Recovery Time After a Facelift

By: Dr. Chip Cole 11/27/2021

With the combination of natural aging and gravity, face and neck features tend to droop and sag with time, causing unwanted wrinkles, a tired complexion, and loss of volume to the skin. Dr. Chip Cole is a quadruple board-certified, face-only plastic surgeon with OCULUS Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Cole and our expert team offer innovative and skilled face and neck lifts, surgical procedures that lift and radically improve face and neck features for a radiant and youthful appearance.

What is a facelift?

A facelift is a surgical procedure used to correct or improve the appearance of facial features, including the eyebrows, cheeks, eyelids, lips, and more. During the procedure, patients are sedated so that the experience is virtually pain-free. Small incisions are made along targeted treatment areas. Dr. Cole uses a small fiber-optic lens, which is attached to a camera, to carefully inspect and monitor treatment areas throughout the procedure. Small ribbon-like sutures are used to lift the features being treated. In most cases, Atlanta plastic surgeon, Dr. Cole will overcorrect facelifts to compensate for natural tissue relaxation during recovery so that patients get the results they desire.

What features can be treated in a facelift?

Dr. Cole offers facelift surgical procedures for multiple facial features, including:

• Eyebrows
• Cheeks (mid-face lift)
• Eyelids (blepharoplasty)

Oftentimes, facelift procedures are combined, such as a cheek lift and a blepharoplasty to optimize mid-face results. Our expert team also offers laser resurfacing techniques, which are noninvasive treatments used to reduce minor skin imperfections, including wrinkles, sun spots, and acne scars.

What is a neck lift?

A neck lift is used to tighten and smooth the area under the chin. For younger individuals, the platysma muscle that extends from the lower neck and up across the jawline is strong, which gives the neck a tight and neat appearance. As we age, the platysma becomes lax, creating unwanted sagging and wrinkles across and down the front of the neck. With a skillful incision process, a platysmaplasty lifts and tightens the area to create a younger and cleaner look.

Can a facelift and neck lift be combined?

If it lines up with the patient’s goals and our team’s recommendations, a facelift can be combined with a neck lift. Consult with Dr. Cole and our team at OCULUS Plastic Surgery to discuss and explore your best treatment options.

Is the surgery painful?

Since surgeons use strong sedation to induce sleep, patients have a virtually pain-free surgical experience. However, it’s common for patients to have swelling, bruising, and tenderness after treatment, which can cause some discomfort during recovery. Dr. Cole provides pain management options in highly individualized recovery plans.

What is the recovery time like after a facelift?

Patients can expect a 2 – 3 week resting period before resuming normal daily activities. Dr. Cole provides recovery tips and precautions for every patient to promote healing and to boost post-surgical results in Atlanta, GA.

Can a facelift or neck lift be expensive?

Since a facelift and a neck lift are commonly used to aesthetically improve facial and neck features, health insurance policies rarely provide coverage for surgery. Dr. Cole and our team consult with every patient to assess individual financial situations to develop affordable treatment plans that accomplish their desired treatment goals.

How to get started for a face and neck lift consultation in Atlanta, GA

If you are unhappy with aging and tired facial or neck features and would like to recapture that youthful and natural appearance, contact our team at OCULUS Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, GA to schedule a facelift consultation with board-certified surgeon Dr. Chip Cole today.