Facelift and Neck Lift

A face and neck lift, or rhytidectomy, can help you reverse key signs of facial aging caused by a loss of skin elasticity, diminished facial volume and exposure to natural elements.

The facial plastic surgeons and plastic surgeons at The University of Kansas Health System are known for creating beautiful facelift and neck lift results that look natural. A face and neck lift is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery options we offer. After a consultation in which we discuss your cosmetic concerns, our surgeons can smooth and elevate problem areas to reveal a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.

A face and neck lift is a procedure designed to correct age-related changes in the face and the neck – 2 regions that typically exhibit telltale signs of aging most visibly. As the skin begins to lose elasticity and sag, the face usually develops wrinkles, creases and jowls, while horizontal bands of skin can form around the neck. Additionally, increased deposits of fatty tissue under the chin often creates the appearance of a double chin or poorly defined neck profile.

To combat these changes, a face and neck lift can be a powerful treatment to tighten lax skin, address loose musculature and reposition fatty deposits for a smoother, firmer and more youthful aesthetic. The results achieved can look natural and elegant, diminishing key indicators of age while preserving the character of your face.

We also offer a mid-face lift, which can be ideal for people who experience more notable signs of aging in the mid-portion of the face rather than the entire face. The mid-face lift addresses areas including the cheekbones and the eyes with the goal of tightening the skin and significantly reducing the appearance of wrinkles, excess fat and bags under the eyes.

If you struggle with sagging skin in the lower face, you may be an ideal candidate for a facelift, a procedure undergone by hundreds of thousands of patients in the U.S., according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The majority of people who choose to schedule a facelift are 40-60 years old. However, chronological age is not a determining factor for surgery. After surgery, these men and women can look nearly 12 years younger on average, combined with an improved quality of life and better self-esteem. To benefit from a facelift, you should be a healthy nonsmoker and have realistic expectations about the results that are possible with cosmetic surgery.

Those interested in a facelift and neck lift should be healthy enough to have surgery and have no uncontrolled medical conditions that may affect the recovery process. During your consultation, our surgeons will evaluate your concerns and ask you about your goals to determine whether facelift and neck lift surgery is the best treatment option for you. In some instances, your surgeon may suggest combining facelift surgery with another procedures, such as an eyelid lift, for more comprehensive results.

A face and neck lift can achieve many improvements along several planes of the face to restore youthful contours and smooth skin from the inside out. With a face and neck lift, our plastic surgeons can:

• Decrease wrinkles and fine lines
• Elevate and remove loose, excess skin
• Lift and tighten lax musculature and connective tissue for lasting results
• Reduce – or even eliminate – the appearance of jowls along the jawline
• Reduce or eliminate bands visible in the neck
• Remove fat deposits

A facelift can accomplish several cosmetic goals:

• Lift sagging jowls
• Remove excess facial skin and fat deposits
• Smooth away deep nasolabial folds

Possible complications from a facelift may include bruising, nerve injury, infection or poor healing. Your surgeon will go over the risks and benefits of facelift and neck lift surgery during your consultation and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

Face and neck lift surgery usually takes between 3-5 hours to complete and is performed as an outpatient procedure. You will be under general anesthesia during surgery, so you will not feel or remember a thing. The technique our surgeons use involves incisions that can be hidden along natural skin creases, behind the ears, under the chin or within the hairline. Through these incisions, your surgeon can tighten the underlying neck musculature, sculpt and remove fat and remove excess skin. The incisions are closed with fine sutures or surgical clips.

Following your facelift, you should be prepared for up to 3 weeks of recovery time (though it may be shorter, depending on the techniques used). Numbness, bruising and swelling can occur, as well as pain, which can be managed with medication prescribed by your surgeon. Most people typically return to work in 2 weeks, but more strenuous activity or exercise should be limited longer.