February 2017 - Huntsville Alabama Oral | Facial & Cosmetic Surgery

Facelift Risks and Safety | Huntsville Cosmetic Surgery | Athens A facelift is a well-established and commonly performed cosmetic procedure, but like any other surgery, it has certain risks associated with it. At the time of initial consultation, the surgeon will apprise the patient of the potential risks and help the patient make a carefully considered choice.

Dr. Landon McLain provides facelift and several other surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. Dr. McLain will answer all the questions and concerns of the patient during the consultation, and educate them about the surgery. He provides facelift to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other cities in the region.

Common Risks

Poor Reaction to Anesthesia

In many cases, facelift will be performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The procedure is very safe, but if the patient suffers from a specific health condition, they may have increased risk of an adverse response to anesthesia.

Infection

Infection risks are unavoidable during and after the facelift surgical procedure. However, the risk can be minimized if the hospital or the surgery center adheres to the sanitation protocols, and the patient carefully follows the surgeon’s post-surgical care instructions. The incision areas should be protected against dust or dirt to prevent infection.

Hematoma

If bleeding occurs below the skin, it can cause hematoma. The patient may experience some discomfort as well as swelling and skin discoloration in case of hematoma. The surgeon may have to perform a corrective procedure to repair this condition.

Nerve Damage

In rare situations, a facial nerve may get cut, nicked or cauterized during the surgery. This may lead to numbness in the incision area or facial paralysis. However, in many cases, repair is possible and the damage will not be permanent.

Unfavorable Scarring

Some amount of scarring is unavoidable in any surgical procedure such as facelift. However, a skilled surgeon can ensure that the scars remain discreet due to smaller and carefully placed incisions. In rare cases, scarring can be conspicuous and marks may not be hidden in the hair or behind the ear.

Minimizing the Risks

It is possible to minimize the risk of complications in case of facelift surgery. To start with, the patient should choose a fully trained and qualified cosmetic surgeon. A dedicated surgeon will adopt advanced, less invasive techniques, invest in continuing education, and follow the latest safety protocols.

The patients, on their part, should be willing to disclose complete relevant information about their health condition and specific lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol. This will allow the surgeon to advise appropriate precautions and adjust the procedure as needed. The patient will be required to stop smoking for a certain time period prior to the surgery, and they should stay committed to it.

Managing Side Effects

Temporary side effects will typically dissipate over a period of few days or weeks. To manage the post-op condition, the patient may use prescription or over the counter pain medications with the surgeon’s advice. Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other communities across the region for facelift surgery and various other procedures.

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here. Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Facelift Surgery

A facelift has emerged has one of the more sought after cosmetic surgery procedures over the last decade. Both women and men can choose this surgery to regain a youthful facial appearance. Pre-op consultation is an important component of the facelift procedure, and will constitute the basis for a custom facelift surgery plan.

Dr. Landon McLain provides facelift and various other surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other cities spread across the region. Dr. McLain will closely engage with the patient and educate them about facelift during the initial consultation.

Determining Candidacy

To begin with, the surgeon would like to determine whether the patient is a suitable candidate for facelift surgery. They will review the patient’s health records and ask questions about their current health status. If the patient has any underlying medical condition, it may have to be addressed first before going ahead with facelift. The surgeon will also advise the patient about adjusting any current medications, if necessary.

Some patients may have to go through certain medical tests or allergy tests. The patient’s age, skin type, amount of skin laxity in the face, and body profile will be reviewed to determine whether facelift may be recommended as an independent surgery or in conjunction with other procedures such as neck lift, upper face procedures or non-surgical treatments such as Botox and facial fillers.

Evaluating Cosmetic Goals

The surgeon would like to understand what exactly may be bothering the patient about their existing facial appearance. Some patients may want to dramatically improve their facial youth, while some others may only want subtle changes to maintain the current look or delay the onset of deeper signs of facial aging.

Based on the patient’s specific cosmetic needs and goals, the surgeon will decide on the best surgical technique for facelift, and whether additional procedures may be necessary. A surgical plan tailored to meet the unique requirements of the patient will be prepared. Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for facelift and other innovative and advanced procedures.

Patient Education

A committed surgeon will use the consultation opportunity to apprise the patient on various aspects of facelift and explain its benefits and limitations. They will also answer the patient’s questions and concerns related to the surgery as well as their own practice, and inform about the estimated costs. These facts will help the patient to make a well-considered decision.

The consultation process will also be utilized to help the patient develop realistic expectations. The surgeon may present facelift before and after photos before the patient so that they know what to expect and what not to expect from a facelift. Reviews and testimonials of past patients may also be presented, if required.

Preparatory Guidelines

The surgeon will ask the patient to refrain from smoking and adjust the schedule of certain prescription and non-prescription drugs. Arranging for transportation on the day of surgery and aftercare for a few days may be recommended. Insurance and financing guidance may also be provided.

Facelift Procedure Steps | Huntsville Cosmetic Surgery | Athens A facelift is a major aesthetic surgery procedure to mitigate the facial signs of aging, tighten sagging facial muscles, and give a subtle lift to the face. During the pre-op consultation, the surgeon will discuss about the steps involved in the facelift procedure and address the patient’s concerns. Once the patient knows more about the procedure, they will feel more confident about it.

Dr. Landon McLain is an experienced cosmetic surgeon providing facelift and various other innovative and advanced procedures. Dr. McLain will educate the patient about facelift surgery and help them make an informed decision. He provides this procedure to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.

Anesthesia

Once the patient is brought inside the operating room, the first step in the facelift procedure will be to place them under anesthesia. General anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation may be administered as per the surgical plan. Patient’s fitness to undergo anesthesia will be determined beforehand.

An anesthesiologist or a registered anesthetist nurse may perform the anesthesia procedure. In case of general anesthesia, they will be present during the entire surgery to monitor the patient’s response. The patient will not feel anything during the surgery and will have no memory of the procedure once they are brought out of anesthesia.

Incision Placement

Following anesthesia, the surgeon will create the incisions to perform the facelift procedure. The incisions will be located in inconspicuous sites in order to minimize subsequent scarring. The main incision is generally hidden within the hairline, but the scope of incisions will vary depending on the surgical technique.

Minor incisions are usually placed in natural facial creases because these sites heal well and can camouflage the scars. In a traditional facelift surgery, the incision starts from behind the hairline on one side of the head, slightly above the temple. It will then follow the hairline down to the ear, continuing into the lower scalp under the hair.

Muscle and Skin Tightening

Through the incisions, the surgeon will lift the facial skin to redistribute or remove excessive fatty tissue, tighten the weak muscles, and trim away loose skin. Once the facial contours are corrected, the skin will be re-draped evenly using staples or sutures.

Incision sites will be covered with bandages to allow for safer healing. Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for facelift surgery and various other cosmetic procedures.

Additional Procedures

Facelift surgery may sometimes be performed in conjunction with other procedures to achieve more effective outcomes. Fat reduction in the face and neck may be performed through liposuction surgery in order to improve facial contours.

If certain areas of the face are depleted, facelift surgery may be combined with facial fat transfers, facial implants of the cheek, chin or lips, or dermal filler injections. Some patients may also choose upper face procedures such as eyelid lift or forehead lift to achieve more harmonious and natural looking results. The facelift surgery steps will be slightly adjusted to accommodate the additional procedures.