Short Scar Facelift

We see ourselves in ways that no one else does. As we age, at some point we look in the mirror and the person looking back is not quite who we remember. Youth and vitality has given way to something less. A short scar facelift offers maximal rejuvenation with minimal, hidden incisions. Known as an S Lift, it focuses on repairing the lower two-thirds of the face, including sagging cheek skin and jowls, and enhancing the youthful contours of the mid-face. Shorter incisions frequently mean shorter recovery, which is attractive to busy professionals.

West End Plastic Surgery, which serves the D.C. region, including Reston and Alexandria, is chosen by facelift patients who want a personalized plan to achieve their rejuvenation goals. Request a consultation online to meet with Dr. Ruff or call the office at 202-785-4187 to schedule an appointment.

Are You a Good Candidate for an S Lift?

The best candidate for an S Lift is a man or woman whose cheek skin has begun to sag with early jowls starting to form, but whose skin still has some elasticity, whose bone structure is strong and well defined, and whose neck skin tone is still good. Most patients are in their late 30s to 50s, but S Lifts can be successfully performed on people well into their 60s and 70s. If you are generally healthy, have realistic views about the results that can be achieved with an S Lift, and have any of the following conditions, you may be a good candidate for the procedure:

  • Loss of skin elasticity or muscle tone on your face or neck
  • Wrinkles or furrows on your face or neck
  • Deep creases forming between the bottom of your nose and the corner of your mouth
  • A diminished jawline

Some patients with minor signs of facial aging may be candidates for a non-surgical approach. Dr. Ruff can discuss minimally invasive options such as Ultherapy® skin tightening instead of or in addition to surgery.

Meeting With Your Plastic Surgeon

Prior to scheduling your facelift, you will have an extensive consultation with your surgeon and team at West End Plastic Surgery. The goals of the consultation are to evaluate your facial and neck structure, your skin elasticity and facial volume, and your underlying muscle tone to determine if an S Lift is right for you. Adjunctive procedures will be recommended if needed to create a harmonious rejuvenation. Your plastic surgeon will thoroughly explain each technique along with its risks, benefits, and recovery times. You will be asked to describe in detail how you want your face and neck to look after your S Lift. Working together, you and the doctor will decide which technique will give you the results you desire.

Your plastic surgeon and his staff at West End Plastic Surgery will:

  • Review the S Lift and adjunctive procedures with you
  • Clearly discuss the potential risks of each procedure
  • Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
  • Provide detailed cost and payment information
  • Answer all your questions

You will be asked to provide:

  • Details about your medical history
  • A list of all medications you currently take, including over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
  • Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use

How the Procedure Is Performed

Your S Lift procedure will be performed in our state-of-the-art AAAASF certified surgical suite. Your S Lift will take between 2 to 4 hours to complete and can be performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation depending on what you and the doctor prefer. With general anesthesia, you will be completely asleep throughout the procedure. With local anesthesia, you will be lightly sedated and your face and neck area will be numbed. You will be awake but will be relaxed and will feel no discomfort. The type of anesthesia used, our surgical facility, and other recommended procedures will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.

Your surgeon will make an incision beginning at your hairline or within the hair at the temple extending within the natural lines and contours of the ear. Rarely the incision is carried a short distance behind the earlobe. If your neck is also being lifted, your surgeon will make a small incision under your chin. The incisions are designed to be inconspicuous once healed.

Once the incisions are made, your surgeon carefully separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. If necessary, fat is trimmed or suctioned from around the neck to improve the contour of your neck, chin, and jawline. The doctor then tightens the underlying muscle and support structures, redrapes the skin, and removes any excess skin. If any additional procedures are included, they will be performed at this time to complete your rejuvenation.

Once the procedure is complete, your surgeon uses stitches to secure the layers of tissue and to close the incisions. Surgical clips may be used to secure the scalp. A small thin tube called a drain may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to help drain any blood that might collect there. Your head is wrapped with gauze dressings to help reduce the swelling.

What To Expect After Your Surgery

Drainage Tubes Removed 1 to 5 Days After Surgery
Bandages Removed 1 to 5 Days After Surgery
Shower & Shampoo Hair The Day After Bandages are Removed
Stitches Removed 5 to 7 Days After Surgery
Return to Work 2 to 4 Weeks After Surgery
Driving As Soon as You Are Comfortable and Do Not Require Narcotic Pain Medication
Strenuous Activities 2 to 6 Weeks After Surgery
Fading of Scars Several Months to 1 Year
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We’re as thrilled with our patients’ results as they are. Check out our before-and-after photo gallery and see for yourself the kind of work our talented surgeons do.

Immediately After Your Surgery

In most cases, S Lift surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and you go home shortly after the surgery. You may be sleepy from the anesthesia and the surgical area will be sore, so you will need to have someone drive you home. Once you go home, you may want to have someone stay with you for the first few days. There will be some bruising, swelling, and numbness. You will need to keep your head elevated and avoid any strenuous activity for a few days after surgery to help reduce the swelling and avoid complications. Pain medication will be prescribed to alleviate as much post-surgery pain as possible.

The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery

You may experience some numbness and temporary discomfort around the incisions. Any pain or discomfort you experience can be controlled with prescribed medication. You will also experience swelling and some bruising. You will need to keep your head elevated for the first few days after surgery to reduce the swelling of your face and neck. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first 2 days.

Your surgeon will remove your bandages at your first postoperative visit. There may be a small amount of bleeding around your incisions. This is normal and can usually be controlled by applying light pressure to the area. If the bleeding does not respond to light pressure or becomes heavy, call West End Plastic Surgery for further instructions.

You can usually wash your hair 48 hours after surgery (or 24 hours after the drains are removed). However, if you dry your hair, keep the dryer on the lowest setting because your scalp may be numb and there is a risk that you might burn yourself.

The First 2 Weeks After Surgery

Although you will be up and around in the first few days after your surgery, you should take it easy for the first week. Your stitches and any surgical clips used will be removed within 5 to 7 days after surgery. You can begin using makeup 2 days after your stitches are removed. Most patients are back to work within 2 weeks of surgery.

You will notice that you will become increasingly more comfortable during the first few weeks after your surgery. You may also notice:

  • Mild to moderate swelling, tenderness, and bruising in the area of the incisions. This will gradually disappear within the first 2 weeks after surgery with most of the swelling and bruising disappearing within a month. The swelling may cause it to feel funny when you make certain facial expressions.
  • Numbness in the area of your incisions; this is normal and may take several weeks to months to disappear completely.
  • Itching as a result of the healing of the nerves near your incisions. This feeling is more pronounced with the traditional facelift and may take up to 6 months to disappear completely.

Resuming Your Normal Routine

Everyone heals at different rates, and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:

  • You can most likely return to work within 2 weeks of your surgery.
  • You can resume driving as soon as you feel comfortable doing so and are not on any narcotics.
  • You can most likely return to your physical exercise program within 2 to 6 weeks of your facelift. Our patients are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
  • Most of the visible signs of your surgery should fade within about 3 weeks.
  • Prolonged exposure to heat and sun should be limited for several months.
  • The scars caused by the incision should be protected from sunlight for at least a year after surgery.

Things to Be Aware of After Your Surgery

  • Bruising and swelling usually decrease enough so that you can comfortably go out in public about 10 to 20 days after your surgery.
  • You may experience a loss of sensation or numbness in the area of your surgery. This is entirely normal and may take several weeks to months to disappear.
  • Generally, the scalp heals at a slower rate than the face or neck. For this reason, any surgical clips used in your scalp will be left in longer than the stitches in your face and neck.
  • Some of your hair around the incision may fall out and may temporarily be a bit thinner than normal. Normal hair growth usually resumes within a few weeks or a month. Permanent hair loss is rare.
  • Your face and neck will feel dry. Apply a good, fragrance-free moisturizer frequently.
  • Avoid saunas and steam baths the first few months after your surgery.
  • Protect your scars with sunscreen for at least 6 months after surgery. Use an SPF 15 (or greater) sunscreen every time you are outside. Apply the sunscreen before applying makeup.
  • Hair texture and manageability can change temporarily as a reaction to surgery. Wait at least 4 weeks before coloring, highlighting, or perming your hair once it returns to its normal texture.

What Are Possible Side Effects or Risks?

All surgical procedures have some degree of risk; however, major complications from S Lift surgery are unusual. During your initial consultation with Dr. Ruff and the staff of West End Plastic Surgery, your individual risks will be assessed and discussed. As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks by closely following the pre- and post-surgery instructions provided to you. Your surgeon and his staff will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.

Most likely risks include the following:

  • Infection
  • Nerve damage
  • Hair loss
  • Asymmetry
  • Blood or fluid collection
  • Skin sloughing, delayed healing at the incisions points
  • Wide or thickened scars

How Long Will the Results of Your S Lift Last?

An S Lift removes excess skin and repositions fat and muscle to reduce jowls and smooth the jawline for a more youthful appearance. These results generally last between 5 to 10 years or longer in many cases. It is important to keep in mind that the effects of aging, gravity, and environmental factors will continue to affect the smoothness, sagging, and wrinkling of your face and neck. Meticulous skin care is critical to maximize the effectiveness and longevity of your surgical results.

Questions You May Have

Are there other procedures that could be done along with facelift surgery to enhance the overall appearance of my face?

An S Lift is often performed in conjunction with a neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, structural fat grafting, or laser resurfacing to enhance the overall youthful appearance. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are a non-surgical alternative that may temporarily reduce the amount of lines and wrinkles in your face and neck.

Will my insurance coverage pay for my S Lift?

An S Lift is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.

Are there alternatives to S Lift surgery?

Botox injections and fillers are non-surgical alternatives to a facelift. These injections can reduce or eliminate lines and furrows that cause wrinkles. Meticulous skin care may also help improve the tone, texture, and occasionally the contour of your facial skin. Laser resurfacing and chemical peels may also provide a less invasive option to surgery.

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