Orange County Facelift

CLICK HERE TO VIEW BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS

» Overview	» The Day of Surgery
» The Consultation	» After Surgery
» Preparing For Surgery	» Your Results
» The Procedure	» The Cost

Terms

Full Facelift - Correction of facial aging involving sagging of the face from the ear to the mid-neck.
Mini-Facelift - Correction of facial aging involving sagging of the face from the ear to the chin.
Forehead Lift - Correction of a sagging brow.
Necklift - correction of a sagging neck, especially under the chin.


Overview

The most noticeable signs of aging often appear on the face. Facial aging, caused by the natural aging process, genetic influences, exposure to the sun, and other environmental factors can be corrected by rhytidectomy, commonly called a face-lift. This procedure involves the tightening of facial and neck muscles and removal of excess skin in these areas. A facelift will correct common problems of facial aging including deep wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks, sagging skin around the cheekbones and jawline, and loose skin and excess fatty tissue on the neck. The result is a firmer, more youthful, and rested appearance.

Facelifts are most commonly performed on patients between 40 and 60 although many patients get good results at 70 or 80. Extra caution will be taken for patients with diabetes or high blood pressure. During your consultation, the doctor will discuss your particular needs and may suggest additional procedures to augment your facelift to best meet your goals. These procedures may include a forehead lift to correct a sagging brow, eyelid surgery to correct drooping or puffy eyes, or skin resurfacing to improve the quality of your skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and/or pigmentation.


The Consultation

Your consultation with the doctor is complimentary and there will never be any charges for office visits. During your initial consultation, you will be asked to give information about your medical history, prior procedures, medications, allergies, and your motivations for seeking plastic surgery. It is very important that you be thorough when providing your medical history, as this information helps to prevent complications during your care. When asked about medications, be sure to include any vitamin or herbal supplements, as these can affect your blood pressure and clotting ability. You also need to let the doctor know if you use any tobacco products, alcohol, steroids, or street drugs, as these may have a profound impact on your recovery period and your ability to heal following your procedure. After reviewing your medical history, Dr. Nguyen will discuss your desired results, your concerns, and your priorities. He will then explain the options that are available to you and explain the advantages and disadvantages of those options. In the end, he will present a surgical plan to help you achieve the appearance you desire.

After your consultation with the doctor, your patient coordinator will provide you with a written quotation for the cost of your procedure. At this time, you will also have the option to schedule your procedure if you so choose. We understand how important this decision is to you and you will not be pressured to make a decision. You are also encouraged to bring your spouse, significant other, family member, or a friend to your consultation.




Preparing For Surgery

On the day of your consultation, you will receive instructions on how to optimize your health before surgery. This will include what medications to stop and what testing will be required before surgery. If you are 45 years of age or older, or if you have any health problems, you will need to see your primary care physician to have bloodwork, an EKG, and obtain surgical clearance stating that there are no counterindications for you having surgery. You should not take aspirin containing products or smoke for two weeks before surgery. If you have health problems or a history of health problems, you may require additional testing or clearance.

For full details on our pre-operative requirements, Click Here To Download
"Optimizing Your Health Before Your Cosmetic Surgery."

If you do not have a primary care physician, we recommend Dr. Chi Phan, located at 4050 Barranca Pkwy Suite 210; Irvine, Ca 92604 Phone: 949-654-7833. Dr. Phan accepts most insurance. For those who do not have insurance, Dr. Phan charges approximately $120 for surgical clearance, including EKG & bloodwork.

Patient Testimonial "Little did I know that I would meet and fall in love with a man 20 years younger. I have a lifestyle of a 50 something, but my face did not reflect my lifestyle. The aging process was continuing while my life remained younger. I made a decision to have a facelift, browlift, and a chemical peel to turn back the hand of time. I felt this would increase my self-confidence in my new relationship as well. I called Dr. Thomas Nguyen and staff a the Institute of Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery. and found them professional, caring, and qualified to take care of my cosmetic surgery needs. The surgery was a 100% sucess. I am happy to look in the mirror once again. I enjoy my life more, and have a new confidence with the man I love!" -- Sheri

The Procedure

The procedure is performed as an outpatient surgery under general anesthesia. We use only board certified anesthesiologists to care for our patients. The procedure involves an incision around the natural contour of your ear, around the bottom of the earlobe, and into the hairline behind the ear. Through these incisions, your surgeon will tighten the muscles and reposition the tissues at a more youthful position. Excess skin will then be excised and the sutures will be placed. If the neck is involved, a small additional incision may be placed in the natural crease under the chin to allow your surgeon to tighten the underlying tissues. The procedure will take approximately three hours. After surgery, you will recover in the recovery area until you are alert enough to go home. You will have bandages around your head and face.

The Day of Surgery

While you're making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and be with you overnight. Your surgery will be performed in our outpatient surgery center at 11190 Warner Avenue, Suite 400; Fountain Valley, CA. You will not be allowed to have anything to eat after 9pm the evening before surgery or drink after midnight the night before surgery. You should have clean, dry hair. Wear no makeup or moisturizers on your face. You should not bring jewelry, contact lenses, or valuables on the day of surgery. Wear loose, comfortable clothing with a shirt that buttons or zips in the front (we don't want to put anything on over your head when you get out of surgery). For women, we suggest bringing sunglasses and a scarf to wear home over your hair. Arrive two hours prior to surgery.




After Surgery

You will rest at home for several days keeping your head elevated (approximately 45 degree angle) and using ice packs to reduce the swelling and bruising (7 minutes on / 3 minutes off). Frozen peas in a ziplock bag wrapped in a thin towel work well to contour to your face and provide adequate cooling. You may experience some numbness so remember not to put ice or anything hot directly onto skin because you may have decreased awareness of temperature damage. Diligent use of cold compresses during the first three to five days will significantly decrease your swelling and bruising and decrease healing time. You should also rest your eyes and not watch too much television or read for long periods of time because the eyes can also become swollen. Your healing incision lines may itch a little. Avoid scratching them.

You will begin taking pain medication and antibiotics after surgery. Each time you take your pain medication, you should have a snack as the medication can be irritating to your stomach. You should eat soft foods and avoid talking to reduce swelling. For the first 24 to 48 hours you will have a sensitive stomach and you should eat mild foods such as you would normally eat if you had the flu (soups, yogurt, etc.). Dr. Nguyen also strongly suggests Gatorade to replenish your fluid levels.

Bandages and some of the sutures will be removed at one week. Post surgical swelling may temporarily cause the look of unevenness, skin changes, hard spots, and ridges. Do not panic, this will go away. After the first week much of the remaining discoloration can be concealed with a cream-based cosmetic. Do not apply cosmetics to any incision line before 48 hours after suture removal. Hair can be washed after your one-week follow up.

The remainder of the sutures will be removed at two weeks and you may resume many of your normal activities, including light work. After two weeks, and once all incisions are well healed (no open areas or scabs), you can begin using Scar Guard® scar treatment on the incisions. Scar Guard® is available at the pharmacy in our building.

Most of the bruising and much of the swelling will have disappeared by the second week. The remainder of the swelling will continue to subside over the next several weeks. Pink scars will eventually fade to an unnoticeable white color but this may take up to a year. There will be some numbness of the face, which will continue to diminish over several months. You should wait eight weeks for chemical hair treatments, including hair color. After eight weeks you may also resume your normal exercise routine.

Your Results

You can expect to enjoy a revitalized and more youthful appearance. Most people will not be able to tell that you had surgery but they will feel that you look happier, healthier, and more well-rested. Although you will continue the normal aging process, you will do so beginning with your new, more youthful appearance. The results are long-lasting and you will enjoy your new refreshed look for years to come.




The Cost

These fees are approximate and are only to give you an idea of what you can expect. Fees may change without notice. An official binding quote (valid for 30 days) will be given on the day of your consultation. These fees include Surgeon's Fee, OR Fee, Anesthesia Fee, Surgical Garment (if required), and Follow-Up Visits.

Full Facelift $8,500

Mini-Facelift $6,000