Facelift is a major cosmetic surgery procedure that will involve some post-operative downtime. At the same time, it will involve a certain amount of risk of complications that are typical in any surgical procedure. The plastic surgeon will discuss these issues at the outset to help the patient make an informed decision.

Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) is a leading, board certified facial plastic surgeon who makes every effort to make the facelift surgery less invasive, more targeted and involving minimal risk and downtime. Dr. V provides facelift and other procedures to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding communities.

Immediate Post-Op Phase

Once the effect of general anesthesia wears off, the patient may feel slightly nauseous or cold, but the condition will improve very quickly. The treated area will be covered with bandages, and some drainage tubes may be placed for a few days. Most patients can return home the same day of the surgery, but may have to visit the next day for a review of the progress.

Recovery in the First Week

Mild swelling and bruising is expected in the first week, which can cause some pain. Patients should take pain medications as prescribed by the surgeon. It is not advisable to remain sedentary during this period, but strenuous activities should be avoided. After the first week, most patients will have their stitches and drains removed.

Recovery in the Subsequent Weeks

Swelling is likely to persist for a few weeks after the facelift surgery, but the patient will be able to see clearer results as the recovery progresses. Most patients can return to their workplace in about 10 to 14 days, but they will still have some restrictions with regard to lifting heavy weights or performing vigorous exercises or activities.

Full results of a facelift will continue to establish over several months. If the patient follows the surgeon’s instructions during the recovery period, the risk of complications is minimized. Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for facelift surgery.

Potential Complications

Some of the complications that may occur in exceptional cases in any surgical procedure, including facelift, are listed as follows:

• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Infection occurring during or after the surgery
• Hematoma or bleeding under the skin
• Nerve damage in rare cases
• Obvious scarring

These risks can be minimized when the patient chooses a highly trained and experienced plastic surgeon with proven expertise in facial surgery procedures. The patient should also be cooperative and following all the pre- and post-op instructions diligently to keep the risk of complications to the minimum.

Temporary side effects following a facelift surgery may include nausea for a few hours, mild pain, and discomfort in the first week, bruising and swelling that could last for several weeks or months, mild scarring, temporary numbness, slow healing of the wounds, and short term discoloration of the incision sites.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other areas. http://drvfacialplastics.com/contact-us/

Rhytidectomy, commonly known as facelift surgery, is procedure designed to minimize the appearance of facial wrinkles and lines and other telltale signs of aging. It can restore a younger looking overall appearance of the face and jaw. Facelift involves lifting and tightening of the weak underlying facial muscles to enhance facial structure and create more youthful contours.

Facelift will also include reduction or redistribution of excess fat and excision of loose skin that may be contributing to an aging face. Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing facelift and other procedures to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding communities.

Traditional or Standard Facelift

The traditional or standard facelift surgery is a fairly comprehensive procedure that involves the lower two-thirds of the face and neck. The procedure will be used to remove excess fat and skin and tightening of the underlying facial muscles. Aesthetic concerns that can be corrected successfully with a traditional facelift include the following:

• Tightening loose facial skin
• Correcting sagging jowls
• Reduction or redistribution of fats
• Minimizing creases beneath lower eyelids
• Minimizing creases around the mouth
• Lifting the mid-face
• Reduction of double chin

Endoscopic Facelift

The endoscopic facelift procedure is less invasive in comparison to the traditional surgery, and results in very little scarring. The procedure involves very small incisions through which a mini camera is inserted, and targeted results in terms of lifting of upper face and cheeks can be achieved. The following conditions can be improved with this procedure:

• Drooping brows
• Frown lines
• Sagging cheeks and cheek folds
• Sagging mid-face and jowls
• Lines around the mouth

Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for both standard and endoscopic facelift surgery.

Procedure

The incision in case of facelift surgery will usually be made above the hairline in order to keep the scarring very discreet. In some cases, the incisions will follow the natural facial creases because the healing is better in these locations and scars can be hidden more easily. The procedure will begin with the surgeon placing the incision behind the hairline on the side of the head, slightly above the temple.

The incision will then follow the hairline down to the ear, running along the crease between the ear and the cheek, continuing into the lower scalp. Through the incision, the surgeon will lift the facial skin from the underlying tissue. Excess ski and fat will be removed and the surrounding sagging muscles will be tightened to enhance contours and rejuvenate the face. The skin will then be re-draped smoothly over the face, and incisions will be closed with sutures.

Combining with Upper Face Procedures

Facelift surgery is primarily directed at the lower two-thirds of the face, which also includes the mid-face. To achieve more even looking results, a facelift is often combined with upper face procedures such as brow lift, forehead lift, and eyelid lift. Sometimes non-surgical procedures such as laser skin rejuvenation and injectables may also be combined.

For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other areas. http://drvfacialplastics.com/contact-us/