What’s the best age for a facelift?
There is no ideal age for a facelift. It all depends on the individual. That said, many of our facelift patients are in their 40s to 70s. However, patients in their early 30s or 80s can also benefit greatly from an awake facelift.t.
Are awake facelifts safe?
Yes. Dr. Kim’s awake bloodless facelift is the safest way to undergo a facelift and provides superior results compared to a conventional facelift (rhytidectomy). Awake facelift does not alter your body’s natural physiology; therefore, there is no anesthetic harm to the body or brain. General anesthesia and IV (twilight) sedation carry many risks, including blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory distress (decreased oxygenation to the brain and heart). Both anesthesia types also cause cognitive decline/memory loss and increase the chance of developing dementia in the future. Awake facelift with local anesthesia eliminates these anesthetic risks.
How does local anesthesia work?
You will initially feel the anesthetic being administered and the sensation is that of pressure on the face. This pressure sensation will last around 30 seconds, after which the surgical site will be numbed. The nerves in the face will be anesthetized (numbed) by the local anesthetic.
What if I have anxiety or fear of being awake during surgery?
Much of anxiety stems from the fear that something will go wrong. Patients who feel anxious or fearful often do so because of uncertainty and the possibility of complications. Unlike with general anesthesia or IV sedation, where you are not in control and are unaware of the status of your surgery, an awake facelift allows you to remain aware of the progress throughout surgery. In fact, people with anxiety disorders actually do better with awake surgery because they are in control and know what is happening during surgery. You can breathe on your own. There is no bleeding. You can listen to music and talk to Dr. Kim and his staff during your procedure. Dr. Kim will keep you informed about the progress of surgery. Additionally, you will get a break mid-surgery after one side of the face has been lifted. During this time, you can look in the mirror and see the difference. During the 30-45 minute break, you can see your caregiver, FaceTime family and friends, check your phone, or use the restroom. Dr. Kim has had prior patients who were very busy (executives and professionals) who have used this time to work on their laptops. Dr. Kim has over 18 years of experience performing awake plastic surgery. He understands that patients may feel anxious or concerned about being awake. However, he has successfully operated on numerous patients with severe anxiety disorders. These patients have had no issues during their surgeries and were able to proceed without anxiety. Patients are usually anxious because of the potential risk of complications that may occur during surgery. However, Dr. Kim’s method takes away anesthetic risks and minimizes bleeding, providing a safer and more reassuring experience.
What if I accidentally move my face during an awake facelift?
Dr. Kim's method of surgery allows him to move in sync with the tissue. This means that his hands and instruments respond dynamically to tissue movement. Even if you move one direction, his hands and instruments will move and adjust with your movement. Therefore, you do not have to worry about movement during surgery.
Local vs. General Anesthesia and IV Sedation: What’s the difference after surgery?
The benefit of awake surgery using local anesthesia is that the nerve endings are blocked before incision and dissection are made. In contrast, with general anesthesia or IV sedation surgery, the nerves are not anesthetized but rather the brain is anesthetized. This means that the nerves are stimulated during surgery and become hypersensitive. As a result, once the patient wakes up from general anesthesia or IV sedation, the brain will feel the pain because the nerve fibers at the site of surgery send pain signals to the brain. Therefore, one may be required to take opioid medications to numb the brain again. Once the opioid medications wear off after 4-6 hours, the pain may return and you will need to retake the opioid medications. This can increase one’s chance of developing opioid dependence and has led to the rise of opioid addiction in America. In contrast, local anesthesia numbs only the nerves at the site of surgery. Therefore, the nerves are not triggered. Once the surgery is completed, the nerves should not be sensitized. Ultimately, most patients should be able to manage any discomfort with Tylenol without the need for strong opioid medications.