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Facelift in Birmingham AL

Rejuvenate Your Face to Match Your Youthful Outlook on Life

Facelift model

The loss of youthful contours in the face can be due to variety of factors, including thinning of the skin, loss of facial fat, gravity, sun damage, smoking, heredity and stress.

A Facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a plastic surgery procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:

The renowned Birmingham, Alabama plastic surgeons at our cosmetic surgery center take special pride in designing each facelift procedure to refresh your look while preserving the natural contours of your face. We carefully listen to the unique goals of each patient so that we can make you feel more confident and attractive.

If the appearance of your face doesn't properly reflect your youthful outlook on life, a facelift at Hedden & Gunn Plastic Surgery can give you a firmer facial appearance with natural results. Contact us today to get started with your facelift consultation.

Facelift Candidates

In general, good candidates for a facelift include:

Other procedures that may be performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes. Fat transfer or dermal fillers may be suggested to replace the lost fatty volume. Skin treatments such as IPL, dermabrasion, peels or laser may be offered to improve the quality and texture of the skin.

As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.

A facelift can only be performed surgically; minimally invasive rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery.

Your Facelift Consultation

During your facelift consultation, be prepared to discuss:

Your facelift surgeon will also:

Facelift Risks and Safety

Each patient must decide if the benefits of facelift surgery will achieve their goals, and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. The risks of a facelift include:

Facelift risks will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all of your concerns about risks with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.

Preparing for a Facelift

In preparing for a facelift, you may be asked to:

Special instructions you receive will cover:

Facelift procedures are performed at our accredited Outpatient Surgery Facility in Birmingham, Alabama. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.

Facelift Procedure

Facelift surgery is performed using intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will recommend the best choice for you.

Facelift Incisions

Depending on the degree of change you would like to see, your facelift choices include a traditional facelift, a limited incision facelift or a neck lift.

Traditional Facelift

A traditional facelift incision often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls and neck and underlying tissue is repositioned, commonly the deeper layers of the face and the muscles are also lifted. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away.

A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.

Traditional facelift before and after with incision location
Traditional Facelift incision

Limited Incision Facelift

An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear. "Mini-lifts" are usually reserved for patients with less skin relaxation, as the results are less rejuvenating than a full facelift.

Limited facelift before and after with incision location
Limited Facelift incision

Neck Lift

Sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin may be addressed with a neck lift. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe, wraps around behind the ear and ends in the posterior hair behind the ear.

Neck lift incision before and after with incision location
Neck Lift incision

Endoscopic Subperiosteal Facelift

The subperiosteal facelift rejuvenates the mid-face area around the cheeks and below the eyes. This less invasive, endoscopic approach repositions the fat pads of your cheeks up and over the cheekbones where they belong. The small incisions are placed inconspicuously in the mouth and temple, resulting in minimal scarring. This redraping improves the nasal furrows caused by drooping fat pads.

Closing the Incisions

The incisions for a facelift are closed with sutures that may dissolve or may need to be removed after a few days. Some surgeons use skin glues to seal the incisions.

Facelift Recovery

Following completion of a facelift, a bandage might be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising. Small tubes may be present to draw off any excess blood or fluid.

Your plastic surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery. Following these instructions is essential to the success of your facelift. The instructions may include:

Endoscopic Subperiosteal Facelift Recovery

Most patients experience a minimal amount of discomfort following an endoscopic subperiosteal facelift. The benefits of this facelift include no visible incisions, minimal scarring, less bleeding, no hair loss, minimal numbness and a much quicker recovery compared to traditional surgical techniques.

Facelift Results

The visible improvements of a facelift with Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn or Dr. Joshua Halka appear once swelling and bruising subside. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.

While most people are presentable to the public within 10 to 14 days, it will take 2 to 3 months for the face to feel "back to normal" in terms of texture, sensibility and loss of tightness.

Continuing daily sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of your facelift.

Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.

Although good results are expected, there can be no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

Facelift Words to Know

Procedure Information © American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Hedden and Gunn Plastic Surgery

Facelift with our Alabama plastic surgeons improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck with natural results.

Birmingham, AL Office & Surgery Suites

Hedden & Gunn Plastic Surgery
140 Village Street
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-980-1744 or 800-HeddenMD
American Society of Plastic Surgeons* American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery*
* Dr. William Hedden, Dr. Stephen Gunn
Hedden and Gunn Plastic Surgery

Contact Us Today

Questions About Facial Rejuvenation?

Contact our cosmetic surgeons today to find out more restoring a younger look with Birmingham, AL Facelift at Hedden & Gunn.

To schedule your consultation at the earliest possible date, please call 205-980-1744.

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