Rhytidectomy, or facelift surgery, is the surgical procedure which reduces wrinkling and sagging skin of the face and neck. Facelifts are performed by removing excess fat, redraping the skin of the face and neck, and/or tightening the underlying muscles. Facelifts can be performed in conjunction with other procedures to further resolve the effects of aging, including forehead lifts, rhinoplasty, or eyelid surgery.

Procedures and techniques will vary greatly among surgeons and from patient to patient, however on the whole you can expect the following:facelift procedures typically take between two and four hours, though more extensive or multiple procedures may take longer or even require two separate sessions. Facelift surgery can be performed in an office, surgical center, or hospital. The procedure is most typically done under some combination of local anesthesia, mild sedative, and/or mild intravenous anesthesia on an outpatient basis, though some cases may be performed on an inpatient basis, requiring an overnight stay in the hospital, particularly when using general anesthesia or for patients with conditions requiring additional post-operative care.

Incisions are most often placed in the hairline, then pass in front of and behind the ears. Sagging muscles may be tightened and fatty deposits removed before the skin is lifted up, the excess removed, and then sutured into place. Following surgery, a dressing is typically applied to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made. This may include wrapping the head loosely in bandages, which helps to minimize bruising and swelling. In order to drain any blood that can form and collect, a small tube may be temporarily placed beneath the skin behind the ear.

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