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    Day Of Surgery

    Pre-Operative Marking

    Prior to your surgery, you will have the opportunity to speak with Dr Motykie about any part of your surgical procedure and/or recovery process. You will be asked to change into a surgical gown and Dr Motykie will place surgical markings on your face and neck. Lastly, wear loose fitting clothing the day of your surgery that is easy to get in and out of such as sweat pants and a shirt that zippers in the front.

    Anesthesia and Operating Facility

    For almost all facelift techniques you most likely receive general anesthesia (you are asleep) for your own personal comfort, safety and surgical ease.  It is Dr Motykie’s opinion that the most effective way to perform facelift surgery is under general anesthesia because it allows for focused surgeon concentration and superior patient safety and comfort. In addition, general anesthesia allows for injection of less local anesthetic (numbing solution) which has the potential of obscuring the fine detail work that is needed to perform a detail oriented artistically based surgery.

    Dr. Motykie uses only Board Certified Anesthesiologists to administer anesthesia and monitor your safety during your surgery. You may be given medication before reaching the operating room so you will feel relaxed before surgery. The surgery takes approximately three to four hours to perform in its entirety. Every surgery is performed in a fully accredited, state of the art (AAAASF) surgical facility where your safety, comfort and privacy are of the utmost importance.   Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) precautions are taken with every patient and include a minimum of anti-embolic stockings and sequential compression devices (SCDs) on the lower extremities during the entire length of your procedure.

    Surgical

    After general anesthesia is administered (you are put to sleep), an incision is made along the previously made markings that were drawn by Dr Motykie prior to your surgery.  A minimal incision is made that is placed inside of the ear in the front, in the natural crease where the ear and face meet and then in the crease behind the ear. This incision, like all facelift incisions in modern plastic surgery, should be considered a “short-scar” technique. The facelift is then performed in two layers. The skin is raised first and then the underlying deep layers are lifted and tightened utilizing strong sutures. In this way, the face is “lifted” without placing any tension on the skin during eventual closure and the strength of the lift rests on the stronger, deep supporting structures of the face. In this way the feared “wind-blown” or “joker” look is avoided after surgery and there is not even a hint of a pulled appearance. The neck is then addressed though a small incision placed underneath the chin. Any excess fat is removed and the neck muscles are tightened in an internal corset fashion in order to add strength to the newly sculpted neckline.  A small drain is almost always placed in the neck in order to reduce post-operative swelling and speed recovery time. The delicate skin of the face is then gently rotated and advanced into the proper position in order to achieve a more rested and youthful appearance. The extra saggy skin is tailored and removed along the small initial incisions which leaves less scarring and leads to a quick recovery. The incision is hidden within the folds of the ear so that it becomes virtually invisible when healed. The facial fat grafting is then performed in order to restore a youthful, heart-shaped facial structure and volume to the midface (cheeks). Other areas where fat is commonly grafted includes underneath the eyes, the temples, the laugh lines, the sides of the mouth and the lips. Once the procedure is completed, surgical neck compression garment will be placed in order to help decrease swelling and bruising after the procedure.

    Recovery Room

    After surgery you will be brought to the recovery area where you will be allowed to rest and completely recover from anesthesia. Nurses will be on staff by your bedside to make sure you are recovering properly as well as being able to provide you with pain medications and small amounts of water and/or ice chips while you are becoming more awake and alert. After you have fully recovered from anesthesia, you may be released to home with a responsible adult or you may choose to stay overnight in an outpatient recovery retreat where there are nurses on staff 24hrs to assist you with post-operative care and medications.

    The most comfortable position to recover in after surgery is a reclining chair with your head elevated.  Over the first night you will most likely find yourself having to use the bathroom frequently. This is normal and is due to the intravenous fluids you received during your surgical procedure. Leave all dressings intact until the next morning when you will return to Dr Motykie’s office to have your dressings changed and receive further instruction for the rest of the week. The night following your surgery, you may experience some pain and discomfort that can be controlled with your prescribed pain medication. The majority of the sutures used during your surgery will be dissolvable and they will be covered by surgical tape that should be left in place for the first week after your surgery.

    To find out more about facelift surgery please contact us at 310-246-2355

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