A personal consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons is the first step for anyone considering liposuction. During this meeting, one of our surgeons will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific goals for surgery.

They will explain the body contouring methods that may be most appropriate for you. Suggestions for other procedures may also be discussed. Liposuction is not a treatment for weight loss or a substitute for diet and exercise. It also does not treat cellulite or loose, saggy skin. We will work with you to recommend the procedure that is right for you and will come closest to producing the desired body contour.

Liposuction should be done for you and no one else. Liposuction may be a good option if:

• You are bothered by fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise.
• You are within 30% of your ideal weight.
• You are a non-smoker.
• You do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that could impair healing.
• You have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone.
• You have specific goals and a positive outlook.

The surgery will be performed at one of our accredited,  in-house surgical suites, offering the utmost comfort and privacy. The procedure generally takes about one hour, but can take longer if multiple areas need to be treated. We care for you in the recovery room for one to twohours before you are discharged. Discomfort is typically minimal after liposuction.

Liposuction is performed through a small incision. Sterile liquid solution is first infused to reduce bleeding and trauma, followed by the cannula. The cannula loosens excess fat using a controlled back-and-forth motion and is suctioned out of the body.

Since the liposuction healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several months to get an accurate picture of the results of your surgery. The small incisions used for access of the cannula will fade over a number of months, usually becoming barely visible.

We offer both general anesthesia with Board Certified Anesthesiologists and IV Sedation for our surgical procedures.

 Our goal is to make plastic surgery available to any patient who is qualified. We accept all major credit cards and offer several patient financing options to make the process as easy and affordable as possible. Our plastic surgery financing partners include CareCredit, Alphaeon, Prosper, and CosmetAssure. Contact us to learn more.

A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering a facelift. During this meeting, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific goals for surgery.

If you are overweight and have a realistic desire to lose more than 5 pounds, your weight loss could affect your results. It’s important to discuss this at the time of your consultation.

During your physical evaluation, the doctor will assess your bone structure and the underlying tissues of the face. The thickness, texture and elasticity of your skin and the severity of the wrinkles and folds will also be considered.

Suggestions may be given for other cosmetic procedures that can be performed along with a facelift to meet your appearance goals. For example, a facelift is frequently combined with:

• A forehead lift, to correct lines or furrows in the forehead
• Eyelid surgery, to eliminate drooping upper eyelids or bags beneath the eyes
• Skin treatments, such as laser resurfacing, to minimize fine wrinkles.
• Your own fat transfer to increase hollow cheeks

Your facelift may be performed in our office-based surgical suite, an ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. Some patients prefer to spend one night in the hospital. Most often we use local anesthesia and intravenous sedation (twilight sleep) for facelift procedures. However, for some patients, general anesthesia may be the best choice. The type of anesthetic and location of surgery will be discussed during the consultation.

How long does a Facelift surgery take?

The surgical time varies depending upon what is done; it can be anywhere from 2-4 hours in duration. After surgery you will spend at least 2-3 hours in the recovery area and will then be discharged. We offer private duty nursing care if desired. Details regarding this may be discussed during your consultation.

When surgery is complete, you’ll be taken to a recovery area. A bulky head dressing will be wrapped around your head and neck to help control swelling. Small drainage tubes are placed beneath the skin on both sides of the neck to drain away fluids that might otherwise accumulate. Discomfort is usually minimal, however pain medication prescribed by your surgeon will help to relieve the discomfort.

Facelift Recovery

In this early stage of healing, you should rest with your head elevated to help minimize bruising and swelling. We will see you in the office the day after surgery to remove the head dressing and the drains. An elasticized garment is used in place of the bulky head dressing to help control the swelling. Most patients find this to be comfortable while offering support to the surgical area. You may shower and shampoo after the drains are removed. Sutures will be removed in stages, the first set in 5 days and the remaining sutures in 8-10 days. Most of the swelling and bruising will disappear within two weeks. Specific instructions for care after the surgery will be provided.

If you’re like most people who have the procedure, you’ll be very pleased with your refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. Although the healing may take some time, you can expect the end result to be worth the wait.

A number of factors, including your heredity and your lifestyle, play a role in how long the results of your facelift will last. Even though the aging process continues, patients are very happy with their appearance for many years following a facelift. Some patients find that they want to make additional improvements at a later time.

When the date for your procedure has been set, we will provide you with specific instructions for the days immediately before and after surgery. A number of points may be covered, including:

• Avoiding certain medications that may complicate surgery or recovery, such as Aspirin, aspirin type products,
• Vitamin E and Gingko
• Stopping smoking for a period of 6 weeks before and after surgery
• Arranging for help and special care following surgery
• Letting your hair grow long enough so that it will cover your incisions while they heal