Face & Neck Lifts in Toronto

What Is A Facelift?

Facelift, also known as rhytidectomy helps reduce the effects of facial aging, giving patients a more youthful, refreshed and rested appearance. It repositions the cheeks to their younger position and restores the sharp contours of the jawline and the neck. If you are unhappy with how weathered and tired you look around your lower face and neck, a rhytidectomy procedure may be right for you. In some cases, patients present with facial aging, but their neck still appears youthful. In such cases, a mini-facelift (S-lift, short-scar facelift) procedure is usually performed.

Facelift Toronto, ON

A mini-facelift is a shorter surgical procedure that uses smaller incisions and has a relatively quicker recovery time. Other times, patients present with the aging of their neck alone and are less preoccupied with the aging of the rest of their face. In such cases, an isolated neck lift procedure can be used. Neck lift surgery requires incisions that are shorter and that are mostly hidden behind the ears. Rejuvenating and defining your appearance without overstretching your skin, Dr. Motakis customizes his rhytidectomy procedure to address your concerns in the most natural way.

Candidates For A Rhytidectomy

The ideal candidate for a rhytidectomy procedure is a man or a woman who has facial and neck descend and does not want to look weathered and tired all the time. Frequently, rhytidectomy is performed in patients who are past their forties and can be successfully performed on healthy patients in their seventies and eighties.

Facelift Procedure

A commonly performed procedure, a lower face and neck lift (rhytidectomy), lifts the skin and muscles of your face and neck, giving it a firmer, sharper and more attractive appearance. Dr. Motakis uses a variety of techniques to expertly perform facelifts. Depending on the amount of facial and neck laxity the incisions and technique are modified. Dr. Motakis strives to use the shortest incisions possible (Mini-facelift, short scar facelift, S-lift) to achieve the desired result. However, when necessary the incisions of a full-face lift are used to achieve the optimal outcome. In all facelift procedures, an incision is made along the anterior contours of the ears, which is extended behind the ear and along the hairline in variable degrees. If the neck is very droopy an incision under the chin may also be necessary to achieve a sharp jawline. Once the skin on the sides of the cheeks and neck is lifted to access the underlying tissue (SMAS), this tissue is repositioned superiorly and posteriorly to where it used to lie earlier in life. The method or repositioning varies from patient to patient and it may involve suturing it at a higher place (SMAS plication), removing a strip of tissue and sewing the tissues tighter together (SMASectomy), or lifting the SMAS and cheek off its underlying structures and repositioning it at a higher place (SMAS flap, deep plane facelift, composite facelift). Once the tissue is repositioned, excess skin and fat are delicately removed.

If the neck displays severe bands, excess skin and/or fat, an additional access point is necessary. A one-inch incision is made in the crease under the chin. The structures directly under the jaw are accessed and tightened, allowing for a sharper neck contour. Lastly, particular attention is paid to the incisions using internal dissolving sutures, so that no stitch marks are left behind, no painful suture removal is required and ensuring that the incisions become imperceptible.

There are several other steps that may be necessary to refine the result of a lower face and neck lift. These include a lateral brow lift, fat grafting, skin resurfacing and occasionally buccal fat reduction. If skin excess is present in the upper part of the face around the eyes, and the eyebrows appear low, a lateral brow lift performed with the facelift may be required in order to achieve a smoother and more harmonious result. Through a small one-inch incision within the hair in the temple the lateral brow is lifted and repositioned in a more youthful position. Occasionally, when there is puffiness and excess skin around the eyelids, an upper and lower blepharoplasty (see blepharoplasty) are performed at the same time in order to achieve a more harmoniously rejuvenated facial appearance. An integral part of the modern facelift is the use of “micro-fat” grafts, to replenish the volume that we now understand is lost with age (see facial fat grafting). When necessary, Dr. Motakis ‘volumizes’ the deflated parts of the face in a conservative manner, thus restoring the face to its more youthful state. Areas that are usually fat grafted include the temples, the hollows, and depressions around the eyes, cheeks, jawline, mouth and chin. Furthermore, If the area around the mouth or any other area of the face presents with deep and dense wrinkles due to advance sun damage and aging (smokers lines) the skin is resurfaced in a gentle yet effective manner using a combination of modalities: resurfacing with SmartSkin© fractional CO2 laser, stem-cells harvested from fat (nano-fat grafting) and autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.

In the hands of Dr. Motakis facelifts are performed under general anesthetic or under sedation and typically require a one-night stay at our Avenue Road fully accredited on-site surgical facility.

Facelift Before And After

woman before and after facelift procedure, younger looking and chin more defined afterwards.

Rhytidectomy Recovery

On average, it takes 1-3 weeks to recover from a lower face and neck lift. Initially, you should expect a few days of swelling and bruising with minimal discomfort, treated with moderate analgesics. You will likely be able to resume light activities 5-7 days after your surgery. However, it is recommended that any significant physical activity (such as exercise) only be resumed after the second week. You will likely need 1-2 weeks off work. The fine incisions will fade away and become imperceptible over a few months following the procedure. You will receive instructions from Dr. Motakis concerning caring for your incisions while you recover from surgery. Frequently, during the early post-operative period, Dr. Motakis will recommend various lasers and other treatments to further expedite the fading of your incisions.

What Is A Deep Plane Facelift?

Traditionally face lifts focus on lifting the tissue underlying the skin known as the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System). However, this approach does not release all of the deeper attachments of the SMAS to the underlying structures and therefore either the lift is inadequate or does not last as long. The deep plane face lift focuses on lifting the SMAS off all its restraining attachments and thus allows complete and more durable repositioning of all facial tissues.

Advantages Of A Deep Plane Facelift

A deep plane facelift is a more comprehensive procedure than other techniques. By releasing the tethering points in the deep layer of facial muscle, the deep plane lift counteracts the effects of gravity that have pulled the cheeks and lower face downward. The release and repositioning of the tissue is not under tension unlike other techniques and, therefore, seems to achieve longer-lasting results and far fewer risks of irregularities.

Candidate For A Deep Plane Facelift

Men and women who are showing signs of facial aging, such as drooping jowls and flattened cheekbones, are typically good candidates for a deep plane facelift. Patients must be in good health and have a clear understanding of what their procedure can and cannot do. A thorough consultation and examination are performed to help each patient understand their options for achieving a more youthful appearance.

Facelift Before And After

facelift 2

Deep Plane Facelift Vs SMAS

The concern that most patients have when exploring the idea of a facelift is that they don’t want to look as though they’ve had a facelift. The transition from traditional, skin-only facelifts to the SMAS facelift represents a significant advancement in surgical technique. The SMAS facelift elevates the skin and lifts the SMAS-Platysma complex through the strategic insertion of sutures. To accomplish this, the surgeon must separate the skin from the underlying muscles. The SMAS-Platysma complex includes the muscles of the lower cheeks and jawline along with the platysma muscle that drapes across the lower part of the face and the neck. Elevating this combination of tissues surpasses the results achieved with skin-only lifting. However, the focus of the SMAS facelift is the lower third of the face. Hence, very little improvement is seen in the mid-face.

The deep plane facelift requires much less separation of the skin from the deeper structures and focuses on releasing all tethering parts of the cheek and the lower face. During a deep plane facelift the surgeon is able to reposition the muscles and fat of the face as a single unit to their more youthful position. Unlike the SMAS facelift, the deep plane facelift leads to a striking jaw line definition as well as restoration of the mid-face cheek volume.

What Is The Expected Recovery Time From A Deep Plane Facelift?

The term “deep plane lift” can be misleading. Many patients believe that a deep plane lift is more invasive than other facelift methods and that more trauma to facial tissues must occur. This is not true. By addressing foundational tissues without separating them from superficial muscle, the deep plane facelift is far less traumatic than patients imagine.

Patients can expect some swelling and bruising for a few days after a deep plane facelift. Symptoms gradually improve on their own and are accompanied by minimal pain. The deep plane technique does not sever blood vessels beneath the skin, so it preserves the natural blood supply to promote faster healing. To assist with comfort, pain medication may be prescribed and taken for a few days before switching to an over-the-counter pain reliever. Cold compresses may also be applied to alleviate swelling. A few weeks of recovery is needed before normal activities can be resumed. This is similar to the downtime needed for SMAS facelifts.

Are Deep Plane Facelift Scars Visible?

Incisions from a deep plane facelift typically heal with little to no visible scars. This is because incisions are not under any tension once they are closed.

Are There Any Alternatives To Facelift Surgery?

There is a multitude of non-invasive treatments available at our clinic that can help slow down and restore some of the signs of facial aging. Even though they don’t amount to the dramatic improvement one gets with a facelift, they offer visible improvements and immediate gratification without the downtime. Significant enhancement of the face and neck can be achieved using neuromodulators such as Botox© or Xeomin©, injectable fillers such as Belotero ©, Redensity©, Sculptra© or Radiesse©, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The use of various lasers such as the SmartSkin© fractional CO2 laser, Forma and Fractora© RF, Picosure© and IPL that can help brighten one’s complexion and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin and hyaluronic acid skin boosters, oxygen therapy and chemical peels can help restore the skins glow and youthful hydrated appearance. Lastly, high grade targeted medical skin care (such as ZO©, SkinMedica©, Neocutis©) can help you maintain these results daily. Many of these treatments are also ideal after a rhytidectomy procedure to maintain and enhance the surgical result. During consultation, Dr. Motakis will guide you to the right treatment plan in order to accomplish and maintain the most optimal result.

Can Rhytidectomy Be Combined With Other Procedures?

Many of Dr. Motakis’ patients combine their face and neck lift procedure with other cosmetic procedures offered at our clinic. These procedures frequently include eyelid surgery or a lateral brow liftfat injectionsnano-fat grafting, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injectionsbuccal fat reductionskin resurfacing with the SmartSkin© fractional CO2 laser or the Fractora© fractional radiofrequency device or hyaluronic acid injectable fillers such as Belotero ©, among many others.

Is It Possible To Have Just An Isolated Neck Lift?

The neck is often an area of primary concern for some patients. There might be excess fat and excess skin under the chin as well as ‘cord like’ vertical bands known as platysma bands, creating what is known in layman terms as a “turkey neck”. Even though an isolated neck lift may address some of these concerns, often, the best way to achieve a significantly sharper jawline is through a lower face and neck lift. During consultation, Dr. Motakis will discuss with you all options for neck rejuvenation and help you decide what is the best-suited procedure for you. The incisions used in a neck lift procedure are like those in a lower face and neck lift, although they are more limited and mostly behind the ear. Dr. Motakis expertly removes excess skin and fat in the neck and jaw area, giving them a sharper and more defined appearance. Through a small incision under the chin, the neck muscles are often tightened to further define the neck contour. Typically, the neck lift procedure is performed under general anesthesia although IV sedation may occasionally be used. An overnight stay at the surgical facility is usually required for observation and comfort. A neck lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with another facial procedure such as eyelid surgery.

Risks Of Lower Face And Neck Lift Surgery

Dr. Motakis makes every effort to execute the procedure in the most meticulous way, however, as with any surgery, swelling and bruising around the face and neck can’t always be avoided, but resolve over the first few days or weeks. Scarring is invariably imperceptible but may take a few weeks or months to fade. Rarely, bleeding, infection, changes in skin sensation or reaction to a medication or an anesthetic, may occur. Injury to important structures such nerves is extremely rare and usually resolves over time. The list of all possible risks will be discussed in detail during your consult and pre-operative appointment with Dr. Motakis and his team. Smoking can result in serious healing complications, so it is important to stop smoking 4 weeks before this procedure and only resume 2 weeks after.

What People Say About Us!

If you have ten stars I will put it, Dr. Motakis i call him the doctor of humanity. He has the patience, His nurses are on call. Very professional.

Schedule A Consultation

To learn more about facelift surgery and to see if you are a candidate please contact us today at (416) 925-5775 to schedule an appointment.

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