Facelift
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Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, pulling back the loose skin on each side of your face, wondering what you would look like after a little "nip/tuck"? As today's medical advances increase our life expectancy, many women and men believe they look much older than they feel both physically and mentally. Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. G. D. Castillo offers facelift surgery to help patients from Champaign, Peoria, and Decatur project a more youthful image.
To learn more about facelift surgery, request a consultationrequest a consultation with Dr. G. D. Castillo or call our office nearest you. We look forward to helping you enhance your look through skilled cosmetic procedures.
Face Lift Before & After Photos
Facelift Candidates
If you have looseness of the neck muscles or the appearance of jowls or sagging skin, you may be a good candidate for a facelift. This procedure will not improve the eyes or forehead region. For this reason, the facelift is frequently combined with other facial plastic surgery procedures, including:
It is important to note that Dr. Castillo takes a custom approach to each facelift, making the changes based on the patient's unique characteristics. For men, he is careful to maintain a chiseled, masculine appearance, and adjusts his techniques to avoid a feminine-looking result.
Real Patient Testimonial
"I was very happy with the Doctor being up front and honest about my needs, as they were just what the doctor ordered. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." L.W.
The Procedure
Facelifts are performed on an outpatient basis in our office based operating suite. This procedure tightens both the skin and deeper tissues of the face to form a foundation for the new draping of the skin. Excess fatty tissue is removed to reshape the contour of the double chin and other loose skin tissues. In certain cases, Dr. Castillo performs "deep-plane facelifts" or "sub-periosteal facelifts," which are used for the correction of specific problems.
For facelift surgery, the hair on the head is not cut, shaved, or altered. The surgical incision line extends from the front of the ear, under the ear, along the crease behind the ear, and then along the hairline toward the back of the neck. Our patients find that their incisional scars are well camouflaged by natural landmarks and are not visible.
Many patients have fatty deposits in the jowls and/or under the chin causing a double chin, or they may have heavy bands running vertically in front of the neck. Another small incision may be made just below the chin to correct the central part of the neck and chin. A facelift will not correct the fine etched wrinkling of the skin, especially around the mouth and eyes. Separate procedures like laser skin resurfacing and / or BOTOX® Cosmetic may be required to correct this wrinkling.
Real Patient Testimonial
"The BEST! Dr Castillo and his highly professional staff are amazing. I had a facelift many years ago, and it was a wonderful decision. From the very thorough consultation through the recovery, I was 100% pleased...and today I still love the results. I would suggest to anyone who is considering cosmetic surgery to move forward with their desire and set their fears aside. This team of professionals is one of the best!" Diana
After Surgery
You wear a bandage for one day and this may be removed at home or in the office. You may shampoo your hair and wash as you normally do two days after surgery.
There is usually a minimal amount of pain after surgery and so some pain medication is required. You will experience an area of numbness around the ear and surrounding area. There will be a feeling of tightness around the ear and the affected areas may be swollen and tender to pressure. These after-effects resolve themselves during the next several weeks.
Discoloration of the skin over the face and neck is almost always present. The discoloration gradually turns yellowish and then disappears in about seven days. Most people are ready to resume their routine activities within about seven to 10 days.
For Better Healing
We have found that smoking plays a significant role in the way that a facelift heals and will definitely influence the appearance of scars. For optimal healing, the patient needs a good blood supply to the skin edges. If there is an interference with this blood supply (as occurs in smokers), the scar lines will not heal as well and portions of the skin "flaps" may be undernourished, resulting in more visible scarring especially in the area behind the ear. If you are a smoker, it is imperative that you stop smoking for at least a week prior to surgery and refrain for at least two weeks after surgery.
Facelift FAQ
How long will swelling and numbness last after a facelift?
Bruising subsides after around 10 to 14 days, and swelling is typical for the first week. During the second week, the swelling will greatly decrease, but may linger around the jawline. After about a month, the face will look more natural. There may still be minimal swelling near the incisions, jawline, and neck into the third month post-op. Swelling in the neck typically takes the longest to resolve. It is normal to have temporary numbness around your ears after your procedure. Full sensation will return for most people within 3 months, but occasionally it can take up to 1 year to return fully.
How long do the results of a facelift last?
The longevity of a facelift is greatly dependent on the quality of skin before facial rejuvenation. If a patient has previously been a heavy smoker, a tanning bed enthusiast, or a morbidly obese individual, he or she may have more skin laxity resulting in a lesser quality of skin. This may lead to results that do not last as long as they would in a person who starts out with more elastic skin. Dr. Castillo’s skilled team is available to give you tips on caring for and protecting your skin post-surgery. As a complimentary part of your surgical experience, Roxanne, our skincare and laser specialist is available to create an at-home skincare regimen to help you maintain your surgical results and obtain glowing, radiant skin.
How do you avoid the "windswept" look?
Often the term "facelift" is associated with tight, pulled back skin that looks unnatural. Dr. Castillo specializes in techniques that result in a natural, well rested appearance with incisions that are nearly undetectable a short time after surgery. A more modern and accurate term for the procedure is "facial rejuvenation."" Dr. Castillo takes the different facial dimensions into account, rather than pulling all the skin up and back. Treatment must be carefully planned according to a patient's needs.
Dr. Castillo is not only a Board-Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, but he has taught facial surgery techniques around the world. He has over 30 years experience performing well over 1000 facelifts in his thriving private practice. Experience and artist vision are the keys to achieving a natural looking facial rejuvenation.
To learn more about face lift surgery, request a consultationrequest a consultation with Dr. Castillo or call our office nearest you. We look forward to helping you enhance your look through skilled cosmetic procedures.
