Facelifts and Rhinoplasty

Facelifts and rhinoplasty surgeries are both cosmetic procedures designed to permanently improve facial beauty. However, facelifts and rhinoplasty surgery vary widely when it comes to the conditions they treat, the results they achieve, recovery times and other considerations.

Facelift Surgery

What it treats: As we age, the skin on our faces begin to wrinkle and sag, which can make us look tired and rundown. Furthermore, loss of fat in the cheeks and other facial areas contributes to a sunken, hollowed appearance that lacks contour and volume. Facelift surgery is designed to correct these issues and other signs of aging.

How it works: Small incisions are made inside the hairline at the temple and around the ears to keep scarring inconspicuous.  The doctor then removes the excess skin and tightens the muscles and connective tissues before closing the incisions with small sutures.

Considerations: Although a facelift is almost always an outpatient procedure, recovery time for facelifts is significant. Expect about two weeks of swelling, discoloration and numbness. Facelift patients can typically return to work in 10 to 14 days. Overall improvements and healing is gradual, with final results visible within six months.

Rhinoplasty

What it treats: Rhinoplasty (commonly referred to as a “nose job”) alters the size and shape of the nose by removing bumps or changing the angle of the nose to create greater harmony with the rest of the face. Rhinoplasty can also treat breathing difficulties or damage caused by injury.

How it works: The skin is carefully separated from the underlying bone and cartilage of the nose. The doctor then reshapes the skeletal structure of the nose before re-draping the original skin over the surface. Sutures can be hidden within the nose to avoid visible scarring. Dr. Wald will decide which technique is most appropriate for your surgery – the “open” or “closed” method.

Considerations: Recovery from rhinoplasty takes about one to two weeks, although some minor swelling may remain for several months. Results continue to improve for a full year.

Facelifts and rhinoplasties may be combined with other cosmetic procedures, such as a brow lift, chin augmentation, liposuction or eyelid surgery to achieve a full rejuvenation of the face. For more information on which procedures are best for you, contact Dr. Robert Wald, an experienced Orange County facelift specialist, for a free consultation.

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