What is a face lift?

“Facelift” is lay-language for rhytidectomy or rhytidoplasty. Rhytids are wrinkles, they are due to loose skin, or damage to skin structure and can be present even in patients who do not have a lot of excess skin. Rhytidectomy/rhytidoplasty procedures address the sagging of the skin, and underlying soft tissue. Signs of aging in the mid, and lower face include prominent nasolabial folds (the lines running from the nose to the outside of the mouth), marionette lines (lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin, jowls, hanging, crepe-like front neck skin, and wrinkles. The face lift is used to lift droopy skin, and remove any excess in the middle and lower thirds of the aging face. Skin and underlying tissue is tightened, softening the nasolabial folds, marionette grooves, removing jowls, and restoring the angle between the neck, and jaw. If deep wrinkles are present, it may be combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), or erbium laser resurfacing. Phenol or TCA peels may be added as well.