Facelift & Neck Lift
IN WICHITA, KS

Facelift and Neck Lift With Other Procedures

A facelift and neck lift can be done on their own or together with other facial procedures. Because the face ages as a whole, many patients choose to address more than one area:

• Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) treats heavy upper eyelids, puffiness and under-eye bags that a facelift does not reach.

• Rhinoplasty can refine the nose for better overall facial balance. Dr. Rieger is also board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, the specialty focused on the head and neck.

• Botox and dermal fillers soften forehead lines, frown lines and folds that surgery is not designed to treat, and can help maintain your results.

Some combinations are best done in stages. One of the patients shown above had a facelift and neck lift as a first stage, then upper eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty as a second stage. Dr. Rieger will tell you whether doing everything at once or in stages makes more sense for you. You can explore all of our facial plastic surgery options.

 

Surgery Versus Non-Surgical Treatments

Injectables and lasers can improve lines, volume and skin quality, but they cannot lift sagging deeper tissues, remove loose neck skin or repair separated neck muscles. A facelift and neck lift cannot stop the aging process, but it can "set back the clock" by repositioning the deeper tissues, removing excess skin and tightening the neck. The results are more dramatic and longer lasting than non-surgical procedures. Many patients use non-surgical treatments such as Botox, fillers or laser resurfacing before surgery, and to complement their results afterward.

 

Facelift and Neck Lift Recovery

Every patient heals at a different pace, and Dr. Rieger will give you written instructions for your recovery. In general:

• Surgery day: Facelift and neck lift surgery is performed at an accredited surgery center with anesthesia care, not in our office. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you at first.

• The first week: Swelling, bruising, tightness and some numbness around the face, ears and neck are normal. Keeping your head elevated and resting helps the swelling settle.

• The following weeks: Bruising and most swelling fade gradually. Dr. Rieger will tell you when you can return to work, social plans and exercise. Many patients plan their surgery around a stretch of time when they can rest at home.

• Incisions: The incisions around the ear and along the hairline are red at first and fade as they mature, blending with the natural contours around the ears and hairline.

• Smoking: If you smoke, you must stop well before and after surgery. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and increases the risk of healing problems.

• Final results: Your new contour continues to refine for several months as the last of the swelling resolves.

Please review our pre- and post-op instructions and the list of medications and supplements to avoid before surgery.

 

What to Expect at Your Facelift Consultation

1. A personal visit with Dr. Rieger. He will ask what bothers you most when you look in the mirror: jowls, a soft jawline, loose neck skin or neck bands.

2. An examination of your face and neck. He will assess your skin, the deeper facial tissues and the platysma muscle, and check your general health and medications.

3. A clear plan. You will learn what a facelift and neck lift can realistically do for you, where your incisions will be, and whether another procedure, such as eyelid surgery, would help you reach your goal.

4. Before-and-after photos. You will see results from Dr. Rieger's own facelift patients.

5. A written price. Facelift surgery is cosmetic and is not covered by insurance. Financing options are available (see competitive prices and financing).

 

Why Choose Dr. Rieger for Your Facelift in Wichita?

• Double board-certified in plastic surgery and otolaryngology. Dr. James A. Rieger is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, giving him training in both cosmetic surgery and the anatomy of the head and neck. Meet Dr. Rieger.

• More than 20 years in practice in Wichita.

• A natural approach. The goal is to restore definition while keeping a natural relationship between the face, jawline and neck, not to create a pulled or tight look.

• Face and neck treated together. Dr. Rieger performs the facelift and neck lift at the same time, so the lower face, jawline and neck are addressed as one continuous area.

• Accredited surgery centers. Surgery is performed at Andover Surgery Center or Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center. Learn more about our surgery centers.

Patients come to our office at 10111 East 21st Street North, Suite 402, from Wichita, Andover, Derby, Eastborough and communities across Kansas.

 

Facelift and Neck Lift FAQs

 

Does Dr. Rieger perform a facelift without a neck lift?

Dr. Rieger performs facelift and neck lift surgery together. Treating only the face or only the neck can leave an imbalance between them, so he addresses the lower face, jawline and neck as one continuous area.

 

Who is a good candidate for a facelift and neck lift?

Dr. Rieger performs facelift and neck lift surgery for patients age 50 and older who have sagging along the jawline, loose skin on the lower face and neck, or visible neck bands.

 

Where are the incisions, and will they show?

The incisions are placed around the ear and within or along the hairline. Every incision leaves a scar, but facelift scars typically become less noticeable as they mature and are designed to blend with the natural contours around the ears and hairline.

 

Will I look pulled or tight?

The goal is not to change the way you look or create an overly tight appearance. Dr. Rieger repositions the deeper facial tissues (the SMAS) rather than relying on pulling the skin, to restore definition while keeping a natural look.

 

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

Yes. A facelift and neck lift can be combined with procedures such as eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty, either at the same time or in stages. Dr. Rieger will recommend the approach that fits your goals.

 

How long do facelift results last?

A facelift cannot stop the aging process, but it can set back the clock. The results are more dramatic and longer lasting than non-surgical procedures, and your face will continue to age naturally from its improved starting point.

 

Is a facelift covered by insurance?

No. A facelift is a cosmetic procedure, and cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance. Financing options are available.

Ready to find out if a facelift and neck lift is right for you? Call (316) 652-9333 or request a consultation.