Why choose to get a Facelift?
A Facelift is a type of cosmetic surgery that tightens and lifts the facial tissues. A Facelift involves removing excess skin, smoothing out wrinkles and folds, and tightening the facial tissues to create a younger and brighter look. As you age, signs of facial aging appear. These signs can also form as a result of overexposure to harsh UV rays, cosmetics, stress, medications, poor nutrition, and many other factors. There are many cosmetic treatments available that reduce the signs of aging. To ensure that you enjoy long-lasting results, consider a Facelift.
What can a Facelift do for you?
A Facelift (Rhytidectomy) can't halt aging but significantly reverses visible signs by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, and rejuvenating facial and neck skin. It can be standalone or combined with procedures like Forehead Lift, Eyelid or Nose surgery. Dr. Rau often pairs it with other facial surgeries for comprehensive enhancement, addressing wrinkles, sagging, and sun damage. Ideal candidates are healthy individuals with elastic skin not planning substantial weight loss post-surgery.
Good candidates
Facelift surgery is focused on the bottom two-thirds of the face and the neck. It offers many benefits to those individuals who are looking for a solution to reduce the appearance of signs of aging. The most common reason to get a Facelift is to hide the signs of aging. It is important to remember that not every candidate is a suitable patient for the procedure.


The criteria for a good candidate include the following:
* You are a healthy individual without any underlying medical condition that can interfere with wound healing, recovery, or the results of the treatment.

* You do not smoke or can quit before the facelift surgery.

* You do not use drugs or consume alcohol regularly.

* You are not pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to be pregnant soon.

* You have not had any facial rejuvenation procedures done recently.

* You have a positive outlook and realistic expectations for the results of your facelift.
What is a Mini Facelift?
In cases where full Facelift isn't necessary due to less severe facial aging, especially in younger patients with mild sagging and minor wrinkles, the Mini Facelift offers a tailored solution. Focused on addressing jowls, wrinkles, and minor sagging in the midface and lower face, it provides a safe and effective option for facial rejuvenation.
This is in contrast to the full Facelift, which involves general anesthesia. Because of this, many patients prefer the Mini Facelift option. Once the anesthesia takes effect, tiny incisions are made near the ears. The tissues are altered as needed. Finally, incisions are closed with sutures. Because the Mini Facelift is less invasive than the traditional Facelift and involves less tissue alteration, the Mini Facelift recovery process is much shorter. It is also generally more comfortable and features a smaller degree of bruising and swelling.
Facelift procedure and recovery
Dr. Rau makes incisions that create an outline of the face: across the hairline, behind both temples, in front of each ear, around the earlobes, behind the ears, and ending at the scalp on both sides of the head. The skin is gently removed from the underlying tissue and excess skin is removed. If needed, fat deposits beneath the neck and chin may be removed using liposuction. Dr. Rau tightens loose muscles and soft tissue around the face and closes the incisions with small sutures. The Facelift procedure generally takes about 5 hours.
After Facelift surgery, the head is bandaged to reduce swelling, and stitches are removed in 5 to 6 days. A support dressing is applied for 1 to 2 weeks. Swelling, bruising, and numbness are normal and diminish over time. Sleeping with the head elevated is crucial during recovery. Temporary skin discoloration and hair loss around incisions may occur. While facial nerve bruising can cause temporary loss of function or sensation, it's rarely permanent. Healing is gradual, and patients should avoid bending and heavy lifting for the initial 2 to 3 weeks. Full benefits of the surgery become visible after 6 months.
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