Many men and women over 40 see it when they look in the mirror— faces with more fine lines and wrinkles. You might see it on your own face. Or, maybe your skin seems a bit looser, especially around your jaw, and maybe your laugh lines don’t seem so funny anymore.

Multiple factors can lead to changes on your face and neck, including aging, too much time in the sun without protection, stress, smoking and even genetics. You’re still young at heart, so shouldn’t your face and neck be young, too? A facelift can eradicate some of the visible signs of aging above your shoulders.

What is a facelift?

During a facelift, one of our board-certified surgeons removes the excess fat from your skin and neck. They tighten the underlying muscles and redrape the skin of your face and neck, pulling it over the newly tightened muscles, for tighter, smoother skin and a younger appearance, which should last for years.

Your Annapolis Facelift Consultation

If you’re considering a facelift, your next step should be a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at our main office in Annapolis or one of our one satellite offices in Easton or Prince Frederick.

During the consultation in one of our comfortable exam rooms, the doctor will review your goals and your medical history to determine if you are a good candidate. The consultation typically includes a discussion of:

• Your goals: why do you want the surgery and what outcome are you hoping for?
• Your medical history and your lifestyle. You’ll talk about things like:
  • Are you taking any prescription or nonprescription drugs and/or herbal supplements?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Have you had any previous surgeries?
• Your particular options and outcomes. The doctor will examine your face, neck and surrounding areas to evaluate your current signs of aging. He may photograph you and use computer imaging to show the results he believes he can achieve with a facelift.
• The procedure. You’ll have time to ask whatever you need. We recommend writing down your questions before the consultation, so you won’t forget anything important.

A facelift can be performed on its own or with other facial rejuvenation procedures. During your consultation, you can also discuss procedures you’re considering combining with a facelift, like:

• Brow lift (to remove wrinkles in the forehead)
• Eyelid lift, or Blepharoplasty (for wrinkles and/or bags around the eyes)
• Liposuction (for removal of fat under the chin)
• Laser surgery (for skin rejuvenation)
• Non-surgical procedures like BOTOX® Cosmetic injections or injectable fillers.

Understanding the Facelift Procedure

Your surgical facelift will be performed by one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, under general anesthesia in our fully accredited, state-of-the-art, ambulatory surgery center in Annapolis.

The surgeon makes incisions in the hairline above your ears, continuing down, around and behind your earlobes and back into your hair, which doesn’t need to be shaved for the procedure. Through these incisions, the muscles are tightened, and the excess skin removed.

We make every effort to make any incisions as inconspicuous as possible. Most scars will be at your hairline and not visible. The scars are usually well-hidden once you have completely healed.

After your Facelift:  Recovery and Results

Following a facelift, you’ll go home with your head wrapped in dressings. Most patients are seen in our office the next day to remove the dressing and for post-op evaluations. You may have some minimal discomfort, which can be controlled by prescription medication provided by your doctor.

You may experience initial swelling, numbness, discomfort and discoloration, which should subside within two to three weeks; you can resume your full activities in about a month.

Once you are fully healed, expect to look younger and more well-rested. You’ll see major improvements in the first two to three weeks and will continue to improve, with additional “smoothing out” of your skin over the next six to nine months.

Complimentary Pre- and Post-Facelift Skin Care

Proper skincare before and after a facelift is essential for successful long-term results. (As is diligent sun protection, including hats and sunscreen.) We encourage our facelift patients to visit the PSS MediSpa before and after their procedure. There’s no charge for these visits at one of our locations in Annapolis, Severna Park or Easton.

During your pre-facelift appointment, you’ll meet with one of our experienced estheticians. Then, you’ll have a skin care treatment and discuss how to care for your skin right before the surgery, and most importantly, in the first two weeks post-surgery.

You’ll have a follow up appointment with the esthetician 10 to 14 days after your facelift. We’ll remove any remaining sutures, and you’ll receive a complementary camouflage makeup kit with a lesson on applying the makeup to cover any residual bruising.

The only way to know for sure if you’re a candidate for a facelift is to speak to a board-certified plastic surgeon. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons, for the information you need to decide if a facelift will give you the results you want.

FAQs about Face Lifts in Annapolis

Like any surgery at our offices near Baltimore, a face lift is an intricate procedure that requires thorough preparation and the utmost surgical skill. It’s understandable that you may have questions or concerns regarding the consultation process, procedure, recovery or long-term results. We would like to address some of the most frequently asked questions to help you get started on your research and education about the facelift procedure.