Facelift
Facelift at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa
As life unfolds, the face can begin to show the subtle, and sometimes more pronounced, imprints of time. A facelift offers a refined solution to rejuvenate your appearance, restoring a rested, more youthful harmony to your features.
This trusted procedure is chosen for its ability to smooth lines, tighten contours, and refresh your overall look with remarkably natural-looking outcomes. At Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa in Kalispell, MT, our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Michelle Spring and Dr. Michael Hromadka, combine artistic precision with deep expertise to guide you.
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A facelift, formally known as a rhytidectomy, is a specialized surgical procedure crafted to revitalize the appearance of the face and neck. Over time, factors like gravity, sun exposure, and the natural aging process can lead to a loss of skin elasticity, muscle laxity, and descent of facial tissues. This can result in sagging jowls, deep creases around the mouth and nose, and loose skin on the neck, often creating a tired or older appearance.
The fundamental purpose of a facelift is to lift and reposition the underlying facial tissues and muscles, remove excess skin, and smooth prominent folds, thereby restoring more youthful contours and a refreshed facial aesthetic.
Your facial cosmetic surgery is meticulously planned and performed, with your comfort and safety as our highest priorities. Upon your arrival at our modern surgery center in Kalispell, MT, our compassionate team will welcome you and ensure you are prepared for your procedure.
A facelift typically involves the surgeon making incisions concealed in the ear’s natural creases and along the hairline. After making the incisions, your surgeon lifts the skin and repositions the layer of facial muscle and tissue that provides structure to the skin, called the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS).
This technique prevents the “windswept” appearance that comes from simply pulling the skin tight.
Instead, the surgeons carefully re-drape the skin, removing some excess, so you’ll look like a more youthful version of yourself. How long the results of your facelift will last depends on your age at the time of surgery and factors such as your skin quality, genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. Whether you consult with Dr. Spring or Dr. Hromadka, each surgeon takes the time needed to discuss your concerns and recommend the best approach to achieve your goals.
A SMAS facelift addresses the lower area of the face and neck, tightening jowls and neck skin, minimizing nasolabial folds, and improving the contours of the cheeks. It doesn’t address sagging eyelids or a droopy brow.
Patients often combine eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), or a brow lift (or forehead lift) with a facelift. If the texture of your skin is rough or you want to minimize discoloration, our surgeons can also perform laser skin treatments with facial rejuvenation surgery. We will explore your treatment options with you during your initial consultation. Many patients find it helpful to understand their financing options before receiving their personalized quote.
A facelift is specifically designed to effectively combat the most common and prominent visible signs of aging that develop in the mid-to-lower face and neck, helping to restore a more youthful and alert expression. It thoughtfully addresses:
By comprehensively tackling these concerns, a facelift can significantly turn back the clock on your appearance.
A facelift comprehensively rejuvenates the mid-face, lower face, and neck, creating a seamless and harmonious transition for a refreshed overall appearance.
Facelift surgery offers transformative advantages that extend beyond aesthetic improvement, profoundly impacting your self-perception and how you engage with the world.
One of the most profound benefits is the dramatic yet natural rejuvenation of your face. By lifting and tightening sagging skin and repositioning underlying tissues, a facelift can effectively take years off your appearance, making you look more rested, vibrant, and aligned with how young you feel inside. It’s about looking like a refreshed version of yourself.
As part of the aging process, the graceful lines of the jawline can soften, and jowls may develop. A facelift meticulously redefines these contours, creating a sharper, more elegant jawline and a smoother neck.
Unlike many non-surgical options that offer temporary improvements, a facelift provides remarkably durable and long-lasting outcomes. By addressing the deeper structures of the face, the results are foundational and designed to withstand the test of time. Patients typically enjoy their refreshed appearance for a decade or more, making it a significant investment in enduring beauty.
Living with visible signs of aging that don't align with your inner vitality can impact self-esteem. A successful facelift can lead to a profound boost in confidence, empowering you to feel more comfortable and proud of your reflection. This renewed sense of self can positively influence various aspects of your life, from social interactions to personal pursuits, allowing your inner light to truly shine.
A facelift is typically a thoughtful consideration for individuals who are experiencing moderate to significant visible signs of aging in their mid-to-lower face and neck, and who are seeking a comprehensive and long-lasting rejuvenation.
Ideal candidates are generally in good overall health, are non-smokers, and possess realistic expectations about the procedure's capabilities. It's important to understand that a facelift enhances your natural features rather than creating a completely new appearance. During your personalized, no-pressure consultation in Kalispell, MT, or if you're visiting from Whitefish, Missoula, Great Falls, or Helena, Dr. Spring or Dr. Hromadka will meticulously evaluate your facial anatomy, discuss your medical history, and collaboratively determine if a facelift is the most appropriate and beneficial path to achieve your desired refreshed look.
Your facelift recovery can be divided into two phases:
Recovery after a facelift often involves less discomfort than patients expect. Prescription medication may be needed, but some patients manage pain with over-the-counter pain relievers.
You will observe immediate improvements in your facial contours right after your facelift, as sagging skin is lifted and repositioned. However, initial swelling and bruising will temporarily obscure the full extent of your transformation. As this swelling progressively resolves over the weeks and months following your procedure, the true, refined, and natural-looking results will beautifully emerge.
Most significant changes are typically apparent by 3 to 6 months, with subtle enhancements and final settling continuing for up to a full year. The revitalizing effects of a facelift are designed to be long-lasting. By addressing the deeper underlying tissues and muscles, and carefully redraping the skin, a facelift effectively "sets back the clock" on your facial appearance. While the natural aging process will continue, the fundamental improvements achieved by your facelift are profoundly durable. Most patients enjoy their refreshed, more youthful appearance for 10 to 15 years, or even longer. The procedure provides a lasting foundation, ensuring you continue to look years younger than if you had not undergone the surgery, and age gracefully from your new, rejuvenated baseline.
Men and women who have facelift surgery at our Kalispell plastic surgery practice often say they want their faces to reflect the energy and youthfulness they feel inside.
Sagging skin, jowls, and neck wrinkles, however, send a very different message. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Michelle Spring and Dr. Michael Hromadka, specialize in facial rejuvenation and create results that look refreshed yet natural for patients from Whitefish and Great Falls, Montana; Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, Idaho; and throughout the Northwest..
The combination of surgical skill and decades of experience sets Dr. Spring and Dr. Hromadka apart from other plastic surgeons not just in Kalispell, but throughout Montana and the Northwest. Assisted by Kristy Ehrmantraut, PA-C, their surgical physician assistant, Dr. Spring and Dr. Hromadka are known for their down-to-earth personalities and for spending the time to truly understand their patients’ goals.
Are you ready to discover how facelift surgery at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa can help you look as good as you feel? To discuss your options with one of our two highly trained plastic surgeons, request a consultation using the online form. Or you can call our office at (406) 609-0210 to schedule an appointment.
There isn't a single "ideal" age for a facelift; it depends entirely on individual signs of aging and your personal concerns. Most patients who choose a facelift are typically in their 40s through 70s, when they notice moderate to significant sagging, jowls, or loose neck skin.
Our board-certified surgeons, Dr. Spring and Dr. Hromadka, specialize in advanced facelift techniques that lift and reposition underlying tissues and muscles, not just the skin. This approach ensures a remarkably natural, refreshed appearance that avoids an "overly tight" or "pulled" look, preserving your authentic expressions.
Yes, a comprehensive facelift typically includes significant rejuvenation of the neck area. It effectively addresses loose neck skin, prominent bands, and a poorly defined jawline, creating a smoother, more elegant contour that seamlessly blends with your rejuvenated face. While a neck lift can be performed as a standalone procedure, it is most commonly combined with a facelift for enhanced, seamless results.
A traditional facelift provides comprehensive rejuvenation of the mid-face, lower face, and neck. A mini-facelift is a less extensive procedure that typically targets more isolated areas of early jowling and neck laxity, with shorter incisions and generally less downtime. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for your goals.
The duration of a facelift procedure varies based on its complexity and whether it's combined with other procedures, but it generally takes approximately 3 to 5 hours to perform, focusing on meticulous detail and achieving optimal results.
Incisions for a facelift are strategically placed in discreet locations within the hairline and around the ears. While scars are inevitable, they are designed to be well-concealed and typically mature and fade significantly over time, becoming very inconspicuous.
While light walking is encouraged soon after surgery to aid circulation, strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and vigorous exercise should be strictly avoided for at least 3-4 weeks, or as specifically advised by your surgeon during your recovery appointments.
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