Revision Facelift

Facelift surgeries cannot completely halt aging. Facelifts are designed to reverse aging and lead to a long lasting younger look. For example, if a facelift makes you look ten years younger, in ten years, you will still have aged, but less than if you never underwent the procedure. Sometimes, however, a facelift does not go as planned. Whether the result does not turn out ideal or you simply want to refresh the results of a facelift, revision facelifts require a highly skilled, specialized plastic surgeon. Dr. Ludwig Allegra of Northwest Face & Body is a Bellevue plastic surgeon who performs the top revision facelift Bellevue and Kirkland provide.

Understanding Revision Facelifts

A facelift revision can refer to a variety of procedures and surgeries. The common goal of these procedures is to correct or restore the results of previous facelift surgery. While a revision may seem straightforward, it is often more difficult than a standard facelift.

The first facelift will have stretched and thinned the skin from its original position. In some cases, like when restoring a correctly performed facelift from years ago, this challenge is often not as prominent. However, some patients may have thinner skin due to the stretching and tightening of their first surgery.

Additionally, there are many reasons a patient may require a facelift revision that makes it more challenging the second or third time around. Some of these factors could include scar tissue, thinner skin, or too much fat removed. This is why it is imperative to seek a surgeon experienced in facelift surgery and facelift revisions. Dr. Ludwig Allegra has performed facelift surgery for thirty years and offers a deep understanding of facial anatomy and aesthetics.

Reasons For A Revision

As discussed, patients have many motivations for seeking revision facelift procedures. Among some of the reasons for a facelift revision include:

• Refresh original results:
• Often, patients will seek a second facelift to restore or complement their original facelift results. Patients are usually informed that subsequent facelifts may become necessary a decade or two decades later to keep optimal results. Every patient will have their reasons for seeking a facelift revision.
• Skin pulled too tight:
• The most well known botched facelift result is when the face looks “windswept” or “overdone”. This is usually caused when the surgeon pulls the skin too tight over the face. With modern facelift techniques and an experienced plastic surgeon, this result is fairly uncommon.
• Facial asymmetry:
• Occasionally, during the tightening and positioning stages of a facelift, this can unevenly affect parts of the face such as the lower eyelids. Usually, this is easily addressed with a minor revision. Although, slight symmetry following surgery can be normal during the healing process.
• Too much fat removed:
• Rarely, a plastic surgeon may remove too much during a facelift. This can cause hollows or a gaunt look. Luckily, a full revision is not necessarily required in this situation because dermal fillers can restore lost volume. Sometimes a fat transfer procedure or facelift revision may best treat this.
• Pixie ear:
• “Pixie ear” is a term for when the earlobe appears elongated or distorted due to a facelift. It is one of the common tip-offs to facelift surgery. In minor cases, a simple procedure may address it, while more major cases may require a full facelift revision.
• Scarring:
• Most facelift scars are well hidden behind or near the ear. Sometimes, scars may heal thick or more visible than ideal. Depending on the severity, a revision may be necessary.
• Original procedure did not fully address the problem:
• Some plastic surgeons will only perform a superficial facelift that may not lead to a lasting result. Many of the best facelifts tighten the underlying muscle structures as well as the skin. If this was not originally performed, a revision may provide a better result.
• Incorrect diagnosis or procedure:
• Occasionally, the wrong procedure to address a patient’s concerns was performed altogether. In these cases, Dr. Allegra can determine the right procedure for your goals and perform a revision facelift if needed.

First Facelift vs. Revision Facelift

Before your procedure, Dr. Allegra will explain the specific differences between your first and second facelift. There is no one revision facelift surgery because it is dependent on each patient and their needs. For example, for one patient a facelift revision may entail only a quick, in-office procedure with local anesthesia. Another patient may require an hour or more of surgery.

Many facelift revision patients may find that the surgery is shorter and the recovery easier. Though, this will largely depend on what is needed to achieve a good result from your facelift revision in Bellevue.

A certainty about the difference between your first and second facelift is that revisions are often more challenging. Even during a small correction, previous surgery in the area complicates what Dr. Allegra can do to provide a good result. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a surgeon experienced in facelift surgery.

Revision Facelift Before And After

Candidates

Most people who have undergone a facelift and want to enhance their results or received an unsatisfactory result are good candidates. Generally, before undergoing revision surgery, it is advised that you follow up with the plastic surgeon who performed the first facelift. If this is no longer possible, or do not feel comfortable seeing your original surgeon, Dr. Allegra and Northwest Face & Body are happy to see you.

Also, since plastic surgery results can take time to settle, it is recommended you wait at least one year after the first facelift to seek a revision. If you meet both of these requirements, Dr. Allegra can determine if you are a good candidate for a facelift revision.

Preparation

Once Dr. Allegra determines you are a candidate for revision facelift surgery, you will need to make the necessary preparations. Surgical preparations vary from person to person, but you can expect pre-operative instructions such as:

• Secure financing for your procedure
• Arrange for a caregiver to drive you home and care for you the first day after surgery
• Get time off work and make childcare arrangements as necessary
• Discontinue medications and supplements at Dr. Allegra’s request
• Stop smoking well in advance of the procedure
• Wear comfortable clothing you will not need to pull over your head on surgery day
• Follow Dr. Allegra’s instructions for eating and drinking the day before and of surgery

Surgery

On the day of your Bellevue facelift revision, you will come to our Medicare certified surgery center. Here, the Northwest Face & Body team will prep you for surgery. Dr. Allegra will also make surgical markings and review the procedure with you. When you are cleared for surgery, a licensed anesthesia provider will place you under general anesthesia.

The surgical technique will vary based on your needs. When performing a full revision, Dr. Allegra will often follow the same incisions. Through these incisions, he will reposition the skin and tissues for a more flattering result. When he achieves the best result possible, Dr. Allegra will close the incisions.

Facelift revision surgery can take anywhere from less than one hour to two hours depending on the extent of the surgery. Based on your needs, Dr. Allegra will create a customized surgical plan that he will review with you before surgery.

Recovery

Recovering from a revision facelift will be similar to your original surgery recovery. You can expect some side effects like swelling, bruising, and pain. These should subside in about a week. If you underwent a minor revision, you may find the recovery easier than the first one.

Revision facelift patients usually take at least a few days to a week off work. Most other activities can resume at about two weeks. Every revision facelift is different. Therefore, Dr. Allegra may also give you individualized instructions to promote the best results.

Dr. Allegra will prescribe postoperative medications to manage pain and prevent infection. If he requested that you stop certain medications or supplements before surgery, you will likely need to continue avoiding them. Dr. Allegra will tell you when it is okay to begin their use again. Additionally, he may also recommend the use of certain medications or supplements to boost recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long To Wait Before Getting A Revision Facelift?

Results from your first facelift can take up to a year to settle in. Most plastic surgeons advise patients to wait a year and follow up with their original surgeon before seeking a revision elsewhere. If you are still dissatisfied with your results at that point, Dr. Allegra at Northwest Face & Body is happy to discuss facelift revision.

Are Other Procedures Used To Fix Facelift Results?

Yes, some minor corrections and other goals can be achieved with other procedures. For example, if the patient is left with hollowed areas, dermal fillers or a fat transfer can address this. Sometimes, a patient may find that they should’ve undergone an additional procedure, such as a brow lift or chin augmentation. Dr. Allegra can perform these after the fact to enhance facelift results.

Even after surgical correction and tightening the skin, skin quality can remain poor. Treatments like chemical peels and microneedling can resurface the skin to improve skin quality. This can also reduce the appearance of facelift scars.

How Many Facelifts Can You Have?

New facelift techniques provide better results without thinning the skin as much as older techniques. This means that it is possible to undergo more than one facelift successfully. It is not uncommon for patients to undergo a successful mini facelift procedure in their early fifties. Then, a traditional facelift later on in their sixties. Though one facelift surgery can lead to a permanently younger appearance, some patients like to enhance results later on in life.

Technically, there is no one number of facelifts one patient can have. This depends on factors such as skin quality, the success of the previous procedures, age, and general health. Dr. Allegra will take all of these factors into account when determining if you are a candidate for a facelift revision.

Will The Results Of This Surgery Last Longer?

If the original facelift was superficially or incorrectly performed, you can likely expect the results of a revision to last longer. If the original facelift was successful, you can expect the results to enhance the first facelift’s results. The face does not quit aging. However, a patient who underwent a facelift will almost always look younger than peers who did not.

What Is The Difference Between A Revision And A Secondary Facelift?

The terms “revision” and “secondary” are often used interchangeably to describe when someone undergoes another facelift. The two terms actually have different meanings. A revision facelift refers to the correction of an unsatisfactory or incorrect result. Conversely, a secondary facelift is when someone undergoes another facelift following a successful procedure. Usually, many years later, a secondary facelift simply addresses aging that occurs after the first facelift. It can also enhance the results of the first surgery.

Bellevue And Kirkland’s Top Destination For Revision Facelift Surgery

Dr. Ludwig Allegra is an accomplished plastic surgeon with a career spanning four decades. Throughout this time, he pioneered surgical techniques to make facial plastic surgery less invasive and provide better results. With experience in sinus surgery and facial plastic surgery, Dr. Allegra has a broad and deep understanding of facial anatomy. Possessing precise surgical skills and an eye for aesthetics, Dr. Allegra offers the best revision facelift in Bellevue and Kirkland.

Northwest Face & Body proudly serves the Eastside communities including Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. Patients often travel to see us and we offer virtual consultations to make the process of facelift revision easier. Conveniently located on the shores of Lake Washington, Northwest Face & Body is just minutes from both downtown Bellevue and Kirkland.

To learn more about your options for a facelift revision and schedule a consultation, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach us online through our chat feature, contact forms, or Price Simulator™ app.