Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Face lifts (Rhytidectomy)
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Rhytidectomy?
Procedure Benefits
- Remove excess fat and skin on the face and neck
- Tighten the facial muscles
- Reshape and redefine the skin on the face and neck
Private Consultation
Your plastic surgeon in our conveniently located Cincinnati offices will carefully examine the skin and bones on your face and neck to determine whether you are a candidate for a facelift. You will discuss your goals and expectations, and the surgeon will explain the surgical options. Your surgeon may suggest other procedure options in conjunction with a facelift to give you a more complete rejuvenation of your face, including the eyebrows, eyelids, and nose. The surgeon will evaluate your overall health to ascertain that you are able to undergo this procedure. You should be prepared to discuss your complete medical history, including previous procedures and any medications you are taking (including vitamins). You will receive instructions to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and which medications/vitamins should be avoided. You will also discuss the cost of the procedure, keeping in mind that this is an elective procedure which is not covered by most insurance companies.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. For at least two weeks prior to surgery, you must stop taking any blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements. After you have scheduled a surgery date, you will make an appointment for pre-admission testing and a physical exam. The surgery should take place within 2 weeks after the results of these tests have been returned. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, taking vitamins and medications, and smoking. Smoking should be stopped 2-3 months before the operation because it reduces the blood supply to tissue. In fact, some surgeons will refuse to perform elective surgery on smokers due to this risk. You should arrange for someone to drive you home from our Cincinnati offices after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed.
Procedure Overview
The procedure is performed in 3-4 hours with an overnight stay in our surgical facility in West Chester. You will receive general anaesthesia or a combination of local and regional anaesthesia. An incision is made above the hairline at the temple, just above and in front of the ear, and then continues around the lobe, behind the ear and continuing into the scalp area. A small incision may also be made under the chin if the surgeon needs to work on the neck. The skin is separated from the fat and muscle below, excess fat is removed, and the underlying muscle and skin are tightened. Sutures are used to close the incision(s), and your head is wrapped in gauze or an elastic bandage.
Recovery and Healing Time
Patients can expect some swelling, bruising and discomfort around the treated areas, which are helped by prescribed pain medication and bandages or a compression garment. Most sutures are removed in 5-7 days. You may be told by your surgeon to keep your head elevated and relaxed for a couple of days after surgery in order to reduce the swelling. You can begin light exercise in 2-3 weeks, but avoid strenuous activity. Avoid strenuous physical activity, alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Some bruising may persist for 2-3 weeks, but you will begin to feel better around 3 weeks after surgery. Most patients return to work in 10-14 days after surgery. It may take several months to adjust to your new look. The scars are usually hidden by your hair or the natural creases of your face and ears, but they will fade in time.
Procedure Risks
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Swelling
- Redness
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Asymmetry (between sides)
- Facial nerve injury — rare and usually temporary
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
