Facelift Surgery in Reston, VA

A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure used to improve the signs of aging the facial skin. A facelift can tighten sagging facial skin, remove deep wrinkles, lines and creases, eliminate fatty deposits along the jawline (jowls), and also firm the neck area. Facial skin will appear younger, firmer and smoother.

Over the years, the facelift procedure has changed from simple skin lifting that left patients looking like their faces were being pulled back, to more complex deeper plane lifting techniques that lift and reposition the facial features in a much more natural-looking way.

Before                                       After

Before                                       After

Who is a Candidate for a Facelift?

Patients with the following conditions could indicate that facelift surgery is right for you:

• Facial skin is loose and sagging
• The creases below the lower eyelids and around the lower lip and chin are becoming deeper
• A deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth
  Jowls or loss of a well-defined jawline

Facelift Options

Depending on the patient’s individual goals and needs the facelift procedure varies quite a bit. Today, many different techniques exist with outcomes that are consistently reliable and durable. A traditional facelift procedure usually involves the surgeon making an incision in your hairline starting at your temples, continuing down and around the front of your ears and ending behind your ears and may extend in your scalp. An incision might be made under your chin to improve the appearance of your neck. Once the incisions are made, the deeper layers of the face are “lifted” and the excess skin will be trimmed away creating a more youthful natural appearance.

A limited-incision facelift may also be an option for younger patient who have early aging changes. This technique lifts just the lower portion of the face, reducing jowls, nasolabial folds, and a double chin. It provides the benefits of a traditional facelift with fewer incisions and faster healing. Your surgeon will make short incisions in your hairline starting at your temples and continuing down and around the front of your ears. Ask our surgeon if you are a candidate for this procedure.

Recovery

During facelift recovery, it’s common to experience swelling, bruising, and redness as well as some discomfort. You may be required to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling. Over-the-counter pain medication can be used to maintain your comfort as you heal.

Most patients return to work and their normal routines after 1-2 weeks of rest. Dr. Gottlieb will assess your healing during post-op appointments and advise when you can return to exercise or other strenuous activity.