FACELIFT THE BEST FRIEND GUIDE
ABOUT PHILLIP LANGSDON, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Langsdon obtained his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he was awarded The Medical Student Research Fellowship, The March of Dimes Medical Student Research Fellowship, and The Summer Oncology Fellowship. He was named the Barton Scholar upon graduation. He first trained in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Indiana University; then he underwent advanced training in a year long Fellowship devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery of the face at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Langsdon’s private practice has been limited to Facial Plastic Surgery for over twentyfive years. He is a tenured Professor at the University of Tennessee and Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery. He has authored several medical articles, book chapters, and a medical textbook. He has given over 100 medical lectures on topics related to plastic surgery of the face. He has appeared nationally on The Today Show, Headline News (worldwide), CSPAN, and has been quoted in national publications. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Doctors in America list by Woodward/White, Inc. Dr. Langsdon is also listed in the Guide to Americas’ Top Physicians by Consumer’s Research Council of America.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR
FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON Take your time thinking about which plastic surgeon you would like to perform your facelift. Look into following about your facial plastic surgeon before your consultation: • • • • •
Facial plastic surgery specialty Facial plastic surgery board-certification Years of experience and training Hospital privileges Surgical facility and accreditation by national or state agency
Ask for referrals from friends and family, research plastic surgeons in your area, and contact the following professional organizations: • • •
American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) American College of Surgeons (FACS) Fellowship Trained
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR CONSULTATION A consultation for a facelift includes a discussion of how you would like your face to look as well as your concerns about the procedure. Approach your facial plastic surgeon with the following questions and evaluate his/her bedside manner: • • • • • • • • • • •
Are you certified by the American Board Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery? Were you specifically trained in the field of facial plastic surgery? How many years of facial plastic surgery training have you had? Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals? Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it statelicensed or Medicare-certified? Am I a good candidate for this procedure? What will be expected of me to get the best results? Where and how will you perform my procedure? What surgical technique is recommended for me? How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? What are the risks and complications associated with a facelift? How are complications handled? How can I expect my face to look over time?
INTRODUCTION
FACELIFT Facelift surgery is an accepted treatment that can help both men and women regain a more youthful appearance. The out-of-date attitude of belittling cosmetic surgery has been replaced with the knowledge that there is a way to help us improve some of the signs of aging. At The Langsdon Clinic, we strive to reverse the signs of aging while preserving the “natural appearance.” A facelift (Rhytidectomy) procedure is designed to reduce sagging caused by loose skin and muscles and drooping, fatty tissues of the face and upper neck. The operation is done to treat the relatively early signs of aging or to improve the advanced signs in older patients. If the sagging is significant, the results of surgery may be more dramatic. In younger patients, the results may be more subtle; they may simply “look less tired.”
FACELIFT AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT The following areas can be treated by a facelift procedure: • • •
Lower face Jowls Upper neck
Other procedures may be recommended to improve the eyelids, eyebrows, forehead, or mid cheek. Wrinkles cannot be “pulled out” with a face-lift, and areas of facial deflation (the groove between the eyes and upper cheek, the folds along the sides of the mouth, cheek depressions) cannot be eradicated with a facelift. In patients with thick or fatty cheeks and neck, the tissues may not be as mobile and the contouring obtained may be somewhat less than that obtained in a patient with thin tissues.
THE ALTERNATIVE
MID-FACE LIFT A mid-face lift treats the sagging of the upper cheeks and the surrounding area. The traditional facelift may fully improve the upper cheek and lower eyelid areas of the face, which often sink in, or flatten, and sag with age.
A mid-face lift elevates the upper cheek, improving fullness to the area below the eyes and upper cheeks, helping restore a refreshed fullness, more like that found in younger people. A mid-face lift is quicker than a traditional facelift. It can enhance the cheek bone area and improve the smile lines.
THE ALTERNATIVE
DAYLIFT The DayLift is an innovative technique designed to improve sagging cheeks and jowls. It may remove years from one’s appearance during a single, one-hour procedure. The DayLift is a true lift that supports the skin, connective tissue, and muscles instead of only tightening the facial skin. The DayLift provides naturalappearing results with less bruising and swelling than more extensive procedures. General Anesthesia is not needed and most patients return to light activities much sooner than with a full-lower facelift. Although the results can sometimes be dramatic, the DayLift cannot produce the results of a more extensive facelift. It cannot remove asymmetries, wrinkles, or stop the aging process. It cannot improve an extensively sagging or fatty neck. Dr. Langsdon developed the DayLift for the patient who needs only minimal improvement of the cheeks and jowls or who might not want a full-lower facelift.
THE PREPARATION
FACELIFT Preoperatively, medications are given to begin relaxation and help minimize swelling and bruising. The procedure is usually performed at the clinic’s outpatient surgical center. “Twilight” sedation is used and is supplemented by local anesthesia. Most patients have no discomfort during the procedure. The face is divided into several areas of concern: the neck, the lower cheekjowl, the upper cheek, eyelids, and the forehead. The facelift deals with the lower cheek-jowl and neck. It does not treat the forehead, eyelids, or cheekbone areas. Normally, we do not shave the hair in preparation for the procedure. Not having to wait for hair to re-grow makes it easier to camouflage postoperative healing.
FACELIFT THE PROCEDURE The incision for the lower cheek-jowl-neck operation begins in the temple hair and extends down just in front of the ear, around the ear lobe, up behind the ear, and then backward along the hairline. Through this incision, the skin is elevated out into the cheeks, and neck. The underlying muscle and connective tissues are raised and repositioned with sutures to help support these underlying facial structures of the cheek-jowl and upper neck. Excess skin is then removed. A small incision is usually placed in a crease under the chin. Through this incision, fatty accumulation in the upper neck may be improved and the muscles may be tightened. The skin edges are secured with absorbable sutures in front of the ear and under the chin; and small skin clips may be used for the incisions along the hairline.
THE RECOVERY
FACELIFT During your facelift recovery, a bandage might be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising once your procedure is completed. Thin tubes may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect under the skin. You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
POTENTIAL
RISKS The decision to have a facelift is extremely personal, and the following potential risks and complications should be taken into consideration: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Anesthesia risks Bleeding Infection Poor wound healing and skin loss Facial nerve injury with weakness Temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions Fluid accumulation Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Persistent pain Unfavorable scarring Prolonged swelling Skin irregularities and discoloration Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
BEFORE & AFTER PHOTO GALLERY
These are real images of our past patients, so you can see the satisfactory results of facelifts done by Dr. Langsdon. Consider them a helpful tool that enables you to visualize the end product of the procedure. If you are interested in viewing more and finding something similar to your desired face, please view our Facelift Photo Gallery.
OTHER HELPFUL
RESOURCES Your journey is only beginning. If you’re interested in doing more research, please visit the websites listed below. These resources will help you connect with the plastic surgery community, so you can learn more and ask more questions about facelifts. • • •
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery www.abfprs.org The Langsdon Clinic www.drlangsdon.com American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery www.aafprs.org