Facelift Consultation in Columbus, OH
Since every face is different, Dr. Michael Sullivan customizes your rhytidectomy or facelift procedure based on your specific needs and desires. During your facelift consultation, Dr. Sullivan will examine the structure of your face, as well as your skin type, hairstyle, and skin elasticity. He will thoroughly review your medical history, especially as it relates to blood pressure, scar tendency, smoking, weight, and any deficiency in blood clotting.
Smoking causes the small blood vessels feeding the skin’s surface to constrict, resulting in less blood flow and possibly slower healing. Facelift patients must stop smoking for at least one month prior to the procedure. Safety is always our number one priority. Candidates with chronic medical conditions may be asked to obtain medical clearance from their personal physicians prior to undergoing a facelift.
Dr. Michael Sullivan is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He specializes in head and neck surgery.
Consultation Details:
Because a realistic attitude is crucial to the success of any elective surgery, Dr. Sullivan fully discusses the facelift procedure and what you can realistically expect during your consultation. This discussion includes a review of the specific risks and potential complications that may occur with a rhytidectomy or facelift. This is your opportunity to ask questions about the procedure.
During your facelift consultation, Dr. Sullivan may notice a fatty collection under your chin or a separation of the anterior neck muscle, which results in two long vertical bands extending from your chin to your collar bone. Both of these situations can blunt the angle between your chin and neck or produce a “double chin.” Submental liposuction and sewing the muscles back together (platysma plication) may be recommended for a more optimal facelift result.
Chin resorption, or a weak chin, may also contribute to a weak chin-neck angle. Our bony skeleton gets smaller as we age, particularly along the lower jaw bone. Some facelift candidates have always had a weak chin. Facelift results can sometimes be enhanced by chin augmentation with an implant at the same time of the facelift surgery. Chin augmentation is helpful in approximately 20% of Dr. Sullivan’s facelift surgeries.
Ideal Candidates:
A facelift is no different from any other plastic surgery procedure: good health and realistic expectations are a prerequisite. We all age differently, some faster than others. It is sometimes useful to evaluate your unique aging experience by examining photographs taken over the last 10–15 years.
Ideally, facelift surgery should be performed when individuals are at their ideal weight, but weight loss of less than 20 pounds usually won’t affect the surgical result. Candidates who anticipate a greater weight loss are advised and encouraged to lose this weight prior to the procedure. Even though the facial skin may appear more lax with weight loss, the ultimate result after a facelift will be better.
