Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology

Home Plastic Surgery Face Facelift Surgery

Facelift Surgery

Facelift Surgery

What is a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is ideal for men and women who wish to improve visible signs of aging in their face and neck. Depending on your anatomy and desired result, Niki Christopoulos MD, FACS will discuss with you the best options to restore a smooth neck contour, remove excess skin, define the jaw angle and create a more youthful and natural appearance. Oftentimes, rejuvenation of the neck and face can be combined with a brow lift and eyelid surgery to restore a more youthful, rested, and energized appearance.

Am I a Good Candidate For a Facelift?

Ideal Candidates for a facelift are patients who have:

  • Sagging skin on the face, neck, and/or jowls
  • Deep wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth
  • Volume loss

Dr. Niki Christopoulos’ Approach To Facelift Procedure

In most cases, the skin is lifted off the underlying muscle and connective tissue. The underlying muscles and drooping tissues of the face and neck are repositioned, and the excess skin is artfully redraped and removed. Facial fat grafting is often added to a facelift procedure to further improve your results and give you the refreshed look of youth.

traditional facelift incision begins in the temple hairline and wraps around the ear ending in the lower scalp. There is no need to shave any hair prior to surgery. A mini facelift incision usually begins at the beginning of the ear and extends around to the underside of the lobe. If a neck lift is also preformed, a small incision is hidden under the chin. Incisions are planned with great care to insure the most discrete look.

Dr. Christopoulos is a double-board certified plastic surgeon and performs her surgeries in a fully accredited outpatient surgical facility. Anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist using either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia for your comfort and safety during the procedure. The procedure can take anywhere from 1-3 hours, although more complicated procedures may take longer.

Facelift Recovery and Results

After your facelift procedure, Dr. Christopoulos will wrap your incisions in bandages. Sometimes small drainage tubes are placed which are removed the next day and sutures are removed within one week. It is normal to expect some bruising, swelling and numbness. You will see ideal results as your swelling and bruising subside. Most patients can resume normal daily activities after 10 days. 

Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Christopoulos to discuss further any questions you may have and to determine if a facelift is the correct procedure for you.

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