NJ & NY Metro Area
Chester, New Jersey
908-879-2222
Facelift New York Metro Area
Consider board certified plastic surgeon Larry Weinstein, MD FACS, the faceliftdoc, if you’re thinking of a facelift.
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, weight loss and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line grows slack and jowls form; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.
A face lift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can’t stop this aging process. What it can do is “set back the clock,” improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck. A face lift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery(blepharoplasty), fillers, or nose reshaping.
If you’re considering a face lift, this page will give you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask New York metro area face lift surgeon, Dr. Weinstein about anything you don’t understand.
The best candidates for a face lift
The best candidate for a face lift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties( see before and after photos of 44 year old female #2801, 46 year olds #2802 / 2783, 49 year old female #2769). Board certified plastic surgeon Larry Weinstein MD FACS does not age discriminate and has performed facelifts on healthy patients in their eighties ( case #3025 an 83 year old female). Rarely a younger patient can benefit from a face lift who has lost a great deal of weight or has ehler’s danlos syndrome (super elasticity of the facial skin).
A face lift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. Board certified plastic surgeon Larry Weinstein MD FACS uses gentle technique to get natural looking results. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Weinstein.
An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, within the lower eyelids or behind the ear. An endoscope, or surgical telescope, with special sutures may help to reposition tissues, elevate the neck, elevate jowls and elevate midfacial muscles. Skin resurfacing (peel or LASER) techniques may be performed in conjunction with the surgery or as a separate procedure to improve skin tone and texture.
Dr. Weinstein’s technique of face lift will usually improve the deep cheek folds, jowls and loose, sagging skin around the neck that come with age.
All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
When a face lift is performed by board certified plastic surgeon, Larry Weinstein MD FACS, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome can never be guaranteed.
Rare complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that can be removed easily by Dr. Weinstein), temporary injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (permanent loss is extremely rare in peer reviewed literature), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is a rarity even in smokers.
You can reduce your risks by closely following Dr. Weinstein’s advice both before and after surgery. Please stop smoking, eat healthy and refrain from alcohol abuse
Planning your face lift surgery
Dr. Weinstein face lifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation board certified plastic surgeon Larry Weinstein MD FACS will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Dr. Weinstein or his staff will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell Dr. Weinstein if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin, motrin, advil, ibuprofen or other drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a face lift, Dr. Weinstein will explain the techniques and anesthesia he will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Weinstein or his staff any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
Preparing for your surgery
Dr. Weinstein will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least two weeks before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal.
Whether your face lift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two as needed.
Where your face lift surgery will be performed
Dr. Weinstein prefers to perform his face lift procedures in an outpatient surgery facility. He operates at the Chester Surgery Center in Chester New Jersey, Morristown Medical Center (Memorial Hospital ) in Morristown, New Jersey , Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown , New Jersey and St. Barnabus Medical Centerin Livingston, New Jersey. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and may require a short inpatient stay.
Types of anesthesia
Most face lifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You’ll be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.)
Some patients prefer a general anesthesia. In that case, you’ll sleep through the operation at one of the medical center outpatient surgery facilities ( usually Morristown Medical center).
The face lift surgery
A face lift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you’re having more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures, Dr. Weinstein may schedule two separate sessions.
Dr. Weinstein is a face lift surgeon who approaches the procedure in a safe unique but conservative way. He usually completes one side of the face at a time,. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and Dr. Weinstein’s technique.
Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, follow the natural line in front of the ear, curve behind the earlobe into the crease behind the ear, and into or along the lower scalp.
Dr Weinstein does not usually make Incisions above the hairline. His incision usually starts at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision is rarely made under the chin.
Facial, neck tissue and muscle may be separated; fat may be trimmed or suctioned, underlying fascia and/or muscle may be tightened.
In general, face lift surgeon Dr. Weinstein separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Dr. weinstein then tightens the underlying muscle/fascia and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess skin. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips are rarely used on the scalp.
After deep tissues are tightened, the excess skin is pulled up and back, trimmed and sutured into place.
Following face lift surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. Dr. Weinstein will wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
After your face lift surgery
There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication prescribed by Dr. Weinstein. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to Dr. Weinstein immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
It is better to keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down.
If you’ve had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed one to three days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Don’t be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you may see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you’ll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
Most of the scars will be hidden within you hair and in the normal creases of your skin.
Getting back to normal
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first. After your bandage is removed, you must wash your face including incisions with a bar of Dove soap twice a day, wash your hair with a mild shampoo and apply Bacitracin antibiotic ointment to your wounds.
Dr. Weinstein will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They’re likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you’ll probably be self-conscious about your wounds. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily. It’s not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.
By the third week, you’ll look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after surgery. Many patients are back to work in 5 days (one physician returned to work the same day). If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.
Your new look
The chances are excellent that you’ll be happy with your facelift-especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard- growing skin have been repositioned.
You’ll have some scars from your face lift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade within time and should be scarcely visible.
After surgery, you’ll present a fresher, more youthful face to the world.
Having face lift surgery doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one face lift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a face lift at all.
A facelift smoothes loose skin on your face and neck, tightens underlying tissues and removes excess fat. Your bone structure, heredity and skin texture all play a role in how many “years” a facelift can “remove” and, to some extent, influence how long it will last.
A facelift corrects visible signs of aging such as deep check folds, jowls and loose skin on the front and sides of your neck.
There are many variations to the facelift procedure and the placement of incisions. The goal of every facelift technique is to keep the incisions hidden as much as possible; following surgery, scars will be concealed by your hair or with makeup.
Incisions are usually placed within the hairline and within natural contours in front of and behind your ears. Modified incisions maybe used if, for example, you need correction of only your neck and lower face.
Loose skin is pulled up and back, and the excess is removed. After surgery, the skin on your face and neck will look smoother, firmer and fresher.
Why would I want to have a FACELIFT?
As the skin ages, folds appear over the cheeks, loose skin appears in the neck and the jawline loses its definition. Surgery can’t stop the process but it is able to “remove about 5 – 15 years” by tightening the skin and underlying muscles and removing excess fat and skin. A key part of the operation is tightening the SMAS layer over the cheek and jawline region. This layer of tough tissue around the muscles and is what the drooping fat sits upon. By pulling it taught, you lift the dropping fat back into a youthful position, rejuvenating cheekbone and jawline. The incisions will usually begin at the temples (in the hair) and extend down inside your ear, behind and around the back of the ear. Some patients also require a small incision beneath the chin in the natural skin crease. These are well concealed and usually heal with almost no detectable scarring. There is usually minimal bruising and swelling and this allows me to usually eliminate the use of drains.
Who would need a necklift?
If the cheeks are not drooping, a necklift may be the answer. This procedure can be done in a variety of ways. For excess fat alone, liposuction may give an improvement. If there is loose skin as well, this needs to be removed. The incisions will usually begin behind the ear and extend down inside your ear, behind the earlobe and around the back of the ear. At the same time skin is removed, the fat can be liposuctioned and muscles tightened.
Can I combine a FACELIFT/MID-FACELIFT/UPPERFACELIFT/NECKLIFT with other cosmetic procedures?
The facelift or necklift is frequently combined with eyelid lifts, forehead lifts, facial implants, laserbrasion or chemical peeling of the lips/eyelids/forehead, fillers, as well as plastic surgery on other areas of the body.
What kind of anesthesia is used during a FACELIFT/MID-FACELIFT/UPPER FACELIFT/NECKLIFT?
A facelift takes around one to four hours and is done with either I.V. sedation or light, general anesthesia. Dr. Weinstein will recommend anesthesia that will be best for you. The other facial rejeuvenation procedures are generally done with similar anesthesia, but usually take less time.
Will insurance pay for a FACELIFT/MID-FACELIFT/UPPER FACELIFT/NECKLIFT?
Insurance will not cover this procedure as it s considered completely cosmetic in nature. If someone has hemifacial laxity secondary to facial palsy then a reconstructive insurance covered hemifaceift is possible.
What will I experience in the days following a FACELIFT/MID-FACELIFT/UPPER FACELIFT/NECKLIFT?
Following a mid-facelift, upper facelift, or a necklift, patients will usually go home to recover. There is usually minimal pain that is easily controlled with medication. You are able to drive and resume work within a week. Exercise will need to be curtailed for up to 3 weeks.
Following a facelift, you can return home that evening to the comfort of your own bed. Dressings are usually removed within 3 days. Bruising and swelling are minimal. Medication will control the minimal pain that patients usually experience. Plan on not being able to drive for up to two weeks and on being out of work for up to 2 weeks and exercising needs to be curtailed for 3 weeks.
A Facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure designed to smooth and firm the skin, providing a fresh, youthful appearance. Throughout one’s life, the sun’s radiation, stress, gravity, and other factors cause the skin to sag and fit more loosely. Areas of the face and neck, in particular around the jaw line, are especially prone to the aging process. Though these changes are gradual, wrinkles and other signs of aging can make individuals “feel older” than they really are.
Surgery for a facelift involves the contraction and realignment of facial and neck skin, and in some instances the removal of excess fat deposits. A facelift is often performed in combination with other facial cosmetic procedures and can be performed any time signs of aging begin to appear. However, patients are generally in their forties or older when they elect to undergo this procedure.
Reasons for Considering a Facelift:
- Sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck.
- Excess skin and fat on the neck.
- Sagging jaw line – jowls.
- Crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin.
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. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline.
A face lift may take several hours or longer depending on whether other cosmetic procedures are completed at the same time. Sometimes other procedures may be performed in separate appointments. There are several different facelift techniques that can be employed. Patients can discuss with board certified plastic surgeon Larry Weinstein MD FACS which method is best for them when they come in for their consultation.
Recovery Process
Immediately after surgery, the face is fitted with bandages in order to decrease the recovery time and to reduce swelling. Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing and recovery process. The stitches, clips or staples are normally removed within a week. Patients sometimes report some minor pain associated with surgery. Any discomfort can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given after the procedure.
Dr. Weinstein’s approach
Exciting quick recovery natural looking facelifts are regularly achieved in the delicate artistic hands of Dr. Larry Weinstein. He has a unique gentle approach to repositioning the aging cheeks, jowls and neck. Dr. Weinstein is able to take years away from someone’s face in just a few hours of careful cosmetic considerations. Since 1986, Dr. Weinstein is performing minimally invasive procedures for facial rejuvenation. His principal focus of facial rejuvenation is to listen to the patients needs. Your life style is important and can be changed by a minimal incision quick recovery Z lift facelift.
Sometimes a minimal facelift focusing on one area of patient need, can be effected easily with minimal recovery. He uses both preauricular and posterior auricular approaches to correct excess laxity of facial skin, nasolabial folds, jowls and slight excess in neck skin. “If treating a fatty neck, I use liposuction and/or direct excision of neck fat. When indicated, I imbricate the platysma to tighten the neck through the inferior chin crease. I do most of my facelift and brow lifts under general anesthesia. When doing the facelift closure, I want the wounds to be barely visible. Women are concerned that if the wind blows their hair up, that there be no visible scars. Some women like to wear their hair back in a scrunchie or ponytail. The posterior auricular approach is in the posterior ear sulcus. In a woman, the anterior approach for a facelift is posterior to the tragus of the ear.” I also place two stay sutures one just above the superior anterior aspects of the ear and the second to the mastoid periosteum to hold the skin in place. After which I trim the skin. I prep the hair on facelifts with Betadine and prior to my suturing I move the hair away from the sterile area with Bacitracin ointment. I rarely remove or injure hair follicles.”
“I always concentrate on the areas that can be fixed with minimally invasive plastic surgery. When I check brow position, I look carefully at the anterior hairline. I find in the aging patient, both male and female, that a receding hairline is common. I will offer an anterior hairline approach for brow elevation in those patients with a receding hairline. This anterior hairline technique allows the hairline to be brought forward, while elevating the brow and correcting glabella (worry line) furrows. I always preserve the widow’s peak to obtain a natural result.”
“Endoscopic brow lifts are ideal for patients with normal or low anterior hairline. I don’t attempt to elevate the brows beyond the upper bevel of the superior orbital boney ridge to avoid a surprised look. My preference is the endoscopic technique for brow elevation using a dissolvable Endotine plate.”
“I correct lateral lid hooding by upper Blepharoplasty. I remove excess skin and muscle in an ellipse. If the Corrugator muscle is hyperactive I consider a palpebral technique for corrugator muscle resection. I assess lower lids for excess skin, muscle, and fat. I usually perform lower Blepharoplasty through the external subciliary technique. I remove excess skin as necessary, tighten the muscle and do limited fat removal. Through this incision I can elevate nasolabial folds. However, I perform a facelift for heavy nasolabial folds, jowls and excess neck skin.”
Attractive alternatives are available for minimally invasive facial rejuvenation. Tailoring the procedure for the right circumstances, physical findings, patient concerns and health of the patient is Dr. Weinstein’s forte. Dr. Weinstein uses a balanced approach to achieve consistent safe and natural improvements.( see before and after photos of 44 year old female #2801, 46 year olds #2802 / 2783, 49 year old female #2769).