Question:
What anesthesia is used for a facelift? Do I have a choice in what I can use?

Answer:
Anesthesia for facelift surgery can vary from straight local to be fully asleep. This should be worked out between the patient, surgeon, and anesthesiologist. Factors to be considered are health status, type of facelift planned, and the patient’s comfort level with each anesthesia method.

Question:
I am a 70-year-old woman and am wondering if I am too old for a facelift. How do you know if your skin has lost elasticity?

Answer:
Age is only a relative indicator of who is a good candidate for facial cosmetic surgery. A consultation with a surgeon can easily reveal the elasticity of your skin, as well as numerous other factors contributing to a successful result.

Question:
On the plastic surgery board’s website there are several descriptions of facelift procedures. What is the “tension” that is placed in the face during a facelift?

Answer:
In order to suspend the sagging facial tissue the underlying muscle is lifted and secured with some tension. The skin, on the other hand, should never be placed under significant tension in order to avoid an unnatural look.

Question:
I just read an article about something called the vampire facelift where your own platelets are removed from your blood and reinjected into your face to stimulate collagen. Is this effective? What are the benefits compared to other injectables?

Answer:
The harvesting of blood products, which are then mixed with fibrin and reinjected has been under study recently. The theory is that the reinjected material will stimulate the growth of new collagen and promote a smoother younger facial look. Over the next few years we will see if the results match the early publicity.

Question:
Is a vertical facelift as effective as a tradition facelift? I am 63 years old. My skin is very saggy and wrinkly so I’m not sure if a vertical facelift will be as effective on someone like me.

Answer:
Every patient has both vertical and horizontal vectors of lift necessary to obtain a good result. We are all different, so each operation must be designed for an individual patient. The quality of your skin must also be addressed through a skin care regimen, laser resurfacing, peels or a combination of therapies.

Question:
I’m a runner and am physically active almost every day of the week. I’m planning on having a facelift within the next 3 months and was wondering how long until I could run again after the surgery?

Answer:
The policy in our practice is to avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks. After that the healing face will tolerate the stress of full aerobic exercise. I would start slow and build up to your usual activity level.

Question:
I’m not in the best health but really want to get facelift surgery. What would you recommend that I do to better my health in preparation for the surgery?

Answer:
After consulting with a facial plastic surgeon, determine what health factors are holding you back from a safe surgical procedure. Then work with your primary care physician to correct whatever problems are possible. Your surgeon and primary care doctor can then confer and decide if you are a good candidate for facelift surgery.

Question:
I am ready to schedule my facelift surgery and I am really excited. I am male, 48 years old, a smoker and have pharmaceutically untreated high blood pressure. I have been making lifestyle changes to decrease my blood pressure naturally. Does my medical condition predispose me for any complications from this surgery?

Answer:
It is always better to control medical conditions prior to surgery. Natural methods such as lifestyle and diet changes are preferred, but sometimes medication is required. Well-controlled high blood pressure is not a disqualifier for facelift surgery.