Facelift

A rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, is a surgical technique designed to restore a younger, more refreshed appearance by improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose tissue on the neck. The procedure can effectively turn back the clock on visual aging, uncovering the lost youthfulness of the face.

Both men and women can make good candidates for the facelift procedure. The ideal patient will want to look more youthful, be in overall good health, and understand the procedure.

The consultation appointment provides time for Dr. Vitenas to go over your medical history and current medications, and discuss any questions that you may have. He will also perform a quick exam of the facial tissues and go over your aesthetic goals. Dr. Vitenas will then explain the facelift procedure and show before/after photos of recent rhytidectomy patients. At this time, he will determine the exact price of your surgical procedure, as well.

All facelift procedures are performed at the Houston Surgery Center. This private surgical center is located on the second floor of the Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery building.

The cost of a facelift will depend on the extent of correction involved, but will normally fall between $17,000 and $35,000. The price covers the anesthesiologist, surgical suite, doctor’s fees, and all follow-up care. There are different types of facelifts including short scar, macs lift, mid-facelift, and neck lift; each will have a different price range. Some patients also elect to have their brows lifted, excess skin removed for their upper or lower eyelids, and/or a combination of facial fat grafting to achieve a more youthful appearance. During your consultation appointment, Dr. Vitenas will determine the cost of your individual procedure.

Yes, Dr. Vitenas always utilizes a general anesthetic for the facelift procedure.

The facelift begins with an incision starting inside of the hairline at the temples, extending to the front of the ear, and ending in the hairline behind the ear. For the most natural and relaxed look, Dr. Vitenas uses a dual-plane technique, which addresses both the skin and the deeper tissues (SMAS) with multiple vector lifting and reshaping.

A facelift will take between four and six hours to complete.

Dr. Vitenas will create small incisions starting at the temples in the hairline, extending inside the front of the ear, and ending in the hairline behind the ear.

While the facelift incisions do result in scarring, these tend to be easily concealed within the hairline and natural creases of the face and ears.

While the facelift recovery is not considered painful, Dr. Vitenas will prescribe pain medication to control discomfort during the healing process.

Most patients find the recovery period after a facelift will take about two weeks.

In general, patients will see swelling and bruising following their facelift procedure. Temporary numbness may be seen along the incisions, although this should dissipate as the area heals. Mild to moderate discomfort can be easily controlled with medication or Tylenol. The recovery takes six weeks as with other surgery, however, the full effect of a face lift is seen at about the one year mark.

Patients are normally feeling comfortable enough to return to work in two weeks or less, following their facelift procedure.

Lifting, vigorous activities, and strenuous exercise should be put off for at least four to six weeks following your facelift procedure.

Somewhere between the fifth and tenth post-op day, Dr. Vitenas will remove stitches during a follow-up visit.

While Dr. Vitenas’ facelift is a safe procedure, there is always a small chance of complications following invasive surgery. Bleeding, infection, hematoma, nerve damage, and delayed wound healing may occur following surgery.

Yes, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery accepts medical financing through CareCredit or Alpheon Credit. The office also takes cash and all major credit cards. Contact a patient coordinator for more information on payment options.