CT 06877 46 Federal Road . Danbury, CT 06810 . Phone: (203) 790-5700 |
