Salt Lake City Facelifts

Who doesn’t want to look younger? At NuVista Plastic Surgery in Salt Lake City, Utah, we can help people discover that youthful glow that has faded over the years. Facelift surgery, or a rhytidectomy, was developed to restore the skin’s youthful tone and tightness by removing wrinkles and sagging skin. The procedure tightens the facial and neck muscles while removing excess skin.

Desiring a facelift isn’t new, and getting one isn’t something to be ashamed about. As our bodies age, it’s natural for wrinkles to appear and for the skin to sag. For this, we can blame genetics, exposure to the sun, and the passing of time. As we get older, it’s only natural to want to look young again. Dr. Petersen can help the residents of Salt Lake City, Utah look young again.

Facelift

Before Surgery

At your initial consultation, we will evaluate your medical history in order to determine your overall health. Dr. Petersen will discuss with you how your face can look and what you can expect from surgery. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. Your own before and after photographs will reveal what the surgery has accomplished.

Preoperative Instructions: Avoid medication that contains aspirin several weeks prior to surgery to reduce excessive bleeding. You may be required to take antibiotics to prevent future infections. You will be required to stop smoking prior to surgery. You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. A small amount of hair may be shaved around your ears and temples.

The Facelift Procedure

At NuVista Plastic Surgery in Salt Lake City, Dr. Petersen is experienced with facelifts, making the procedure as successful as possible.

Just so patients will know what the procedure is like, here is a brief outline of what goes on during a facelift. Dr. Petersen will make incisions inside the hairline at the temple, in front of the ear, then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Incisions are closed with small sutures.

Post Operative Care

It is necessary to have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Initially, you will have a large dressing wrapped around your head. You may have surgical drains attached to bulbs hanging at your neck. These will usually be removed in approximately 24 hours. Scalp sutures may be removed in 7-10 days.
To reduce scarring, Dr. Petersen may remove the sutures at different times. In most cases, scarring goes away quickly. Patients who experience discoloration and swelling will see a decrease within two weeks. Your face will feel tight for several weeks, but that too will fade away.

We recommend that you avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery. Additionally, you will want to protect the healing scars with sunblock for several months after surgery.

Complications are rare but they can include skin discoloration, numbness, scarring, and infection. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. The chance of complications is higher for smokers, diabetics, previous exposure to large amounts of radiation, and people with an autoimmune condition.

By following pre- and post-operative instructions, you will minimize potential problems.

Recovery: What to Expect

You will want to allow yourself plenty of time to recover after surgery. Plan to be away from work or other social activities for about 10-14 days. In the weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few months to disappear. Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function or sensation. However, actual permanent damage to the facial nerve is rare.

The healing process is gradual, so you will not notice final results for up to 6 months. A single procedure often achieves the desired results.