Facial rejuvenation is an increasingly common cosmetic surgery for both men and women. One of the things that give away our age faster than anything is the appearance of the neck and jaw line. It is inevitable that as we age our skin loses elasticity. Gravity starts to win the aging battle by pulling our facial and neck tissues downward. The result is some combination of “jowling” around the jaw line, a web or “waddle” of skin beneath the chin, deepening of the cheek folds, and the appearance of “drool lines” at the corners of the mouth. In advanced stages of this aging process the skin will also form deep wrinkles and grooves around the cheeks and neck. A facelift, or “rhytidectomy” is designed to reverse some of these aging changes to the lower face and neck.
Dr. Hendrick gets requests for consultations for a facelift from Wichita as commonly as he gets requests for facial rejuvenation from Kansas City. This is because Dr. Hendrick is known as a qualified and board certified cosmetic surgeon. His patients come from Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka and all over Kansas.
There are many techniques of facelifting. There are also several different ways the incisions can be placed. Some facelift techniques are safer than others. Some techniques are more “natural” looking than others. Here at Heartland Cosmetic Surgery we employ only tried and true techniques for facelifting that give dramatic but natural looking results while maintaining a very high margin of safety. We site our incisions in the least conspicuous of areas so that, practically speaking, there are “no visible incisions”. Our facelift patients uniformly draw compliments on how good they look. Yet even the closest of co-workers or friends can rarely guess that any surgery was done to achieve that refreshed, youthful look. You can look as young as you feel and be discreet at the same time. Furthermore, with our techniques, you can be back to work or in the public eye in as little as one week after surgery.
FAQ
Does it hurt?
Surprisingly, there is very little pain associated with a facelift surgery. In fact, Dr. Hendrick has frequently performed the surgery under local anesthesia only (although light sedation anesthesia is recommended). After surgery most patients will feel the need to take pain medications for only a day or two, if at all. Of course, everyone’s perception of pain and pain threshold is different, so your exact experience may be difficult to predict. The vast majority of patients however, do not believe that pain was a significant part of their facelift experience.
Will I look “lifted” or odd - will people know I had something done?
All facelift techniques are not alike. We have all seen the movie stars that have had extensive plastic surgery and can easily tell that they have been lifted. We specialize in facelift techniques that give very natural looking results. You can expect compliments, but it is unusual for even the closest of associates to guess you had surgery. Our goal isn’t to make you look a whole generation younger (as it is for many celebrities) but rather to look really good for your age.
How long before I can go back to work?
Most patients return to work once the visible sutures are removed at one week. There will usually be some minor swelling and bruising still present, but these are usually hidden quite well by a little makeup and hairstyling. Final healing takes several weeks to be complete.
How long will the results last?
The results are permanent. Once the excess skin has been removed it will not grow back, so you will have a permanent benefit from the surgery. If you had a twin and you had the surgery and your twin did not, you would always look seven to ten years better than your twin. However, you would both continue to age and have age-related changes occur to your face and neck. For this reason, some patients will choose to have a “tuck up” procedure after seven to ten years to update their initial result.
Post-op Instructions
FACE, NECK AND/OR BROW LIFT POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
Please read and become familiar with these instructions BEFORE and AFTER surgery. By following these instructions carefully, you will assist in obtaining the best possible result from your surgery.
1. You will leave the operating room with a turban-type of pressure dressing in place. This is to remain in place until I remove it the following day. This will be replaced by a second, lighter dressing, which should be worn for one more day. If your first dressing becomes too uncomfortable, report it to us, but please do not remove or loosen this dressing without our direction.
2. Once your second dressing has been removed the second day after surgery, you should gently clean the incision lines twice a day using Q-tips and mild soap and water. After each cleaning, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment over the incision lines to minimize crusting and improve healing. Do NOT apply vitamin E or any other ointments or medications unless we prescribe it! Dried blood or hard crusts can be removed using hydrogen peroxide mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio.
3. On the second day after surgery (after your second dressing has been removed) you may gently shampoo your hair; however, do not blow dry for 5 days and postpone any hair coloring or permanent waves for 4 weeks. Avoid strong combing or brushing of the hair near the incisions and around the ears for 2 weeks. Antibiotic ointment in the hair left over from surgery can be easily removed by adding about a tablespoon of baking soda to any clarifying shampoo.
4. You may be up and about the day after surgery, but expect some fatigue and weakness for 2 to 3 days after surgery. This “hangover” like period is a normal reaction of the body to anesthesia, pain medications and the surgical procedure. Insomnia and even depression can occur for the same reasons immediately after surgery. Please realize that these symptoms are not abnormal, are invariably temporary and will resolve within a few days without medications.
5. Some of your sutures will be removed in my office around 6 to 7 days after surgery. The remaining sutures and staples will be removed 7 to 10 days after surgery. This is a painless procedure, so don’t be concerned!
6. Use good common sense in restricting your normal activities during the first 14 days after your operation. Most persons will wait to resume work or social activities for at least this period of time. Any activity requiring heavy lifting or straining should be absolutely avoided! If you feel that you need to take a laxative to avoid straining in the bathroom, use one that you are accustomed to taking. All but the lightest of exercises should be avoided during the first 2 to 3 weeks.
7. Light walking can begin after 3 days. Light exercise (easy biking, slow jogging, golf) can be resumed after 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise and sports (aggressive skiing, running, mountain biking) should not be undertaken for 6 weeks.
8. When you move, stand or change positions, do so gently and carefully for the first 7 days. In turning your head, move the head and shoulders deliberately as a single unit (like a robot). Be particularly careful with pullover clothing so as not to injure the surgical areas. Exercise moderation in the amount of talking and smiling you do during this initial week of healing.
9. You may eat a normal diet the day following surgery. Select foods which are easily chewed. Observation of a low-salt diet will help reduce postoperative swelling significantly.
10. For the first 2 weeks after surgery, sleep on your back or side with your head elevated on at least 2 pillows. Keeping your head higher than your heart will help resolve swelling as early as possible. Do not sleep face down on your stomach.
11. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 2 weeks after surgery (and preferably 1 month)
12. DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS (such as MOTRIN or ADVIL) or take any products containing these blood thinning compounds for 14 days after surgery! Other routinely taken medications may be taken as necessary.
13. Any unexplained development of pain, facial swelling or fever should be reported to us immediately.
14. Some swelling and bruising of the face, neck, and/or forehead and brow is normal and unavoidable after lifts. The degree of this will vary widely from patient to patient, depending on each individual’s unique tissue type and healing characteristics. Do not be concerned if you have more or less than others who have undergone the “same” operation. Although complete resolution of all swelling can take weeks, generally most patients appear quite socially acceptable within 10 to 14 days after surgery. Any bruising that occurs usually clears within the first 2 weeks.
15. Do not apply makeup to your incision lines until 7 days after surgery (once the sutures are removed). Prior to this, any makeup applied should be kept well clear of the healing incisions.
16. It is normal following a face, neck, or brow lift to have some numbness around incisions and the lifted portions of the face. This can last from several weeks up to 6 months and will usually return to normal as healing progresses. Some residual permanent numbness is a risk of any lift surgery, but uncommon. Avoid prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures. Be careful when using a hot blow dryer.
17. Healing incisions appear deep pink in color and have varying amounts of swelling and firmness around them. With the passage of time, the pink should become white and the firmness of the tissues will become soft and pliable. In the meantime, you can easily hide your incision lines with hair styling and makeup.
18. You should protect your incision lines and newly positioned tissues from excessive sunlight or tanning booth exposure. UV light tends to make scars more pink or red, which can take months to fade! Use sunscreens with a rating of at least 30 while outdoors.
Careful observation of these instructions will help ensure that your recovery is smooth, your surgical result optimal and your overall experience positive. We very much appreciate your confidence in allowing us to help you achieve your aesthetic surgical goals. If you should have any questions or concerns during your recovery, do not hesitate to call my office at 785-309-0900 or 1-866-760-0900.
“Thanks for all you guys did for me! You’re the greatest!” --M.P., Body Liposuction
