Insider tips for Facelifts and Mini facelifts in Ann Arbor:

1. Everyone has received information about Lifestyle Lift by now.  Most top plastic surgeons offer a procedure called a mini facelift that has equivalent down time with greater results, and importantly is very close to the same cost.  Visit realself.com for more information on satisfaction for lifestyle lift.

2. This procedure can be done under local anesthetic, like the dentist, but a better option is to use a little sedation to make you sleepy either by a pill or through an I.V.  

3. Ask your doctor about tumescent anesthesia. It is changing the face of plastic surgery.

A Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in michigan is a surgical procedure designed to smooth and firm the skin, providing a fresh, youthful appearance.  There are a variety of procedures but really understanding facelifts boils down to treatment of the face and treatment of the neck. In our practice, we design a custom "mini" procedure for you to address the areas that bother you most and fit your budget.

Reasons for Considering a Facelift in Ann Arbor:

• A saggy neck.
• Jowls.
• Not looking as you feel

General Procedure

The standard procedure for a facelift commonly involves making small incisions just inside the hairline, following the contour in front of the ear, and continuing under the earlobe to the backside of the ear and to the lower scalp.  Tissue and fat deposits are separated, the skin is stretched and tightened, and any excess skin is removed.  If the neck line requires attention, an additional incision is made under the chin and the same procedure is again followed.  Minuscule stitches are used to close the incisions and to reduce any chance of scarring.

A face lift may take anywhere from two to 5 hours.    There are several different facelift techniques that can be employed.  Don't believe the hype of a named procedure designed for marketing like thread lift, lifestyle lift, lunchtime lift.  These are just marketing terms added to traditional mini-facelift techniues. Patients can discuss with their physician which method is best for them when they come in for their consultation.

Recovery Process

One day after surgery we removed your bandage. Sutures are removed six to eight days after surgery. Typically, bruising in not very prevalent in the face due to special tumescent anesthesia techniques.  People who can work from home usually take 2-3 days off.

Selecting a Surgeon:

1. Many people come to our practice who want a little more than a mini-facelift but not quite a full facelift.  In about 80% of our procedures, we can extend the mini lift incision to treat both the face and the neck.

2. Talk to your surgeon about all anesthesia options.  Some of these procedures can be done in the office under local anesthesia (like the dentist's injections), conscious sedation, or full anesthesia.  Often these options allow a facelift procedure to fit into many different budgets.

3. When people think of facelifts, they think of hollywood celebrities and $25,000 price tags. In reality, most procedures range from 5,000 to 10,000 dollars including all fees.

4. Choose a surgeon that specializes in facelift surgery.  Often surgeons with facial plastic surgery backgrounds perform these procedures with added finesse.

5. The skin closure is of utmost importance.  Top surgeons will support your incision with multiple layers of sutures.  In the interest of efficiency, some surgeons may perform a single layer closure which often leads to wider scars.