Dr. Holden is a Facelift Specialist in Scottsdale, AZ

"I don't want to look like __________ ..."  Fill in the name of the latest celebrity who looks like they have overdone cosmetic facial surgery.  That is the natural feeling from most people at even the mention of the word "facelift."  The good news is that I don't want you to look like those celebrities, either.

It has been my philosophy and practice since I first began to perform facial cosmetic surgery that all of my results look NATURAL and function normally.  Believe it or not, patients have actually approached me for a more "operated" look because it is socially acceptable in their circles.  I respectfully decline these cases.

A facelift, just like any other cosmetic facial procedure, needs to be customized to an individual patient's goals and needs.  Generally speaking, the facelift addresses extra skin in the neck, deepening facial lines like those around the mouth, and drooping cheeks or "jowls."

The incisions are hidden and therefore there are no visible scars.  Probably one of the greatest misconceptions about the facelift operation is that it is painful.  In fact, most patients go through the whole procedure not requiring even one pain pill other than acetaminophen.

The Facelift

The main differences between a mini-facelift and the complete Facelift is the treatment of the neck and amount of dissection to raise the cheeks and jowls.  In patients with excess fat under the chin or on the neck, visible muscle bands in the neck, more volume loss on the cheeks or a lot of extra neck and jowl skin, the Facelift will give excellent, long-lasting results.  This operation offers a much more dramatic treatment of the neckline and jawline, and greatly improves the cheeks and softens facial lines, especially around the mouth.  The jowls are usually eliminated, and the greatest improvement in terms of rejuvenation can be achieved with the Facelift operation.

The results from this operation last a lifetime, although the aging process will continue.  With proper solar protection, diet and avoiding tobacco, the firming lift that patients enjoy will last 10-15 years.  Of course, in patients who already have loss of skin elasticity or those who do not observe solar protection and tobacco precautions, this duration is less.

This operation is more extensive, and can be performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia (which is most commonly employed).  The operation takes approximately 3-4 hours and is often combined with other facial cosmetic procedures.  This operation is almost always done WITHOUT DRAINS, however, in about 15% of patients, two small drains are in place overnight as well as a soft dressing around the face.  The dressing (and drains if present) are removed with almost no discomfort the following morning.

The recovery time for a facelift is about 10-14 days.  Most patients can return to work with makeup after 10 days, however, I tell most of my patient to make sure they have at least 2 weeks free for recovery.  The recovery is virtually painless - it is common for patients to not even take a single pain pill.

If you are considering a facial procedure to look as young as you feel and improve your neck and jaw line, call my office for a consultation.  My Facelift patients enjoy a youthful improvement that is natural. When you see me, I can even perform computer imaging so you can get a very good idea of how great you will look even before you have surgery.

Mini-Facelift

The mini-facelift is a limited version of a full facelift.  It is considered appropriate for patients who have had a prior facelift or for younger patients looking to lift the cheeks only.  This procedure offers the ability to dramatically improve the jowls and jaw line and lift the lower cheeks with a less invasive procedure.  There is some improvement in the neck with this procedure.  In patients with more "extra" skin in the neck, fat deposits under the chin, or muscle bands in the neck, a full facelift is more appropriate.

The mini-facelift takes about 2 hours and can usually be combined with most other facial cosmetic procedures.  Patients will have a dressing in place overnight and no drains.  The full recovery time for this operation is usually about 7-10 days, but most patients can wash their hair after the first 24 hours.

The mini-facelift is usually done under IV sedation or sometimes under general anesthesia.  Some offices will perform this procedure using local anesthetic only, however, this will take an already limited procedure and make it even more limited.  Under local anesthetic, the patient must still take some oral medication to relax (and therefore cannot drive home), and the operation takes a little longer.  In special cases, I do perform this operation under local anesthetic, depending on the individual patient circumstances.  The cost of local anesthetic and IV sedation are the same while general anesthesia is a little more.

If you are considering a mini-facelift, see me for an expert consultation and computer imaging.  There is no substitute for seeing your results before you actually have surgery.