Facelift

If you are considering a facelift, you can discuss your aesthetic goals with Dr. Helen Moses at Palmetto Facial Plastics. She will evaluate your facial condition and advise if facelift surgery is ideal for rejuvenating your look. Additionally, during the consultation visit, a full medical history, including prior surgeries, allergies, and medications as well as photo imaging are obtained. Instructions for the proposed facelift procedure are then provided.

Dr. Moses employs the most advanced surgical techniques to achieve remarkably natural results, never overdone, over-pulled, or obvious. Dr. Moses’s years of training and extensive experience with nationally acclaimed facelift surgeons allow her to deliver a result that 'everyone will notice, but no one will know.' Prior to surgery, patients return for at least one more visit (the “pre-op” visit) to revisit your goals for surgery, review your photos as well as medical history and any changes. During this visit, you will be provided any prescriptions for medications that may be necessary during the post-operative period as well as your surgical recovery kit. The pre-operative visit is also a lovely opportunity to take time and sit down to review any questions or revisit any concerns.

Upon your arrival, you will be escorted to your pre-operative room. Following the surgery, you will be returned to the same room for your post-operative care to ensure your utmost comfort and privacy.

Dr. Moses employs the most advanced surgical techniques to achieve remarkably natural results, never overdone, over-pulled, or obvious. Dr. Moses’s years of training and extensive experience with nationally acclaimed facelift surgeons allow her to deliver an outcome that "everyone will notice, but no one will know." Before surgery, patients return for at least one more visit (the “pre-op” visit) to review imaging, review the history and any changes or concerns, and obtain any prescriptions for medications. This provides the opportunity to take time and sit down to review any questions or revisit any problems.

Surgery is performed at Prisma Parkridge Surgery Center or CIPI Surgery Center, both in Columbia, South Carolina. The average downtime for facelift and necklift procedures is seven to ten days. Some patients might require up to two weeks if Dr. Moses performed additional adjunct procedures. A dressing at the end of surgery remains in place overnight. Special techniques are utilized as well during surgery so that surgical drains are not in place during the recovery process and specialty nursing case is not necessary.

• The first week

  Patients are often surprised that discomfort is usually minimal and can be managed with over-the-counter medications. However, in the instance once may experience some additional discomfort, prescription pain medications are available and guidelines for use are closely reviewed. Swelling is a part of the normal recovery process, and is most prominent for the first 72 hours following surgery. Patients will sleep with the head gently elevated to help reduce additional swelling and on occasional may use ice at their discretion. The first week is largely uneventful, focus on healing and recovery with the main tasks centered around keeping the incisions clean (which is reviewed in detail) and being compliant with activity restrictions. Toward the end of the first week, the initial sutures around the ears are removed, along with any eyelid or neck sutures that may be present from adjunctive procedures.

• The second week

  You will notice a significant reduction in swelling and bruising, if any is present. Medications provided to you prior to your surgery help minimize bruising for an overwhelming number of patients which further helps to ensure a rapid recovery. Additionally, at the beginning of the second week, the hairline stitches can be removed.

• 3 - 6 weeks

  Initially, you will have to avoid any strenuous exercise and activities. However, 3 to 6 weeks after surgery, you can increase your activity level, with most returning to vigorous physical activity by 4 weeks.

• 3 - 4 months

  After three to four months, the vast majority of swelling has resolved and the results are continuing to sharpen and further define. Certainly prior to this time period, all the incisions are healed and the notable improvement has long been appreciated, but in this 3 to 4 month time frame, patients will observe that their results continue to improve and refine. We often hear, 'My results keep getting better and better,' which is music to our ears. The gradual ongoing improvement of the final 10-15% of the result continues from this point onward as the final stages of wound healing take place.

Follow-up care is crucial for ensuring the best aesthetic results, so Dr. Moses schedules a series of post-op appointments to monitor your progress. She will also instruct you on caring for yourself so you can enjoy your rejuvenated appearance for as long as possible.

With more options available for facial rejuvenation, Dr. Moses is guided by each patient's concerns when carefully curating a treatment plan. The goal remains the same: to obtain a result that more closely realigns the inward image with the outward reflection to provide a natural, timeless result.