FACELIFTTHE BEST FR IEND GUIDE

ABOUTPHILLIP LANGSDON, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Langsdon obtained his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical

Sciences, where he was awarded The Medical Student Research Fellowship, The March of

Dimes Medical Student Research Fellowship, and The Summer Oncology Fellowship. He

was named the Barton Scholar upon graduation. He first trained in Otolaryngology-Head

& Neck Surgery at Indiana University; then he underwent advanced training in a year

long Fellowship devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery of the face at the American

Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Langsdon’s private practice has been limited to Facial Plastic Surgery for over twenty-

five years. He is a tenured Professor at the University of Tennessee and Chief of the

Division of Facial Plastic Surgery. He has authored several medical articles, book chapters,

and a medical textbook. He has given over 100 medical lectures on topics related to

plastic surgery of the face. He has appeared nationally on The Today Show, Headline

News (worldwide), CSPAN, and has been quoted in national publications. He has been

selected for inclusion in Best Doctors in America list by Woodward/White, Inc. Dr.

Langsdon is also listed in the Guide to Americas’ Top Physicians by Consumer’s Research

Council of America.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR

FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEONTake your time thinking about which plastic surgeon you would like to

perform your facelift. Look into following about your facial plastic

surgeon before your consultation:

• Facial plastic surgery specialty

• Facial plastic surgery board-certification

• Years of experience and training

• Hospital privileges

• Surgical facility and accreditation by national or state agency

Ask for referrals from friends and family, research plastic surgeons in

your area, and contact the following professional organizations:

• American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

(AAFPRS)

• American College of Surgeons (FACS)

• Fellowship Trained

QUESTIONSFOR YOUR CONSULTATION

A consultation for a facelift includes a discussion of how you would like your face to look as well as your concerns about the

procedure. Approach your facial plastic surgeon with the following questions and evaluate his/her bedside manner:

• Are you certified by the American Board Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery?

• Were you specifically trained in the field of facial plastic surgery? How many years of facial plastic surgery training

have you had?

• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?

• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-

licensed or Medicare-certified?

• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

• What will be expected of me to get the best results?

• Where and how will you perform my procedure?

• What surgical technique is recommended for me?

• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?

• What are the risks and complications associated with a facelift? How are complications handled?

• How can I expect my face to look over time?

INTRODUCTION

FACELIFT

Facelift surgery is an accepted treatment that can help both men and

women regain a more youthful appearance. The out-of-date attitude of

belittling cosmetic surgery has been replaced with the knowledge that

there is a way to help us improve some of the signs of aging. At The

Langsdon Clinic, we strive to reverse the signs of aging while preserving

the “natural appearance.”

A facelift (Rhytidectomy) procedure is designed to reduce sagging caused

by loose skin and muscles and drooping, fatty tissues of the face and

upper neck. The operation is done to treat the relatively early signs of

aging or to improve the advanced signs in older patients. If the sagging is

significant, the results of surgery may be more dramatic. In younger

patients, the results may be more subtle; they may simply “look less tired.”

FACELIFTAREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

The following areas can be treated by a facelift procedure:

• Lower face

• Jowls

• Upper neck

Other procedures may be recommended to improve the eyelids, eyebrows,

forehead, or mid cheek. Wrinkles cannot be “pulled out” with a face-lift, and areas

of facial deflation (the groove between the eyes and upper cheek, the folds along

the sides of the mouth, cheek depressions) cannot be eradicated with a facelift.

In patients with thick or fatty cheeks and neck, the tissues may not be as mobile and

the contouring obtained may be somewhat less than that obtained in a patient with

thin tissues.

THE ALTERNATIVE

MID-FACE LIFT

A mid-face lift treats the sagging of the upper cheeks and

the surrounding area. The traditional facelift may fully

improve the upper cheek and lower eyelid areas of the face,

which often sink in, or flatten, and sag with age.

A mid-face lift elevates the upper cheek, improving fullness to

the area below the eyes and upper cheeks, helping restore a

refreshed fullness, more like that found in younger people. A

mid-face lift is quicker than a traditional facelift. It can

enhance the cheek bone area and improve the smile lines.

THE ALTERNATIVE

DAYLIFTThe DayLift is an innovative technique designed to improve sagging cheeks and

jowls. It may remove years from one’s appearance during a single, one-hour

procedure. The DayLift is a true lift that supports the skin, connective tissue, and

muscles instead of only tightening the facial skin. The DayLift provides natural-

appearing results with less bruising and swelling than more extensive procedures.

General Anesthesia is not needed and most patients return to light activities much

sooner than with a full-lower facelift.

Although the results can sometimes be dramatic, the DayLift cannot produce the

results of a more extensive facelift. It cannot remove asymmetries, wrinkles, or stop

the aging process. It cannot improve an extensively sagging or fatty neck.

Dr. Langsdon developed the DayLift for the patient who needs only minimal

improvement of the cheeks and jowls or who might not want a full-lower facelift.

THE PREPARATION

FACELIFT

Preoperatively, medications are given to begin relaxation and help minimize

swelling and bruising. The procedure is usually performed at the clinic’s

outpatient surgical center. “Twilight” sedation is used and is supplemented by

local anesthesia. Most patients have no discomfort during the procedure.

The face is divided into several areas of concern: the neck, the lower cheek-

jowl, the upper cheek, eyelids, and the forehead. The facelift deals with the

lower cheek-jowl and neck. It does not treat the forehead, eyelids, or

cheekbone areas.

Normally, we do not shave the hair in preparation for the procedure. Not

having to wait for hair to re-grow makes it easier to camouflage

postoperative healing.

FACELIFTTHE PROCEDURE

The incision for the lower cheek-jowl-neck operation begins in the

temple hair and extends down just in front of the ear, around the ear

lobe, up behind the ear, and then backward along the hairline.

Through this incision, the skin is elevated out into the cheeks, and neck.

The underlying muscle and connective tissues are raised and

repositioned with sutures to help support these underlying facial

structures of the cheek-jowl and upper neck. Excess skin is then

removed.

A small incision is usually placed in a crease under the chin. Through

this incision, fatty accumulation in the upper neck may be improved

and the muscles may be tightened. The skin edges are secured with

absorbable sutures in front of the ear and under the chin; and small

skin clips may be used for the incisions along the hairline.

THE RECOVERY

FACELIFT

During your facelift recovery, a bandage might be placed around

your face to minimize swelling and bruising once your procedure is

completed.

Thin tubes may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that

may collect under the skin.

You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care

for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally

to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific

concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health,

and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

POTENTIAL

RISKSThe decision to have a facelift is extremely personal, and the following

potential risks and complications should be taken into consideration:

• Anesthesia risks

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Poor wound healing and skin loss

• Facial nerve injury with weakness

• Temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions

• Fluid accumulation

• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation

• Persistent pain

• Unfavorable scarring

• Prolonged swelling

• Skin irregularities and discoloration

• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin

• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications

BEFORE & AFTERPHOTO GALLERY

These are real images of our past patients, so you can see the satisfactory results of facelifts done by Dr. Langsdon.

Consider them a helpful tool that enables you to visualize the end product of the procedure. If you are interested in

viewing more and finding something similar to your desired face, please view our Facelift Photo Gallery.

OTHER HELPFUL

RESOURCESYour journey is only beginning. If you’re interested in doing more

research, please visit the websites listed below. These resources will help

you connect with the plastic surgery community, so you can learn more and

ask more questions about facelifts.

• American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

www.abfprs.org

• The Langsdon Clinic

www.drlangsdon.com

• American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive

Surgery

www.aafprs.org