Face Lift

• To tighten sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck.
• To remove excess skin and fat on the neck.
• To lift sagging jaw line.
• To lift “jowls”
• To lift the cheeks and fill hollowness under the eyes.
• To soften and alleviate crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin.

Dr. Rayham performs Face Lift procedures in his offices or hospital setting in Manhattan/NYC, Brooklyn or Staten Island, New York. This procedure generally lasts from one to five hours. Depending upon the complexity of the operation it could be done either under local anesthesia with twilight sedation or a general anesthesia.

Incisions are usually placed just inside the hairline or in front of the temple hairline, following the contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe. If substantial neck tightening is to be performed, incision is continued to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp. Tissue and fat deposits are separated. Liposuction techniques may assist with removal of fat deposits. Underlying tissues are tightened with sutures and sometimes partially removed. The skin is stretched and tightened, and any excess skin is removed. If the neck line requires attention, an additional incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again followed. Small drains sometimes can be placed and removed the following morning. Small stitches are used to close the incisions. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline.

Upon completion of the operation bandages are placed around the face and neck areas. The next day, dressings are removed. Generally, post-operative instructions recommend rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery process. The stitches, clips or staples are normally removed within a week, although, sometimes the sutures placed during the operation are absorbable by your body and don’t need to be removed at all. The amount of swelling that you may get is variable, but you can resume most normal activities within a week and should show very few signs of your procedure by three weeks. Although some minor pain is usually associated with immediate postoperative period, it can be effectively treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given after the procedure. Dr. Rayham encourages his patients to refrain from smoking for several weeks before and after the surgery. Also, if you wear glasses, we will show you how to position and tape them in such a way to prevent undue pressure that may negatively influence your healing process.

If you live in New York or nearby, you can either go home the day of your facelift procedure or stay overnight in the hospital, depending on the extent of your operation and your overall health status. Our out of town patients normally stay in New York, either in the hospital or in a hotel, overnight and can be driven home or fly home the next day following their postoperative check-up with Dr. Rayham.