Are sagging skin and facial creases beginning to affect your confidence in your appearance? The aging process is inevitable, but there are ways to reverse the symptoms and rejuvenate your appearance with natural results. A surgical facelift targets sagging skin, lost volume, and wrinkles to smooth and refresh the face.
Facelift surgery is a complex procedure requiring expert conceptualization to ensure proportionate and harmonious results. Cheeks must balance with the jawline, and eyes must be proportional to the browline. The procedure must be performed on a deep level, involving multiple tissue layers to ensure a natural appearance and avoid a “windblown” look.
Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alan Gonzalez has more than 23 years of experience performing thousands of procedures for women and men, including facelifts customized to each patient’s needs and goals. He has the expertise and skill to ensure you enjoy natural, beautiful, and long-lasting results after your facial surgery.
What is Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)?
Facelift surgery removes loose, sagging skin and repositions fat and tissue below to create a more youthful facial contour. The goal is to restore facial volume to areas like the cheeks, eliminate sagging along the jawline, and create a smoother appearance with fewer visible wrinkles.
Dr. Alan performs facelifts alone or in combination with other procedures, like eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), a brow lift, or a neck lift. He believes comprehensive rejuvenation that addresses the entire face is usually the best approach. However, younger patients may be able to target a specific area, such as the neck, jawline, or midface.
Why Choose Facelift Surgery?
There are many reasons why women and men might choose a facelift, including:
- Sagging skin along the jawline.
- Loose skin and fat that give the appearance of a double chin.
- Hollowing and sagging in the midface.
- Loss of volume in the cheeks or temples.
- Deep facial creases around the mouth and nose.
- Loose, sagging neck skin that creates a “turkey neck”.
Candidates for Facelift Surgery
The best candidates for a facelift include men and women who:
- Are in relatively good health for surgery.
- Understand what the procedure can and can’t do for them.
- Want to address aging symptoms of the face.
- Can take time off for a complete recovery process.
- Have realistic expectations for their outcome.
Have realistic expectations for their outcome
Before undergoing any surgery with Dr. Alan, we recommend that you stop taking any medicines that could increase your bleeding risk at least 15-30 days before your procedure, including anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin or ibuprofen. Blood thinning medications and some supplements also fall into this category.
If you smoke, you should stop smoking at least four weeks before your surgery to lower your risk for nicotine-related complications. Dr. Alan and his team will advise you on any other steps you may need to take to ensure a safe and successful surgery.
The Facelift Procedure
Dr. Alan performs all his surgeries at one of his state-of-the-art facilities in Colombia. Facelift surgery usually takes 4-5 hours to complete, and patients are asleep throughout the procedure. Through incisions made in the skin’s natural creases or within the hairline, Dr. Alan repositions fat and tissue to create a youthful facial shape. He will remove some fat, if necessary, and excess skin. He also offers devices for tightening or resurfacing the skin if necessary.
Dr. Alan uses the most advanced techniques for his facelift, working deep beneath the skin’s surface to lift the cheeks, chisel the jawline, and produce natural results. Each procedure is carefully tailored to each patient’s precise needs and goals.
Benefits and Risks
A surgical facelift offers numerous benefits, including:
- Target multiple aging concerns in a single procedure.
- Eliminate a double chin and jowl formation along the jawline.
- Reduce deep wrinkles, particularly in the lower face.
- Minimal visible scarring afterward.
- Natural appearance with long-lasting results.
Any surgery also comes with a degree of risk, including:
- Bleeding.
- Swelling and bruising.
- Unfavorable scarring.
- Asymmetry.
- Complications from the anesthesia.
You can significantly reduce risks associated with a facelift by working with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience, expertise, and skill in the specific procedure you want.
Recovery and Outlook
Dr. Alan performs most facelift surgery as an outpatient procedure, which means you can return to your accommodations the same day to rest and recover in comfortable surroundings. Patients typically have tape in the surgical areas but do not need bandages or dressings. Our recovery specialists will provide attentive care during the early days to ensure your healing process is comfortable and complication-free.
Most patients need one to two weeks of downtime after a facelift. We recommend you remain in Colombia for at least two weeks after your surgery to ensure proper care and healing. Once you are feeling better, we provide recommendations and transportation to dining, shopping, and sightseeing experiences to allow you to make the most of our beautiful country.
When to Seek Medical Attention
With our attentive team of recovery specialists, you will receive all the care you need during the early days of your recovery process. However, you may need to contact our office for some concerns like:
- Excessive bleeding.
- Signs of infection (swelling, redness, pain).
- Severe pain.
- Difficulty breathing.
Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon Matters
When you decide to undergo any type of plastic surgery, the right surgeon will make all the difference in your experience and results. Some people choose their surgeon based on facelift cost, but that isn’t the best criteria to use for your selection. Facelift cost is based on the surgeon’s experience, the surgery location, and the amount of correction needed. Choosing your surgeon by experience and expertise is always better than by facelift costs.
Are you ready to learn more about a facelift in Colombia? Contact one of our three offices in Barranquilla, Bogóta, or Cali today to speak with a team member.