Facelift Surgery in Orlando

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries we complete at Hillcrest Plastic Surgery. Depending on your aesthetic goals, it may involve repositioning fat or injecting fillers around the neck, cheeks, lips and jowls. It focuses on eliminating sagging skin, wrinkles and other signs of aging and delivering a more vibrant appearance.

The ideal candidate for the rhytidectomy procedure are adult men and women in good overall health who are seeking a way to address sagging and aging skin on the lower half of the face. Patients should be within their ideal weight range, consider the complications and risks involved in surgery, and are seeking a long-term solution to aging skin. We also encourage patients to have realistic expectations as to what can be achieved with this and other plastic surgery procedures they are considering. 

Ultimately, the best way to determine which type of facelift is the best solution for your needs is to consult with a facial plastic surgeon. During your consultation, Dr. Kenrick A. Spence or Dr. Fernando Ovalle will assess your individual needs and goals to create a treatment plan or provide recommendations based on this information.

The length of time needed depends on the type of facelift:

• A component facelift typically requires 10 to 14 days.
• A MACS lift typically involves 5 to 7 days.

Although there are some guidelines you must follow after your Orlando facelift with Dr. Spence and Dr. Ovalle, you'll most likely find the recovery process to be fairly smooth. Here are some tips:

• Sleeping with your neck in a neutral position, with your head slightly elevated, can be helpful after a face lift in Orlando. Your positioning must put the least possible tension on your neck. An elevated position will help to resolve swelling.
• While the judicious use of ice packs may be helpful, extreme cold or heat after your face lift can be harmful. Remember that your skin has temporarily lost sensation so it is less able to detect injury from extreme hot or cold; in addition, extreme temperature changes can interfere with blood flow.
• No Smoking. If your surgeon has asked you to stop smoking it is important that you continue to do so. Smoking can lead to skin death and skin slough by impairing circulation. Second hand smoke can be just as bad.
• Clean your suture line as instructed by your surgeon and apply a thin coat of antibiotic ointment (specifically prescribed by your surgeon). Let Dr. Spence and Dr. Ovalle know about any allergies you have.
• If you had a peeling procedure in conjunction with your face lift, it is important that your skin be kept clean and moist; do not allow it to dry out.
• Straining or heavy lifting can lead to increased blood flow to the head, causing bleeding and collections of blood beneath the skin (hematoma). Only resume heavy lifting when directed to do so by your surgeon.
• Seek specific instructions from your surgeon on when your hair can be washed and styled. You should not scrub your scalp rigorously. Placing chemicals and curling irons in your hair can also be harmful if it is done too soon after your face lift.
• For several weeks after a face lift, your face will be extremely sensitive to the sun; this is even more the case if a peeling procedure was also performed. Liberal use of sun block is required. If you are on a skin care regimen, talk with your surgeon to determine when to resume this. In Dr. Spence and Dr. Ovalle's Orlando practice, face lift patients are usually told they can resume their combination of tretinoin and hydraquinone after about 7 to 10 days.

No, we do not require all patients to follow a customized skin care regimen. However, we have found that by repairing the signs of aging skin using a skin care regimen prior to your procedure, we can dramatically enhance the results of your facelift.

Yes, garlic, fish oil, aspirin, vitamin E and any medications that would interfere with wound healing should be stopped before your facelift. Consult your primary care doctor before changing any medications.

Yes, cigarette smoke has many toxins which impair healing and prevent adequate blood flow and hence oxygen to the tissues. For that reason, Dr. Spence does not perform facelift surgery on active smokers. You must stop smoking for a minimum of four months before surgery.

I offer a variety of techniques and technologies to minimize facelift scars, including lasers, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), topical silicone, and mild steroids.

BOTOX Cosmetic is used both in the upper and lower face for our Orlando patients. A lower facelift will eliminate some of the need to use BOTOX Cosmetic in the lower face, such as bands in the neck. However, it does not address a wrinkled forehead or deep lines between the brows. You may want to consider other procedures, such as brow lift, to address such concerns, or you may continue with the use of BOTOX Cosmetic.

In such cases, I specifically design the component facelift to address those areas. The result: a slender, youthful neck with a sharp but elegant jawline.

Yes, a facelift can be repeated. However, it's important to choose a specialist experienced in revisionary facelifts. Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon for those details.

Yes! A male facelift can enhance your masculine features and restore a more youthful appearance. You can boost your confidence with our masterful male facelifts performed by a board-certified facelift surgeon at Hillcrest Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Kenrick Spence and Dr. Fernando Ovalle understand that men typically want more prominent features and do not want a facelift that will make them look more feminine. One of our specialized male facelift surgeons will utilize their knowledge of facial anatomy and advanced facelift techniques to sculpt strong features to enhance your masculine look.