Question:
I had blepharoplasty nearly two months ago and I still have horrible bruises beneath my eyes. Is this normal? When should they be gone and what can I do in the meantime?
Answer:
Some bruising and swelling after eyelid surgery will be present because the eye area is extremely delicate. The more involved your blepharoplasty surgery was, the more bruising you may experience. The amount of time bruising lasts varies among individuals and it can last up to two to three months. It is important to be patient following your surgery, as the final result will not be evident for some time. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
I hold some weight in my face. Will a skin-only facelift be sufficient or should my muscles also be manipulated?
Answer:
Elevating only the skin will provide a very temporary correction. Appropriate elevation of the layer underlying and supporting the skin, called the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) is necessary for long-term correction.
Question:
Is there a chance that I will experience hair loss at the site of the incisions for my facelift?
Answer:
Hair loss following facelift surgery may result on occasion due to a poor scar. I design my incisions to be nearly invisible when healed, and hidden within the hairlines without hairloss.
Question:
What anesthesia is used for a facelift? Do I have a choice in what is used?
Answer:
A facelift can be performed under local or general anesthesia. Local is a great option and works very well for many patients. During the consultation, we will determine the best option that will have you as comfortable as possible during the procedure. Click here to view a video of a facelift performed under local anesthesia. (Promoting Group, please Link to Joan’s local facelift video) Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
I’m a 56-year-old male looking to have a facelift. Is there a chance that after the surgery my sideburns could be relocated to an unnatural position?
Answer:
Hello, this is unlikely. When performing a male facelift, we do our best to ensure everything appears natural and we take this into consideration when incisions are made during surgery. Thank you for the question.
Question:
I’m a 45-year-old female looking to get rid of my marionette lines. Is a facelift the right answer for me?
Answer:
It depends on your individual circumstances. The depth of the lines and the presence of any other issues you would like to correct will dictate the necessity of having a full facelift performed as opposed to addressing the marionette lines only. Perlane and Restylane work very well if you are looking for a noninvasive, temporary fix for these lines. Thank you and I hope this helps.
Question:
I’m a 60-year-old woman who wants to get a facelift but I’m scared of stories I’ve heard where the procedure can cause a windswept and very unnatural look. How do you avoid this?
Answer:
Lifting the face vertically is ideal and will result in the most natural look. Performing a sideways lift may result in a “windblown look”. The degree to which the skin is pulled depends on the circumstances of the patient. Ideally, the skin will not be pulled too tight, as this will result in an unnatural appearance. Thank you for the question.
Question:
Why is local anesthesia injected before having a facelift? Why does vascularity need to be decreased prior to surgery?
Answer:
A facelift can be performed with local or general anesthesia. Using a local for a facelift is a great option and works well for many patients. Click here to view a video of a facelift performed under local anesthesia. (Promoting Group, please link to Joan’s local facelift video) Decreasing vascularity will prevent the patient from bleeding too much, which can interfere with the surgeon performing the facelift. It is important to disclose all herbal supplements, vitamins, and medications to your surgeon prior to having a procedure performed. Taking things like aspirin, vitamin E and ibuprofen can increase bleeding which will interfere with the surgery. Thank you for the question.
Question:
I had a brow lift and eyelid surgery and I think the doctor removed too much fat because the area under my eyes now looks hollow. Is there some type of procedure to fill in this area?
Answer:
Absolutely, you have the option to add fat back to the area or a filler to reduce the hollow appearance. Restylane is a great option to reduce under-eye hollowing. Fat is a more permanent option and has around a 30% take. Thank you for the question.
Question:
Is a skin pinch a good option if you have loose skin underneath your eyes? Is this considered part of eyelid surgery or a different procedure altogether?
Answer:
A skin pinch is essentially a modified version of a lower blepharoplasty. It is a bit less involved and does not consist of everything that takes place in a normal blepharoplasty. It is a great option for removing extra skin if that is your only issue. Thank you and I hope this helps.
