Facelift in San Diego
They say that "youth is wasted on the young" and "you don't know what you have until you've lost it." How true, especially when it comes to the aging process. Fresh and youthful skin is
often taken for granted-that is, until it's not so fresh and youthful. Unfortunately, heredity, nature, gravity and personal habits all contribute to the inescapable aging process. Even the greatest
things about life-like a lifetime of laughter-can result in deep smile lines around the mouth and chin. So the bad news is that no one can escape aging. And while looking your age doesn't have to be
a bad thing, the good news is that you can look younger if you choose! As our population ages, it's no surprise that the facelift is rapidly gaining popularity.
What is a Facelift?
If the effects of aging in your face are getting you down, a facelift may be just the "lift" you need. A facelift (also known as rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that improves the visible signs of aging in the face and neck. While a facelift cannot change your fundamental appearance or stop the aging process, it's amazing what it can do. A facelift can improve things like: sagging skin, deep creases, "fallen fat" or loss of muscle tone in the lower face that create "jowls" and loose skin and excess fat under the chin and jaw that create the dreaded "turkey neck."
Is a Facelift Right for me?
While there is no age that is considered ideal for a facelift-a younger patient generally equals longer lasting and more dramatic improvements. The general rule of thumb is that if your skin still has some elasticity and you're in good general health, you're most likely a good candidate.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is why you want a facelift. It's crucial that you're doing it for you-not to please someone else-and also that you have realistic expectations. This should definitely not be a quest to achieve "perfection."
Why Choose Dr. Shumway?
Shumway Cosmetic Surgery is dedicated to the aesthetic enhancement of our patients through laser and cosmetic surgery procedures. Our office is conveniently located in beautiful La Jolla-which is in the San Diego area of Southern California.
An expert in his field, Dr. Robert A. Shumway, M.D. FACS has studied at the nation's finest medical centers and has taught cosmetic surgery techniques at Duke, UCLA and UCSD. As a trustee of the California Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, he stresses the importance of close post-operative care, carefully instructing his patients on how to expedite their own healing and recovery.
Dr. Shumway evaluates each patient personally and considers techniques that will provide exceptional results with minimal down time.
How the Facelift is Performed
Facelift surgery has come a long way over the last few years. Not that long ago the results sometimes gave people a perpetually "surprised" look-or at the very least it was obvious that your two week "vacation" was spent under a knife as opposed to under the sun. Now the results leave you looking youthful and refreshed-and people will say, "Hey! You look amazing!" not "Hey, who did your face?"
Part of this change in results is due to the improvement in techniques. Now, in addition to lifting and tightening the skin of the face, the deeper connective layers that lie beneath the skin are tightened and lifted as well and then excess skin is removed. This technique results in a more natural look while still achieving that youthful appearance. Since incisions are usually made in front of and behind the ear and into the scalp, they will be hidden by your hair and the natural contours of your face.
On the Road to Recovery
So how long before you can unveil the new you to friends and family? Well, the answer really depends on the individual as recovery time varies greatly. Drainage tubes and bandages are generally removed within the first week and bruising typically is gone within two weeks. It may take a few months for swelling to completely resolve, and your incision lines can take up to 6 months to fade.
The good news is that as the swelling and bruising reduce, the results of your facelift will appear, leaving you looking younger and refreshed.
Take the Next Step
The first step in the process is to schedule a consultation in our La Jolla office with Dr. Shumway. This will give Dr. Shumway the opportunity to hear your concerns and provide you with professional guidance. He will then identify where there might be room for improvements, discuss your options, and reveal the safest and most effective route to a satisfactory result.
In addition to the discovery session our visitors are given an opportunity to view before and after photos of others who chose Dr. Shumway as their surgeon.