Facelift Surgery Revision CENTER FOR FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY AT ENT SPECIALISTS
Facelift Surgery Revision
The goal of facelift surgery is to make one look younger, more attractive and refreshed
without leaving any scars of telltale signs. A poorly executed facelift surgery and,
sometimes, poor healing (smoking, diabetes, poor compliance with postoperative
instructions) can lead to scars and signs that one had a facelift. The most common
telltale signs of facelift surgery are the pixie ears, the windswept (wind-tunnel) look and
the cobra deformity.
A pixie ear occurs when excessive skin removal or poor healing around the ear lobe
leads to down-pulling of the ear lobe. Consequently, the naturally looking round-shaped
ear lobe becomes elongated and inferiorly displaced (pixie) which is unnatural and a
telltale sign of facelift surgery.
The windswept or wind tunnel look is always the result of poor surgical technique where
wrong pulling vectors are used, or insufficient skin flap dissection is performed. The
sudden change in facial skin tension line, especially when talking, is another telltale sign
of surgery.
The cobra deformity is typically seen when an excessive amount of central neck fat is
removed without addressing the lateral neck fat and simultaneous or proper tightening
of the platysma muscle (corset platysmaplasty).
The goal of revision facelift surgery is to restore the natural facial anatomy and shape by
eliminating the telltale signs of prior surgery. Dr Georgescu is a board certified facial
cosmetic surgeon and specializes in primary and revision facelift surgery. He uses facial
volume augmentation, and six different facelift and subplatysmal sculpting techniques
to create natural looking facial contours while simultaneously lifting and rejuvenating
the face and the neck. Although the extended deep plane facelift and deep neck lift
techniques are his favorite primary facelifting techniques, Dr Georgescu can use a great
number of other techniques in revision surgery, such as: vertical lift, SMAS-ectomy,
SMAS plication, corset platysmaplasty, platysma excision and microfat grafting,
depending on the individual needs of each patient.
BEFORE THE SURGERY
From the time of your first consultation (whether on-line or in person) till the day of surgery you will have the opportunity to discuss with Dr Georgescu and his staff all your questions and concerns related to the surgical procedure, the preparation and the recovery. Make sure you fulfill all your financial obligations at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. Stop all anticoagulants (Eliquis, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Plavix, Coumadin, Warfarin), anti-inflammatory medication (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin) and all vitamins and supplements (except for Calcium and Vit. D) two weeks prior to surgery, but only with the approval of your primary care doctor or cardiologist. Smokers need to stop smoking or vaping at least 4 months prior to surgery. Nicotine patches or gum are accepted. Make sure you fill your prescriptions before surgery, as you will not be able go to the pharmacy immediately after surgery. You need to make arrangements for someone to bring you to the surgery center and take you back home, as you will not be able to drive the day of surgery. You also need someone to stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.
THE DAY OF SURGERY
Do not eat or drink anything past 10:00 PM the night before! If you need to take your blood pressure or anxiety medication, do so with a sip of water when you wake up. Make sure you arrive at the surgery center at the time indicated (our staff will call you the day prior with the exact time you need to be there). Our surgery center staff will greet you and make sure all the consent forms have been. Your companion can either wait in our comfortable waiting area, where there is coffee, water and snacks, or can return back home and we will call as soon as the surgery is over. You will be then taken to your room where our nurses will place an IV and EKG electrodes. A urine pregnancy test is performed on all pre-menopausal women. Then, you will meet in person our anesthesiologist who will discuss with the anesthesia procedure. Most surgeries are done under deep sedation or general anesthesia. Dr Georgescu will come and read to you the consent form and answer any last-minute questions you may have. He will then do the skin markings and may take some additional photographs. The bed will then be wheeled into the operating room where the time out will be performed before you go to sleep. The anesthesiologist will then give you IV medication that will allow you to fall asleep. At the end of surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room where you will wake up with no pain. We typically use ice-packs in recovery for 20 minutes to decrease swelling. You and your companion will be shown in detail how to apply the ointments and how to vacuum the drains. After approximately 1-2 hours you will be discharged to go home with your companion. We will bring you to the car in a wheelchair. You will be given Dr Georgescu’s personal cell number to call at any time if you have any questions or concerns and Dr Georgescu will call you the night of surgery to make sure you are doing well and following the instructions.
RECOVERY & RESULTS
Most patients take between 7 and 10 days off after revision facelift surgery. Stitches
dissolve or are removed at 10 days. Bruising and swelling are minimal due to the use of
drains for 5 days. Antibiotic and pain medication may be prescribed for a few days.
Strenuous activity, especially neck stretching, swimming, Yoga, Pilates, tennis and
weightlifting should be avoided for six weeks. Walking is allowed the day after surgery.
Running and biking can be resumed after 3 weeks. The hair can be dyed after one
month. Makeup can be applied as early as 2 weeks after surgery.
Starting on the 5 th day we will begin the INDIBA RF lymph massage that is performed in
our office and takes less than 30 minutes. The 3 complimentary sessions are scheduled 3
days apart and will decrease the bruising and swelling time to about half.
Dr Georgescu will visit you at home the following day to make sure you are comfortable
and healing appropriately, without complications. He will show you again how to apply
the ointment and how to vacuum the drains. You can shower the day after surgery.
However, we recommend using distilled water to wash the hair and the face for at least
a week. Although we do not recommend that you stay in bed, it is probably better not to
leave the house for 5 days, while the drains are in place. On the fifth day you will come
back to the office to have the drains removed by Dr Georgescu. This is a rather painless
procedure and is done under local anesthesia. You will also be seen on day 7, 10 and 14
followed by 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. However, Dr Georgescu is available to see
you at any time if you have questions or concerns.
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2122 NW 62nd ST, Ste 229 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
