Newport Beach, Orange County, CA
Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon Bruce J. Dubin, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Click here to view Facelift Procedure before and after photos

More than ever, women and men appreciate that a facelift can be the answer to achieving the goal of improved appearance. The "plastic" or pulled look that was the signature the old-fashioned skin-only facelift is no longer an acceptable result. Unfortunately, this type of result is still seen, even among some prominent highly visible celebrities who have paid very dearly for a poor outcome.

Prospective patients are understandable very concerned and apprehensive about looking "surgical". It cannot be stressed too much that a contemporary technically sophisticated facelift that is performed by Dr. Dubin will look natural and without any telltale signs of surgery. This type of result should be obtained in all patients when the a surgeon such as Dr. Dubin is highly skilled and is an excellent craftsman. In essence, one sets the clock back to produce a more youthful and energetic look without making the person look like a different individual.

The term "facelift" as commonly used, usually implies a neck-lift as well. A facelift addresses the visible signs of aging by removing excess skin, excess fat in the jowls and neck but preserving and repositioning or supplementing fat in the mid-face and cheeks, tightening and suspending the underlying muscles, and re-draping the facial and neck skin in the proper direction. Inherent skin quality issues can be addressed by adjunctive techniques such as fat and/or filler injections and skin resurfacing with chemical peels or laser treatments.

The age range of facelift candidates extends from the mid-forties to the late sixties, although older individuals in good health often do repeat or secondary facelifts.

In recent years, this range has shifted towards the younger patients with relatively early facial aging. Dr. Dubin has found through experience that some of the more spectacular results are in this patient population because they still have relatively good skin elasticity. Patients who possess a strong underlying bony structure 'with high cheek bones and strong chins are also very favorable candidates. In those individuals who lack these features, they can be supplemented by the placement of chin, cheek, or other facial implants.

Facelift surgery is elective and therefore the prospective patient must be in good general health and a appropriate candidate for elective surgery. Any underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes must be under good medical control. Patients must abstain from smoking and avoid aspirin and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs as well as certain herbal and vitamin supplements. Standard preoperative laboratory studies are obtained as appropriate for any elective surgical procedure.

Surgery

A facelift is often combined with other surgery, such as forehead and brow lifting, eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing. The surgery is usually perfonned under monitored intravenous sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist (so-called ''twilight'' anesthesia) although occasionally general anesthesia is used. The procedures are almost always done on an outpatient basis and patients go home to be cared for by a responsible family member or friends. Professional aftercare is also available if patients desire or there are other logistical issues. The time of the actual surgery can vary from three to six hours depending upon the patient and what procedures are done.

At the initial consultation, Dr. Dubin will listen very carefully to your concerns and goals, and 'then formulate a specific treatment plan based on these and the patient's individual anatomic findings. At a subsequent pre-operative visit, all the details of preoperative preparation and post-operative care will be discussed in complete detail.

Recovery

Most patients "will experience relatively minor degrees of swelling and bruising. The majority of patients will feel socially recovered within a week to ten days and will return to activities of daily living a work within the same timeframe. Patients may return to controlled aerobic exercise such as jogging, running on a treadmill, elliptical machine, stair-master, bicycle, or light toning weights. Patients are instructed to wait for one month before performing heavy exercise. It will typically take about three months for the average patient to feel completely recovered.

As a rule, patients can expect to look about ten years younger, although this is highly subjective, and expect the results hold up for about ten years. One is always better for having done the surgery but the procedure does not stop the aging process.

We invite you to call our office today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Dubin for an individual assessment and specific treatment recommendation. Call 949-640-4911 to find out more how you can optimize your appearance

Visit our plastic / cosmetic surgery office located in Newport Beach, CA, near Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, CA.