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Environmental factors, stress, genes, and the natural aging process can all cause the facial skin to sag, creating a tired or worn down appearance that does not accurately reflect the vibrancy a person feels inside. For many, a facelift in our Newport Beach location is the answer to restoring a more youthful look. Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, is a highly regarded and board-certified plastic surgeon with exceptional skill in facelift techniques and full facial rejuvenation. Her state-of-the-art plastic surgery center, LEA Plastic Surgery, is renowned in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County for a deep focus on patient care and consistently natural-looking and beautiful results.
What is a Facelift?
A facelift is a cosmetic surgery that is performed to restore a more youthful appearance to the mid-to-lower face and neck. The procedure tightens and eliminates excess skin to alleviate sagging skin in the cheeks and jawline, reduce lines and wrinkles, and eliminate jowls. During a facelift, the skin is pulled back and the underlying tissues are tightened and sculpted to improve the contour of the face and address signs of aging.
Traditional Facelift vs. Mini Facelift
During traditional facelifts, a neck lift is also performed to reduce sagging of the neck and jowls. Often, this “turkey neck” or “turkey wattle” look must be resolved in order to achieve good results from a facelift. In some cases, however, a full facelift is not needed and a mini facelift alone may allow patients to reach their goals. A mini facelift typically addresses only the area from the cheeks to the jawline.
Customizing Full Facial Rejuvenation with a Facelift
Today, facelift procedures are completely customizable and procedures like a brow lift or eyelid surgery may be added to a patient’s treatment plan in order to address their unique facial aging concerns. Many patients also benefit from combining Fat transfer with a facelift to restore lost volume and to create a more natural look.
It is important to note that facelift surgery addresses only the quantity of skin, not the quality of the skin. To improve skin quality and treat problems such as dark spots, thinning of the skin, acne scarring, and fine lines, laser treatments or other collagen-boosting facial rejuvenation procedures are often recommended.
Am I a Candidate for a Facelift?
Choosing plastic surgery is a very personal decision that depends on a number of factors. Generally speaking, facelift surgery candidates include healthy individuals who are nonsmokers and do not have any medical conditions that could impair healing. Ideal candidates should have a positive outlook and realistic expectations for what full facial rejuvenation surgery can accomplish.
Most facelift patients in Newport Beach and Orange County are between the ages of 40 and 70 years of age, though candidacy is not limited to this age range. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure is to schedule a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon to discuss your goals.
Your Consultation
Patients interested in full facial rejuvenation in Newport Beach should schedule a consultation at our office as a first step. During this initial meeting, prospective patients should be prepared to discuss their surgical goals, any medical conditions, previous surgeries, and current medications. Patients should come prepared with a list of questions, however, our knowledgeable plastic surgeon Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva will often answer questions before they are even asked!
Dr. Ho Taghva will discuss your goals for surgery with you and may suggest alternative or complementary procedures depending on your desired outcomes. Photographs will be taken during the consultation and the doctor will measure and examine your face to recommend the best treatment plan.
The type of anesthesia to be used will also be discussed during this initial meeting. Most patients choose intravenous sedation with local anesthesia over general anesthesia, however, this is personalized depending on the extent of the surgery and the needs and desires of the patient.
Preparing for Surgery
Prior to having full facial rejuvenation surgery in Newport Beach, our surgeon may ask patients to have lab testing or a medical evaluation performed. Certain medications should be stopped or adjusted as directed.
It is important to stop smoking at least a few weeks before undergoing a facelift. Do not take aspirin or any anti-inflammatories a week or two before surgery since they can increase bleeding. Prepare in advance for someone to drive you to and from surgery as you will be drowsy following the procedure.
The Facelift Procedure
Our beautiful surgical facility, GALEA Center for Advanced Surgery, is located right next door to LEA Plastic Surgery. Patients do not need to visit a hospital as our state-of-the-art outpatient ambulatory surgery center is Medicare Accredited, offering the highest level of safety and comfort for patients.
Facelift surgery at our Orange County surgery center is performed on an outpatient basis. Once the anesthesia has been administered, the lifting procedure can begin. A traditional facelift involves an incision at the hairline near the temples that extends down to the base of the ear and back behind the earlobe.
Depending on the patient’s needs, fat may be redistributed using liposuction. The underlying tissue is repositioned and the deep layers of the face and muscles are lifted. Finally, the excess skin is trimmed and the skin is gently pulled back and sutured to create a naturally rejuvenated appearance. This will also reduce the appearance of wrinkles in some areas of the face.
If it is part of the treatment plan, a second incision is made beneath the chin to lift the skin of the neck, allowing Dr. Ho Taghva to begin removing excess skin and fat. This is known as a neck lift, a procedure that is often performed as part of a facelift. Many patients will also opt to undergo an eyelid lift or brow lift in conjunction with a facelift. The procedure can take several hours, depending on the extent of the treatment plan.
The Recovery
Immediately After Facelift Surgery
Right after a facelift, bruising and swelling will naturally occur. This lasts about two to three weeks, though some people heal more quickly than others. Following surgery, it is important to have a family member or friend care for you for at least through the first night. Pain medications should be taken as prescribed by our office.
Two Days After Your Facelift Plastic Surgery
The second day after surgery, Dr. Ho Taghva will often schedule a follow-up visit where she will change the surgical dressing and evaluate the incisions. If everything looks normal, she will re-dress the area and review all post-operative care instructions.
The First Week After Facelift Surgery
By days four to six, most people can stop taking pain medications. Swelling should have gone down somewhat and you can start to be more active. From days 7-14, some swelling and bruising may remain in the face, however, it will have significantly subsided by this point.
Sometimes sutures can be removed as early as one week after surgery, but some individuals will have them removed near the two or three-week mark. Most people are ready to return to work two weeks after surgery. Exercise will need to be postponed for several more weeks. It’s important to understand that recovery times vary from patient to patient.
What Are the Possible Side Effects or Risks of Surgery?
As with all surgeries, there are risks and possible complications involved with a facelift. Choosing a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your facelift surgery will keep all risks to a minimum. However, patients should be aware of the possible risks, which include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Anesthesia complications
- Facial nerve damage
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Hair loss at incision site
- Numbness
Why Should I Choose Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva?
Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva is one of the top Facelift surgeons in Newport Beach and Orange County. Patients from all over the country and those local to Southern California, including Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, travel to LEA Plastic Surgery for a Facelift surgery in Newport Beach. Some patients even travel internationally for her expertise.
Due to her many years of experience performing Facelift surgery, Dr. Ho Taghva is keenly attuned to the delicate complexities of the facial features. She is an exceptional surgeon who is:
- Board-certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Received additional post-residency training in Korea for Asian Aesthetic Surgery
- Experienced in a diverse range of surgeries including Asian rhinoplasty, Asian blepharoplasty, breast lift, full facial rejuvenation, facelifts, and endoscopic brow lifts
- Understands the Asian cultural background
- Highly skilled in cosmetic surgery and provides natural-looking changes that match each patient’s goals, add beauty, and bring facial harmony while preserving unique Asian aesthetics
- Keenly attuned to the delicate complexities of the Asian nose and facial features
Frequently Asked Questions
While recovery time is different for everyone, bruising and swelling should last only about two to three weeks. During this time, patients may not be ready to return to work, but they often feel much better after the first few days.
A full facelift provides the most dramatic results, which can last up to 15 years and help to slow down the aging process. Mini facelift surgery results last between two to six years on average.
While there are no nonsurgical procedures that can replicate the results of a surgical facelift, there are effective alternatives for patients with less severe facial aging or less sagging skin. Non-surgical “facelift” procedures include non-invasive techniques to address fine lines, deep creases, sunken cheeks, etc. Some of the available options for people who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgery include:
• Threadlifting
• Vivace (microneedling enhanced with radiofrequency energy) with growth factors
• Laser resurfacing
• Liquid facelift with fillers
• Botox
• Chemical peels
