Over time the face begins to sag, and the skin starts to lose its elasticity. Signs of aging emerge which causes you to look tired and less youthful. A face and neck lift can restore a youthful appearance by sculpting deeper tissues and re-draping the skin of the face and neck. With his exceptional technique, Dr. Kotler’s years of experience allow him to deliver every facelift patient a natural and youthful result.
Dr. Kotler has decades of experience performing nasal and facial surgery. See real patient results performed by a superspecialist in Beverly Hills, CA.
ANESTHESIA
General anesthesia is administered by a physician anesthesiologist specializing in facial procedures. Under anesthesia there is no pain and no awareness. An intravenous is started and you “drift off to sleep.”
TIME
Approximately 5 hours in the operating room.
WILL I NEED THIS PROCEDURE AGAIN?
Probably not. Until development of our current more aggressive technique (not only re-draping the skin but sculpting the neck and tightening the muscles), the results were not always long lasting. But since this technique has proven itself over the past 25 years, we feel that only a limited “tuck” procedure may be needed, long after the surgery, to keep the face and neck structure looking youthful!
We recommend 2 nights at a “recovery retreat” or at home with the attendance of an experienced nurse (we can make appropriate referrals). More than any other procedures in our specialty, this operation requires an element of professional observation and care. To minimize postoperative swelling and bruising and hence to speed recovery, we place small suction drains into a hidden portion of the incision. These are best monitored and maintained by an experienced professional. Discomfort is generally minimal throughout the entire immediate postoperative period, but pain pills are included in your postoperative “care package” to be taken if necessary. Our precise instructions and direction sheets will guide you in proper care of incisions, etc.
Day 1 – Surgery.
Day 2 – Brief office visit and dressing change; you can already appreciate “the new you.”
Day 3 – Office visit. Dressings changed, suction drains removed. Return home.
Day 4 – At home. You remove the dressings and you may shower and shampoo.
Day 5, 6 or 7 – An office visit begins with stitch removal about the ears and chin. You are generally able to be more active; swelling is minimal and bruising, if present, is resolving rapidly. Make-up can be applied. You may now drive your car. Walking is an excellent exercise at this point; nothing strenuous such as tennis or swimming, however.
Day 9 or 10 – Office visit with further stitch removal from the “hidden areas” (incisions within the hairline). Generally, all bruising has cleared by now. You should feel quite good. Some patients may even be “ready” to return to work (see “Return to Work, Normal Activities, Etc,” below).
Day 14 – Brief office visit. Any remaining stitches are removed. You are generally looking quite good and are now “ready-to-go!”
From the above, you can understand why we recommend that patients “block out” 14 days before returning to routine social and work obligations. Some may be ready a few days sooner and others may take a few days longer. Factors influencing speed of healing include age, general physical fitness, history of smoking and yes, attitude. By 14 days, hair can be colored and styled, etc. Make-up can be used and there are no restrictions except that strenuous exercise, e.g., running, tennis, racquetball, wrestling, etc., is still prohibited until 3 weeks after surgery.
Generally, by 21 days afterneck surgery, you should be enjoying your younger appearance without any inhibitions. While your neck may still feel “tight” and some areas particularly about the neck and behind the ears may still feel “numb,” you should be doing quite well. If there has been a period of “blues,” which is not unusual in the second and third week, it should have lifted by the fourth week after surgery. The only totally unhidden incisions, those about the ears and under the chin, mature to near invisibility within the first 2 to 3 months. We see you weekly only in the first month after surgery; infrequently thereafter until about 3 months after surgery, at which time “after” photos are taken.
Rhinoplasty is a very successful operation when performed by the most specialized, most experienced facial cosmetic surgeons who further specialize in rhinoplasty exclusively. There are very few, but Dr. Kotler is a “superspecialist” in both Surgical Rhinoplasty and Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty. What sets Dr. Kotler apart is his unparalleled expertise in that extraordinary but not well-known Permanent Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty. With over 40 years of experience, he has successfully performed more than 5,000 nasal procedures, solidifying his position as one of the most experienced practitioners of both Permanent Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty and Permanent Non-Surgical Revision Rhinoplasty in the United States. Why not consult with a doctor at the top of the specialty totem pole?
We offer virtual consultations that include computer imaging, allowing you to preview the anticipated outcome of your procedure before deciding. Additionally, you can have a virtual consultation with Dr. Kotler through FaceTime, WhatsApp, or Zoom, which is an excellent option for including family or friends in the consultation.
Call us today, at (310) 278-8721. We’ll arrange that consultation. A great first step because all your questions will be answered. And, no doctor is more qualified to answer those questions than Dr. Kotler.
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