Over time, a person’s face will lose some of its underlying structure and gravity will pull the skin downward. There are many factors that contribute to this process; sun exposure, genetics, and the natural aging process are thought to be the main causes. When you are young, the fatty tissue in your face is evenly distributed, which makes it smooth and taut. As you age the skin begins to sag and folds become prominent around your chin, jaw line, and neck.

What is a Facelift?

A facelift involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles as well as the removal of any excess skin. Dr. Will performs rhytidectomies, or facelifts, to enhance your appearance and correct conditions like the following:

• Deep wrinkles or ‘smile lines’
• Sagging cheeks
• Heavy jowls
• Loose neck skin

A face lift is often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgeries such as blepharoplasty, brow lift, chin augmentation, liposuction, fat grafting and rhinoplasty.

How much does a facelift cost?

At Will Surgical Arts in Frederick County, the approximate cost of face lift surgery is 7,000 to 8,000 dollars. Because the procedure is tailored to meet each patient's unique needs, the cost of a facelift varies. View information on our financing plans.

Before Your Facelift

Before surgery, we evaluate your medical history in order to determine your overall health. Dr. Will can discuss with you your expectations, goals, and whether they can be achieved through face-lift surgery. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. We use photographs and computer imaging to document the process and the results.

We will provide you with preoperative instructions that may include the elimination of specific drugs containing aspirin and herbal and vitamin supplements before surgery to minimize excess bleeding. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to prevent infection. You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. A small amount of hair may be shaved around your ears and temples.

Facelift Surgery in Maryland

A face lift can be performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia in our state-of-the-art surgical facility. These options will be discussed in detail with you. Premedication is administered for relaxation. Incisions are made inside the hairline at the temple, running in front of the ear then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending in the hair of the scalp.

The loose skin is separated from underlying tissue and gently pulled up and back. Excess skin is removed. Sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Small sutures are used to close the incisions. The procedure may take up to several hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time.

Facelift Postoperative Care – After Face Lift Surgery

We recommend that you have a capable helper at home for the first several days after your surgery to assist you with your post-surgical wound care. Bandages are applied to the area of surgery and are removed within a few days. Pain is moderate and controlled with oral medications. Your sutures are removed within the first 5 to 10 days. In order to minimize scarring, Dr. Will may remove the sutures in stages.

After facelift surgery, the swelling and discoloration decrease within two weeks. Tightness in your face will be present for several weeks and there may be slight changes in your hair pattern around the incision. We also recommend avoiding sun exposure for several weeks after surgery. Healing is gradual so you might not notice final results for up to 6 months. The results vary between patients, but most of them are pleased with their new, more youthful appearance.

If you're seeking a facelift in Frederick, Maryland or the Washington D.C. area, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michael Will. Contact Will Surgical Arts in Maryland to inquire about an appointment at our Urbana Maryland practice. Call our office at 301.874.1707 for more information.

View our facelift before and after photos to see the results we have achieved here at Will Surgical Arts.