Tyler Plastic Surgery

Dr. James R. Motlagh, MD

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
700 Olympic Plaza Circle, Suite 420 | Tyler, Texas 75701 | 903-526-2500

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700 Olympic Plaza Circle,
Suite 420
Tyler, Texas 75701
903-526-2500

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Our Friendly Staff

Facelift

Facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a popular surgical procedure that many patients agree can make you look 10 years younger by significantly reducing the signs of aging in your face and neck.

About Facelift


The Best Facelift Candidates

Considering facelift surgery

Facelift surgery is generally recommended to physically and mentally healthy, non-smoking adult men and women whose faces are marked by significant signs of aging, including:

  • Moderate to severely sagging skin
  • Deep wrinkles and facial creases
  • Jowls

For patients who just have isolated facial areas affected by sagging skin or static deep wrinkles, one or more of the following procedures may be recommended:

  • Lower facelift
  • Cheek lift or mid-facelift
  • Forehead lift or brow lift

Although a facelift won't actually slow the aging process, it can rejuvenate your entire face to reduce the signs of aging and keep you looking more youthful and rested. Facelift surgery also won't improve facial volume loss, so if you have hollow cheeks or temples and need to restore volume to your face, fat grafting or injectable fillers may be recommended in conjunction with your facelift.

Even though there are no non-surgical treatments that can offer dramatic facelift results, non-surgical facial rejuvenation involving laser treatments and injectables are great preventative measures that can help prolong your need for a facelift or enhance facelift results.

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Facelift Surgery

What to expect during the facelift procedure

During a traditional facelift procedure, you will be under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation.

The location of your facelift incisions depends on the surgical technique chosen by you and Dr. Motlagh to address your unique concerns and meet your aesthetic goals. Typical incisions for a traditional facelift are slightly behind the hairline and run from temple to temple and around the ears. Some facelift techniques do not require that the hairline incision run the full length of your scalp; instead, a few small, individual incisions can be made along the hairline.

Your skin is pulled back so that underlying tissues and muscle can be tightened, and loose, excess skin is then trimmed away. Your skin is repositioned and sutures or skin adhesives are used to close the incisions.

Facelift and lower facelift procedures are often combined with neck lift surgery in order to smooth facial contours that extend under the chin and into the neck and remove excess skin from this area. A neck lift involves a small incision under the chin. Facelift and forehead lift surgery may also be combined with eyelid surgery for additional facial rejuvenation.

Neck Lift

NeckLift, Outline Necklift, Final


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Facelift vs. Mini Facelift

Comparing traditional facelift and mini facelift

The primary difference between facelift and mini facelift, or limited incision facelift, procedures is that mini facelifts require mini scars in exchange for less dramatic results. Mini facelifts are generally most appropriate for younger patients who do not yet have significant facial sagging or jowls and have less pronounced facial creases.

Traditional Facelift

Traditional Facelift, Outline Traditional Facelift, Final

Limited Incision or Mini Facelift

Limited Incision, Outline Limited Incision, Final

There are many brand name mini lifts being marketed today, but most of them over-promise and under-deliver. Instead of buying a particular facelift technique, consult with a highly skilled Tyler facelift surgeon. Dr. Motlagh will use his substantial plastic surgery knowledge and many years of experience to recommend the facelift or mini lift technique that will produce optimal results for you.

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Facelift Risks

Potential facelift complications

Before you decide to pursue facelift surgery, Dr. Motlagh will discuss all of the inherent risks of plastic surgery and the complications that can occur following a facelift, no matter how uncommon. Potential facelift risks may include:

  • Bleeding (hematoma)
  • Infection
  • Poor wound healing and scarring
  • Correctable hair loss at incision sites
  • Nerve injury and facial weakness
  • Skin loss
  • Fatty tissue death (fat necrosis)
  • Fluid accumulation (seroma)
  • Puckering, uneveness or asymmetry
  • Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
  • Need for revision surgery

It is important to note that serious complications after facelift surgery are rare, however any difficulty breathing, chest pain, prolonged numbness or weakness or any other significant facelift side effect should be reported to Dr. Motlagh so that he may address it immediately.

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Facelift Recovery

Healing after your facelift

Your face will be bandaged and possibly placed in a surgical recovery garment or strap to reduce bruising and swelling. Drains may be necessary for a few days but should not need to remain long.

Normal daily activities including work may be resumed within one week of facelift surgery. Temporary bruising and swelling should be mostly resolved within 1-2 weeks, and makeup may be worn to cover residual bruising within this same time frame. Heavy lifting and vigorous exercise should be avoided for at least three weeks after facelift.

Final facelift results are visible within nine months to a year after surgery, and at this time residual numbness should resolve.

Avoid the sun and use any recommended surgical scar care products such as silicone sheets or Mederma to encourage wound healing and minimize facelift scars.

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Facelift Terms

  • General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
  • Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
  • Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
  • Jowls: A jaw line that sags into the neck, usually caused by loss of muscle tone in the lower face.
  • Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
  • Rhytidectomy: A surgical procedure also known as facelift, to reduce sagging of the mid-face, jowls and neck.

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