Did you know that the facelift, or rhytidectomy (literally, the “surgical removal of wrinkles”), is the seventh most popular aesthetic surgery performed after liposuction, breast augmentation, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast reduction, and rhinoplasty according to a 2007 report from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery?   One of the top requested facial plastic surgery procedures, the facelift was first performed in 1901 Berlin by Dr. Eugene Hollander.

Rhytidectomy is performed to make the skin of the face appear younger.  This facial plastic surgery usually involves the removal of excess facial skin, possibly the tightening of underlying tissues, and the redraping of the skin on the patient's face and neck to smooth any wrinkles.   Facelifts are extremely helpful in eliminating loose skin folds in the neck and tissue laxity in the cheeks.  A facelift or rhytidectomy is facial plastic surgery, and as such requires skin incisions; however, the incisions in front of and behind the ear are usually inconspicuous.

In the traditional facelift or rhytidectomy, an incision is made in front of the ear extending up into the hairline, curving around the bottom of the ear and then behind it, and usually ending near the hairline on the back of the neck.  The skin is then separated from the deeper tissues over the cheeks and neck. At this point, the deeper tissues can be tightened with sutures. The skin is then redraped, the excess skin removed, and the skin incisions are closed with sutures and staples.  Facelifts may be effectively combined with other facial surgery procedures, such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and are typically performed under general anesthesia or deep twilight sleep.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jay Pensler is available to consult with you regarding any facial plastic surgery, including facelift or rhytidectomy.  We encourage you to contact our office today for a free confidential no-obligation consultation.  Call us (312) 642-7777, e-mail us at info@plasticsurg.org, or simply fill out the contact form on this web site.  We look forward to speaking with you.