WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING A FACELIFT PROCEDURE?
The Facelift is often performed at our AAAASF surgical facility in Palo Alto (link) under general anesthesia. The procedure can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the intricacy of each individually tailored surgical plan. After surgery, you’ll return home with a head bandage and very small drainage tubes, which are removed the day after surgery at an immediate follow-up visit. At this visit, Dr. Boudreault will check your incisions, and then allow you to go home to rest and recover. You’ll return the following week (5-7 days) after surgery, to have all remaining bandages and sutures removed. Swelling and bruising reach its peak by about day 3-4, though there is minimal discomfort that is managed well with pain medications, prescribed to you by Dr. Boudreault at your pre-operative appointment.
HOW LONG IS RECOVERY TIME?
Bruising and swelling gradually resolve by 1-2 weeks, but expect to see the final results after 2-4 months. Vigorous exercise can resume after four weeks.
Dr. Boudreault takes the time and care for every patient during their healing process to ensure a speedier recovery and allow for the best possible result. It is important to follow the post-care instructions given to you at your pre-operative appointment so you can further the recovery process at home and have optimal healing for optimal results.
Incisions and bandages must be kept dry, and the patient should follow the specific instructions about bathing and washing. Numbness and muscle stiffness is normal for some time, but this will gradually subside.
WHAT DOES A FACELIFT TREAT?
A facelift aims to create a smoother, more youthful appearance, and usually involves the following:
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS?
You will see a natural, younger-looking, and more illuminated version of your face after the facelift procedure, once all the bruising and swelling subsides. Bruising typically disappears within two weeks, while total residual swelling typically subsides over 2-4 months.
HOW MUCH DOES A FACELIFT COST?
The average cost of a facelift is between $12,000 to $18,000, depending on the surgical technique used. This estimate includes anesthesia and facility fees. If you would like to enjoy your facelift results sooner but would like to space out the payments in smaller monthly increments over time, our patients can apply for financing through CareCredit or Alphaeon. Many patients have also applied for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
