An experienced board-certified cosmetic surgeon and previous faculty member at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Craig obtained her plastic surgery training at Yale and during a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Craig has sought individualized training from renowned facelift surgeon Dr. Timothy J. Marten, adopting his innovative fat grafting approach to a traditional facelift for more natural and effective results.
What is a Facelift?
Most people have a general idea of what a facelift is, but many do not thoroughly understand what a facelift entails. The term “facelift” suggests that the procedure raises everything on your face that gravity has pulled down – and viola’, you look younger. In fact, a facelift is a much more sophisticated surgery that produces natural-looking and beautiful results using a variety of advanced techniques. A traditional facelift usually begins with your surgeon making an incision in your hairline, near the temples that follows around the earlobe, ending at your lower scalp. Your surgeon then removes and redistributes fat while tightening the underlying muscle and tissue to create distinct contours for a more youthful appearance. Finally, the skin is redraped over the newly sculpted features, and the excess skin is removed, smoothing away wrinkles.
A facelift restores your appearance by:
- Tightening muscles and tissue
- Contouring and removing excess skin
- Eliminating and/or repositioning fat deposits
- Smoothing away marionette lines
This procedure is most common for patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who want to recapture their youthful appearance after non-surgical facial rejuvenation has not been able to achieve the desired aesthetic results.
What is a Neck Lift?
A neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, addresses the effects of aging in the neck and jawline. A typical neck lift surgery uses methods similar to a facelift. The surgery begins with the same incision used during a facelift. Fat is contoured and redistributed from the neck and jowls. Dr. Fusi or Dr. Craig will then address the tissue beneath the skin and usually, the platysma muscle, which causes vertical roping, is tightened. The skin is carefully draped back over the neck, and any excess skin is excised.
A neck lift contours your neck for a smoother and younger appearance free of:
- Loose, sagging skin that lacks
- Thin skin that has a creepy
- Jowling and fat deposits under the chin.
- Muscle
Dr. Fusi and Dr. Craig often perform a facelift and neck lift simultaneously to restore symmetry to the entire face and neck proportionally.
Do I Need a Facelift?
Like many people born between the 1940’s and the 1970’s, you’ve gathered a treasure trove of memories and experiences that you would not trade. The frustrating reality for people who are enjoying life, have active lifestyles, eat well, and most importantly – do not feel they are truly aging, is that their faces cannot escape the effects of aging. A gradual process slowly transforms the once taut skin with finely contoured angles of youth into something far different. The questions you may want to ask yourself are, “Am I tired of looking tired?” Or, “Do I have to look older than my age?” Only you can decide if a facelift is right for you, but if you do want to know more – and if you would only consider a procedure of this nature with a superbly trained and proven surgeon who will appreciate your specific interests and desires, you should feel encouraged to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fusi or Dr. Craig.
Do I Need a Neck Lift?
It is said that the neck is like a second face because when we look at others – even casually glancing, we immediately and instinctively notice distinguishing features on both their faces and necks. Unconsciously we approximate a person’s age by how smooth their skin looks. Because the skin on your neck is naturally thinner than your facial skin, it shows signs of aging sooner. When neck lift patients are in their teens, 20’s, and usually into their 30’s, their necks do not show any noticeable changes. As time goes by, many aesthetically unpleasant changes start happening that many people try to correct with procedures that are non-invasive such as injectables and laser treatments. Slathering on expensive moisturizers and makeup advertised to “reverse the signs of aging,” is common, but does not prevent the inevitable. Ultimately, as with every elective cosmetic procedure, it is up to you to decide if you would like to consult with an expert on the benefits of a neck lift. If you have grown weary of the appearance of your aging neck and are ready for a change, please consider taking the initiative and schedule a consultation with our Dr. Fusi or Dr. Craig today to discuss what options may work best for you.
What Will Happen During My Consultation?
A consultation involves a one-on-one conversation with either Dr. Fusi or Dr. Craig outlining your specific concerns and goals. During your consultation, our doctors will:
- Thoroughly examine your face and neck
- Review your medical history
- Listen to your concerns and questions regarding surgery
- Discuss the benefits, cost, and related risks associated with any procedures
After your consultation, Dr. Fusi and Dr. Craig we invite and encourage any additional questions you have regarding surgery to ensure you are able to fully prepare for a procedure.
During the Procedure
On the day of a procedure, patients will meet with our doctors at an outpatient surgical center. A trained anesthesiologist will administer either sedation or general anesthesia to maintain your comfort throughout surgery. At this time, Dr. Fusi or Dr. Craig will undertake the procedure and:
- Make an incision at your hairline and around your earlobes, at times patients may also require an incision under the chin for a neck lift.
- Reposition muscles, tightening them to smooth wrinkles and lines. Any excess skin and fat will be removed or repositioned to improve contour.
- Close the incision so that it is hidden in the hairline or creases of the neck and ear.
- Frequently, fat grafting is used to reestablish fullness in areas of the face that have lost volume due to fat migration and the disappearance of fat throughout the years.
After surgery, you will rest comfortably in the recovery room until the effects of anesthesia wear off and a friend or loved one can take you home for further recovery.
How Long Will Recovery Take?
Recovery generally takes 10-14 days for the initial phase of healing. Common symptoms in the first few weeks may include:
- Tightness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
Our doctors will prescribe pain medication and recommend different ways to relieve discomfort as you heal. A follow-up exam will be scheduled a few days after the procedure to remove drains and bandages. During this exam, Dr. Fusi or Craig will review how to care for your body and your facelift.
Results
Patients seen by Dr. Craig in Houston or Dr. Fusi in Guilford who undergo a facelift and neck lift can expect to appear a decade or so younger. This revitalized appearance is due to:
- Improved facial contour and skin tone
- Diminished lines, wrinkles, and creases
- Repositioning of fat deposits and volume restoration to the face
To maintain the results of your facelift and neck lift, our doctors recommend protecting yourself from sun damage by wearing a high SPF and following a simple skincare regimen.
To learn more schedule a consultation with Dr. Fusi and Dr. Craig, please call our office in Houston at (713) 346-9909.