Trust Your Facial Renewal Surgery To A Facial Plastic Surgeon

It is no secret that as we age, the effect of age, gravity, sun damage and other environmental factors takes a toll on our face. For men and women, the tissues of the face begin to change often with loose sagging skin, jowls, lines, and wrinkles and a lack of facial fullness or a ‘squaring’ of the lower face. While the upper face and forehead seem to age slowly, the opposite part, the lower face and neck, seem to age quickly. The combination of gravity and birthdays and genetics is relentless.

If you are concerned by your facial aging changes and would like to learn about your options, it is possible a lower facelift can help.

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Donn Chatham’s philosophy is that the best facelifts:

• Are natural looking
• Do not involve changing how a person really looks
• Require a limited reasonable amount of healing and downtime

The ‘plastic’ or ‘pulled’ windswept look is not a desirable result nor is a ‘plastic looking’ appearance. Dr. Chatham’s goal is for his patients to simply appear fresher, a little younger, and more rested. We want an ‘improved appearance’ but not a ‘changed appearance.’ This is a subtle but particularly important distinction. Most patients want to avoid some of the ‘celebrity overdone’ faces they sometimes see in the media. If surgery, any surgery, does not result in a natural appearance, what’s the point?

It is tiresome and frustrating to try to conceal some of the visible signs of aging such as unwanted jowls or a saggy neck. While facelift surgery is not for everyone, this procedure can help the right patient. It is a real surgery, requiring incisions, some type of anesthesia, temporary swelling and/or bruising, some discomfort and then healing. It is not a casual decision, and we thoroughly discuss the pros and cons during our consultation.

Facelift surgery does not stop the aging process and gravity is relentless. But for patients in good health, with realistic expectations and commitment for improvement, this can be a good decision.

A consultation with Dr. Donn Chatham is the first next step in his New Albany, IN or Louisville, KY offices where you can learn about your best options.

What Is A Facelift?

As previously discussed, some facelifts are more extensive than others. Choosing the best facelift surgical technique for an individual patient depends on factors, such as age, facial structure, sun damage and the hopes and goals of that patient for rejuvenation and facial appearance improvement.

The older one becomes, with more extensive loss of support, the ‘larger’ the procedure that will become necessary.

Overall, a facelift:

• Improves support for the skin and other soft tissues
• Removes excess sagging skin
• Tightens underlying muscles
• Re-drapes the skin of your lower face
• Smooths the jawline and aims to better support the neck
• Often gives a ‘slimmer’ appearance to the face

However, for some younger individuals who want a more youthful face but do not want to wait until their aging is advanced, a more limited but earlier procedure may achieve their goals.

Dr. Chatham is not trying to create beauty. He is simply trying to remove the external unwanted aging changes that have begun to conceal the beauty that has been there all along

Note that the aging process involves sagging and laxity, sometimes loss of volume, and often unwanted skin changes (wrinkles and unwanted pigment). Facelift surgery is designed to help support the sagging and laxity, but dermal fillers and sometimes implants are best for loss of volume. Specifically chosen skin treatments (e.g., chemical peels, laser treatments) are often the best strategies for aging skin.

So, while facelift surgery helps the laxity, it does not add volume or address the surface of the skin. These 3 different treatment strategies (surgery, improved volume, & skin treatment) work synergistically together and are often combined for optimal results.

What Are Some Frequently Asked Facelift Questions?

There is often confusion about the popular cosmetic procedure, plastic surgeons call a rhytidectomy (Greek word for facelift). This is understandable as throughout the years, facelift surgical techniques have changed enormously with a dizzying array of techniques under the umbrella of a facelift. One can find words and phrases such as ‘SMAS’ and ‘deep plane’ and ‘mini-lift’ and ‘neck lift’ as well as cute nicknames such as a ‘weekend lift,’ a ‘little lift,’ a ‘fast lift,’ and many others. One of the goals of consultation is to clear up some of this confusion.

Some common questions, Dr. Chatham’s facelift patients ask are:

The bottom-line answer is that a procedure designed to help support the sagging tissues of the face due to the aging process, becomes a type of facelift. While nothing actually stops the aging process, a facelift surgery strives to help soften and improve a variety of face and neck aging concerns.

Who Is A Candidate For A Facelift / Neck Lift?

Typically, most facelift candidates are in their 40s, 50s or 60s. In older patients, dependent upon their overall health, the procedure may be performed, however, optimal results are achieved with patients who still have relatively good skin elasticity, tissue strength and a strong facial bone structure. The older we become they less elastic and strong our bodies become, as a candid reality.

During facial rejuvenation consultations, Dr. Donn Chatham performs a facial examination and has an in-depth discussion with the patients on their facial rejuvenation goals. Dr. Chatham’s goal is always to improve in a natural, pleasing manner, not over-treat or create an unnatural (plastic) appearance. At Chatham Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Chatham and his professional staff collaborate with you as partners in selecting the recommended procedure that is best for the patient.

How To Prepare For A Facelift / Neck Lift Surgery

In preparation for facelift surgery, our office strongly advises that patients:

• Abstain from smoking 1 month prior to the procedure and at least 1 month after, during the recovery period. This is necessary to increase the circulation necessary for normal healing. Complications from poor healing dramatically increase in patients exposed to smoking, and this includes vaping.
• Limit consumption of aspirin, other anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Motrin, Aleve, Advil, etc. since these drugs may lead to increased bleeding during the course of the facelift / neck lift.
• Limiting herbs and supplements prior to surgery (gingko, garlic, ginseng, and others) and some SSRIs can affect clotting. Be sure to tell Dr. Chatham about all medications and supplement you are taking.

How Is A Facelift / Neck Lift Performed?

Patients may elect to have their facelift done alone, or in conjunction with other facial procedures such as temple lifts, eyelid surgery, and/or laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels. Dr. Chatham discusses the surgery procedure in detail with his patients, as each patient is unique.

An overview of the surgical steps for a traditional facelift are:

• Anesthesia for a typical lift is usually a deep sedation type (‘twilight’) or general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist and CRNAs. A safe anesthesia is our priority. We may advise using a nearby hospital either as an overnight stay or possibly as an outpatient if safety is not compromised. We want you to be comfortable, from the beginning and throughout recovery.
• Precise incisions are made around the ears and into the hairline.
• The muscle layer beneath the cheek and neck skin is identified and the underlying muscles are lifted with strategically placed sutures.
• Fat may be sculpted or moved from the face and neck.
• Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours of the face.
• A second incision under the chin may be needed to address and improve the neck.
• Sutures close the incisions, which are strategically placed to be hidden as much as possible.

What Is A ‘Little Lift’?

For some younger patients who are primarily interested in a lesser procedure, Dr. Chatham may recommend a ‘Little Lift.’ In these cases, the best option may be an in-office procedure taking about 90 minutes, using local anesthesia. Many patients take some Valium pre-op for relaxation. Smaller incisions and fewer sutures are used. Healing is quicker, and the return to activities is quicker as well but it is important to remember this is still a real ‘surgery.’

The ‘Little Lift’ may be right for those younger patients wanting an improvement but not an entire facelift. However, not every patient is a good candidate for this procedure. Dr. Chatham understands that it is human nature to want the simplest method with the maximum effect, but we are not magicians! We strongly encourage our patients to remain realistic.

We take all of our surgeries very seriously, striving for improvement but also safety and comfort. Pros and cons, including risks and possible complications, will be discussed with each preoperative patient. Dr. Chatham and his professional staff are available to answer any questions or concerns prior to and after surgery.

What Other Cosmetic Procedures Can Be Performed For Optimal Facial Rejuvenation Results?

Although a facelift will improve and enhance the contour of your face and jawline, it will not correct sun or wind damage or fine wrinkles that have developed on the skin’s surface. To treat these conditions, Dr. Chatham and our professional aesthetic staff at Chatham Facial Plastic Surgery can advise you which non-surgical, laser / light treatment, chemical peel, or skin care services would help you achieve your aesthetic goal.

What Is The Facelift Recovery Process?

Written instructions are provided for each patient and family. Patients can expect some discomfort the evening after surgery. Prescribed analgesics are helpful to address the discomfort. The following morning, Dr. Chatham removes a wraparound dressing. Swelling and bruising usually peak at 3 days, and one looks better at about 1 week when sutures are removed. However, most patients require about 2 weeks of time before healing is to the point where they can drive, go out socially, or return to work.

Bruising and swelling typically fade within 2 or 3 weeks, and makeup may be applied if desired. As with any facial surgery, healing continues for about 1 year as small irregularities settle and sensation in the skin and ears improves. Healing and recovery are a ‘journey’ rather than a specific ‘event.’ After the recuperation period, many of our patients say, “I wish I’d done it sooner.”

How Long Do The Results Of A Facelift Last?

Many patients ask Dr. Chatham, “How long will it last?” This depends on many factors –age, heredity, physical and emotional stress levels, and sun and cigarette smoke exposure—and it is impossible to predict how a person will age over the ensuing years. In general, if a patient had an identical twin with identical health and lifestyles, and one twin had a facelift and the other did not, then the one who did will, for many, many years, appear to be the “young twin.”

No surgeon can guarantee patients that their surgery will result in complete success without any problems. Surgeries are rarely ‘perfect,’ whatever that means. We can guarantee that we will work as hard and proficiently as we can with our best efforts while keeping safety as a priority.

In addition, follow-up procedures (‘tuck ups’) can be performed to keep you looking as good as you can for even many more years. Call today to schedule an initial consultation with Donn Chatham M.D. at the Chatham Facial Plastic Surgery. Don’t let wear and tear or age-related flaws conceal your vigor and your inner facial beauty!

Why A Facial Plastic Surgeon?

Facelift / neck lift surgery requires specialized surgical expertise and should be performed by a qualified surgeon. Dr. Donn Chatham, Medical Director of Chatham Facial Surgery is a double board-certified surgeon by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.