How long is the lower facelift recovery & is there a type of person/skin that are more likely to have problems? (Photos)

Your questions are truly on the mark of what most prospective patient ask me. 1) There is physical recovery (no bending or lifting for about 2 weeks), and psychological recovery. By this, I mean when you feel comfortable with the postoperative changes. I have seen patients completely trust the process and be happy throughout recovery, and I have seen patients who look great at 2 months post-op, but still feel self conscious. That is why it's so important to choose the correct Surgeon with the right team to help your through your recovery. 2) In an experienced Facelift Surgeons hands, scars should be inconspicuous. In fact, although this is usually a preop concern for patients, it is rarely discussed by my patients after surgery. The reason: meticulous incision planning and tension free closure. 3) This is a difficult but necessary process. The change in routine is what most patients find the most difficult. My advice: have a supportive care giver. I have seen spouses/partners needlessly make the recovery process more difficult than it has to be. 4) Yes.... three groups: smokers, people who don't follow directions, and patients who decide to go on a diet and subsequently heal slowly. 5) Platsymaplasty is an integral part of a deep plane facelift and I agree with your Surgeon.

Based on these photos, you seem to be a good candidate for lower face and neck lift. We frequently perform periorbital augmentation with fat grafts as a part of facial rejuvenation and volume replacement. Upper and lower eyelid surgery can also be performed in the same time. Recovery is within 2 weeks; smokers and marijuana users are at slightly higher risks for complications. Hope this helps.

In my experience, scarring and looking natural are the two biggest concerns for women, and they’re going facelift procedures in terms of scarring patients with Fitzpatrick type one two and three skin generally feel very well. The face lift incisions should not be placed under undo tension. Skies will be red and raised at first But should fade to find white lines overtime. I think you are a good candidate for a facelift.

1. Recovery times can vary, but generally, patients may experience initial recovery within a week, with full recovery taking a few weeks to months.

2. Scarring depends on the individual and the specific procedure. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon, and they can provide details about scarring in different areas.

3. Handling time alone and restrictions on exercise during recovery can be challenging. Engaging in activities like reading, watching movies, or pursuing hobbies can help pass the time.

4. Skin type and individual health factors can influence recovery. It's essential to follow your surgeon's post-operative care instructions to minimize potential problems.

5. Platysmaplasty, often performed for neck rejuvenation, is a separate procedure. Consult with your surgeon to understand the benefits, risks, and whether it's suitable for your specific case.

Best of luck !

In our practice, we place drains underneath the skin and the neck for the first two days to minimize bruising swelling due to the fact that the blood is not trapped underneath the skin. The goal of a lower face and neck lift is to tighten loose facial and neck skin, tighten loose facial and neck muscles, lift the jowls, and remove fat deposits in the neck, which also includes a platysma plasty to significantly improve the jawline. Most patients are able to return to their social activities in about 10 days after the procedure. The incisions are placed in front and behind the ears. We also do not recommend any exercise for the first two weeks after the surgery. Carefully study your prospective surgeon's facelift photo gallery, especially the after photos to see how well the incisions have healed in the sideburn area

The previous boarded responding plastic surgeon answered your questions. But you should ONLY follow your chosen surgeons instructions. Btw I would recommend mini face/neck lift with SMAS plication. Fee from $8,000. Good Luck

Maybe you should have a second follow up consultation with your plastic surgeon. It seems like your provider left you with a lot of questions.
Fair skinned people who have a history of forgiving scars tend to do best and those who form hypertrophic, scars or severe hyperpigmentation tend to not be good candidates for surgeries that involve long skin incisions that can be visible. The most important variable is provider selection.
Patient candidacy, and provider selection are the two single most important variables when it comes to quality cosmetic surgery outcomes. I see nothing wrong with your candidacy for having a facelift. That leaves provider selection as the single most important variable that is going to determine if you have a good outcome.
to find the right provider I suggest patient schedule multiple in person consultations with senior providers who seem to have a lot of experience with this procedure.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before and after pictures of previous patients, who had similar body or facial characteristics to your own.
It’s a good idea to bring a set standard facial pictures with you to use as reference when reviewing before and after pictures. Take a look at how plastic surgeons take before and after pictures to get an idea. Basically mugshots without facial expression.
An experienced provider should have no difficulty showing you the before, and after pictures of at least 50 previous patients.
Being shown a handful of pre-selected images, representing only the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider, what your results are likely to look like or how many of these procedures they’ve actually done.
There’s no correct number of consultations needed to find the best provider. The more consultations you have the more likely you are to find the best provider for your needs. Considering the implications of having a good or bad outcome, I suggest patience consider having at least five consultations before considering permanent irreversible Facial surgery. Being board-certified in plastic surgery with years of experience does not mean somebody is mastered anyone single procedure, especially not facial aesthetic operations.
In the hands of the right provider, they should walk you through the classes with ease and comfort.
Quality providers should be detail oriented during both surgery and consultations.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD