Rockville Facelift doctors
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Michael Vincent, MD
Rockville Plastic Surgeon
9715 Medical Center Dr Suite 315, Rockville |
8 answers | |
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Rondi Kathleen Walker, MD
Washington Plastic Surgeon
3301 New Mexico Avenue, N.W. Foxhall Square, Suite 252, Washington |
2 answers | |
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Nia Banks, MD, PhD
Washington DC Plastic Surgeon
8116 Good Luck Road Suite 215, Lanham |
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Eric Chang, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
8860 Columbia 100 Parkway Suite 206, Columbia |
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Adam Tattelbaum, MD
Washington DC Plastic Surgeon
3203 Tower Oaks Blvd 2nd Fl, Rockville |
Recent Answers
I've had both upper and lower eye lid surgery, arm reduction and a tummy tuck. I am a smoker and am 51 years old. I've healed fine in all cases. Why can't I have a neck or facelift?
It is possible for you to have a facelift if you smoke. Your excellent recovery from your previous surgeries is a positive sign.
Smoking decreases the blood supply to the skin by constricting the vessels, and this makes the healing time longer and also increases your chances for skin loss. Many surgeons will not perform a facelift on a patient who smokes for these reasons. I will perform the face and neck lift but I do much less skin undermining and tightening. The patient also understands that they are at increased risk.
I am worried about how the skin can be pulled up in a facelift (back to the cheek area), and then after the underlying work, it is redraped and tightened, so how does the skin "reattach", and what is the protection for not taking too much skin so the mouth doesn't close, etc.
During a "facelift" procdure the underlying tissues are "injured" in a controlled fashioned, as the platysma and deeper tissues are tightened. The overlying skin has been surgically lifted off these tissues also creating a "controlled injury". The body then heals these area by laying down sheets of collagen - which are the bodies own natural glue. The collagen is smooth, and provides the facial skin a new smooth not overly tight look.
How much time off is normal for a mini face lift?
The average time for recovery of a "mini" facelift averages 7-10 days. Most patients can cover any bruising with makeup and hairstyling by the end of that period. However, it is always better to allow more time for your recovery, just to play it safe. If you have a history of easy bruising, you might want to add an extra week to your recovery. Remember that these are always estimates. Some patients have very little bruising, and return to work more quickly, but some patients will take longer. Best wishes.
Michael Vincent, MD, FACS
