Mid-Facelift Surgery in San Jose, Bay Area

Mid-Facelift

Liposuction

Forehead Lift / Brow Lift

Mid-Facelift

This operation is designed to improve the saggy tissue located between the lower eyelids and nasolabial lines (the line between the cheek and the upper lip that extends from lower portion of the nose to the outer corner of the mouth). The traditional facelift operation does not effectively improve the laxity of these areas.

Who is a Good Candidate?

Anyone who has: deep nasolabial line, loose skin between this line and the lower eyelids, pulling down or hollowing of the lower eyelids.

Private Consultation:

During your initial consultation you will discuss with your plastic surgeon your past and present medical conditions and current medications used. He should be made aware if you have hypertension, thyroid problems, or diabetes. It is important for him to know about personal habits, such as smoking and drinking. You should reveal any past surgeries or allergies to any medications. He will do a physical examination and take preoperative photographs. Before and after photographs may be shown to show you the location of the incisions. Lab tests, x-rays, or EKG may be ordered depending on your general health. At the conclusion of your consultation and physical examination, the fees will be discussed with you by the doctor and his staff.

Preparation:

Stop all non-prescriptive medication, diet pills, herbs, and garlic two weeks before surgery.

It is advisable to stop smoking two weeks prior to and two weeks following surgery. Do not drink any alcoholic beverage two days prior to and one week following surgery.

Avoid taking aspirin and aspirin containing products such as Advil and avoid garlic and garlic products two weeks prior to surgery. These products can prolong bleeding and increase bruising. Tylenol can be taken during this period.

For a period of two days before surgery you wash your face, neck, scalp and hair twice a day, for 15 minutes with Betadine soap. An additional wash should be done right before the surgery. No skin product should be used two days prior to the surgery. You may use skin care products following these washes, except the last wash before surgery, when no skin care products should be used.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery. You may, however, take prescriptive medication with a small amount of water and brush your teeth the morning of surgery. Wear a loose fitting shirt that does not pull over your head to the surgical suite. Loose sweats are recommended as you will be in a compression garment after surgery and they may be difficult to get on. Do not wear jewelry or bring valuables.

Please plan to have someone bring you to and take you home from the surgical facility and stay with you the first 24 hours. Notify the office staff of this person's name and telephone number prior to surgery.

Have all prescriptions filled a few days before surgery, so they will be available for you when you arrive home from surgery.

The Procedure:

The operation of facelift is usually performed using local anesthesia with conscious sedation or under general anesthesia as an outpatient. The procedure can take from 3 - 4 hours depending on the variations of surgery. The incisions are usually hidden in the natural crease in front and behind your ear up to the hairline. These incisions will allow your surgeon to remove excess skin and tighten the muscles. These incisions can be hidden with your hair following surgery until the scars are unnoticeable. There may also be a small incision under your chin. The incision under the chin will allow your surgeon to remove any excess fat, double chin and tighten loose muscles of the neck.

The result of this surgery is long lasting, however, it can be affected by lifestyle and genetics. Removal of fat is almost permanent, unless significant weight gain occurs after surgery. Excess skin may recur after a while, depending on lifestyle and individual hereditary skin conditions.

Postoperative Care:

Rest with your head elevated on two or more pillows the evening after surgery. Take pain medication as needed.

There will be a bulky bandage in place over your entire head for the first one or two days. There will be sutures in place for five to ten days. These sutures will be removed in two visits following surgery. You may notice some bleeding or oozing from the surgical site, this is normal. Bruising and swelling should maximize two days following surgery and will gradually disappear. A slight fever is normal during the first few days following surgery.

Social activity can be resumed after one week or so when the swelling and black and blue is mostly gone and you can wear make up. You may return to work preferably after two weeks, depending on the type of job you have. Traveling is allowed after two or three weeks. Exercise is permitted four weeks following surgery. You should avoid direct sunlight for four weeks following surgery and make sunblock a part of your daily skin care regimen following your recovery.

You are encouraged to call the office if you have any questions.

Fees:

It is customary that the fees for surgery to be paid two weeks prior to surgery. This assures that the patient is sincere in his or her motivation. The fees include the surgeon's fee, the facility charge, which is private and fully accredited with high tech equipment, and anesthesiologist or certified nurse anesthetist, if general anesthesia is used. Also included in these fees are any laboratory tests performed in the office, use of special equipment such as laser, endoscope, etc. It is very rare that insurance plans cover cosmetic surgery. Please feel free to ask the office staff if you have any questions in that regard.

We understand this is a very important decision in your life and you would like to do this for yourself. In your private consultation with Dr. Zandi who is a Board Certified plastic surgeon, you may discuss your needs and also obtain additional information.