Brachioplasty San Diego

IS A FACELIFT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME?

A facelift can give you an energetic, youthful appearance that matches the way you feel inside. Using techniques customized to ensure the results look natural, Dr. Gross lifts and tightens the face’s soft tissue and contours the jawline to reverse the effects of gravity, sun exposure, and the stresses of daily life.

Facelift surgery addresses all of the various facial tissue levels, including the underlying muscles known as the superficial muscular aponeurotic system, or SMAS. Dr. Hallak uses this proven, comprehensive technique for facelift surgery. Unlike previous versions of the procedure, which often relied on tightening the skin, creating an artificial, “windblown” appearance, SMAS facelifts manipulate deeper tissues by lifting, tightening, and repositioning muscle to actually improve the structure of the face. While the skin is also redraped and tightened slightly to ease the look of fine lines and wrinkles, it’s no longer the primary method for rejuvenating the face. Today’s facelift surgery can correct an array of common signs of aging in the lower portion of the face, including:

  • Sagging facial skin
  • Jowls
  • Loose neck skin
  • Poorly defined jawline

Dr. Hallak conceals facelift incisions both behind and in front of the ear crease. Attention to detail in the planning, placement, and closure of these incisions is the key to his consistently natural-looking results.

"Dr. Hallak is a very thoughtful surgeon who took the time to explain my options. He knew how important it was for me to obtain a stylish look without overdoing it. Although I managed to fill a 34D before my surgery, my breasts were uneven and had lost all fullness. In addition to my much-needed lift, I also wanted an areola reduction..

I had complete faith in Dr. Hallak and now after a breast lift, areolar reduction, and 400 cc high profile implants thanks to Dr. Hallak’s skillful hands, I am a sexy 36DD and my breasts are shaped beautifully and feel very natural. My sincere thanks to Dr. Hallak and his staff."

Satisfied Patient

"Hello, I am a patient of Dr. Hallak's I had breast augmentation & this is my testimonial: Being fairly new to San Diego I went on to see many doctors for consults on having my breast implants replaced. I had saline implants for 11 years and was ready to replace them with silicone implants. I was very nervous and didn’t want a drastic change Dr. Hallak & his staff were incredible I had such a great experience really liked everyone at the surgery center also. I knew I was in good hands all of my questions were answered & concerns were addressed I’ve been so pleased with the results my new implants look so good and natural I’m always getting compliments when I’m out with friends. I’m very excited to show off my new look this summer on the beach. I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made to have Dr. Hallak as my surgeon! Thank-you"

Satisfied Patient

What is facelift recovery like?

Facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure. However, you’ll need a trusted loved one to drive you home and stay with you for at least the remainder of the day following surgery. As with any surgical procedure, you will experience some discomfort, swelling, and bruising. With the help of prescribed medications, these symptoms should resolve within 7 to 10 days. You’ll be scheduled for a follow-up appointment after about 1 week, during which Dr. Hallak removes your sutures.

Most patients feel comfortable and confident enough to return to work and other daily activities within 10 to 14 days, using makeup to cover any residual bruising. More strenuous activities, such as exercising, should be avoided for 2 to 3 weeks or more. You should also limit your exposure to the sun for several months in order to avoid excessive scarring and other complications.

Dr. Hallak recommends adopting sunscreen into your permanent skincare regimen in order to avoid future skin damage and to prolong your results for as long as possible. The results of your facelift can last for more than a decade, but it’s worth noting that a small percentage of patients require a second procedure in order to achieve their desired results. During your consultation, Dr. Hallak evaluates your degree of facial aging and helps you understand the likelihood of achieving your cosmetic goals.

 

Preparing For Your Surgery

Your surgeon 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 a week or two 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 facelift 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 if needed.

Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed

A facelift may be performed in a surgeon’s office-based facility, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It’s usually done on an outpatient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize patients for a day when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and may also require a short inpatient stay.

Types of Anesthesia

Most facelifts 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 surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In that case, you’ll sleep through the operation.

The Surgery

A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you’re having more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures, some surgeons may schedule two separate sessions.

Every surgeon approaches the procedure in his or her own way. Some complete one side of the face at a time, and others move back and forth between the sides. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your surgeon’s technique.

Incisions usually begin above the hairline 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 may also be made under the chin.

In general, the surgeon 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. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.

Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The surgeon may also wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.

After Your Surgery

There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.

Your doctor may tell you 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 or two 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 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.

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.

Your surgeon 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 scars. 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. 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 facelift, 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.

Having a facelift 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 facelift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a facelift at all.