Interested in a facelift? Learn what you need to know from Memphis, Tennessee plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Langsdon. http://www.drlangsdon.com/

1. FACELIFTTHE BEST FRIEND GUIDE WWW.DRLANGSDON.COM

2. ABOUTPHILLIP LANGSDON, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Langsdon obtained his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences, where he was awarded The Medical Student Research
Fellowship, The March of Dimes Medical Student Research Fellowship, and The
Summer Oncology Fellowship. He was named the Barton Scholar upon
graduation. He first trained in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Indiana
University; then he underwent advanced training in a year long Fellowship
devoted exclusively to cosmetic surgery of the face at the American Academy of
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr. Langsdon’s private practice has been limited to Facial Plastic Surgery for
over twenty-five years. He is a tenured Professor at the University of Tennessee
and Chief of the Division of Facial Plastic Surgery. He has authored several
medical articles, book chapters, and a medical textbook. He has given over 100
medical lectures on topics related to plastic surgery of the face. He has appeared
nationally on The Today Show, Headline News (worldwide), CSPAN, and has
been quoted in national publications. He has been selected for inclusion in Best
Doctors in America list by Woodward/White, Inc. Dr. Langsdon is also listed in
the Guide to Americas’ Top Physicians by Consumer’s Research Council of

3. HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR
FACIAL PLASTIC
SURGEONTake your time thinking about which plastic surgeon you would
like to perform your facelift. Look into following about your facial
plastic surgeon before your consultation:
•Facial plastic surgery specialty
•Facial plastic surgery board-certification
•Years of experience and training
•Hospital privileges
•Surgical facility and accreditation by national or state agency
Ask for referrals from friends and family, research plastic
surgeons in your area, and contact the following professional
organizations:
•American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
(AAFPRS)
•American College of Surgeons (FACS)
•Fellowship Trained

4. QUESTIONSFOR YOUR CONSULTATION
A consultation for a facelift includes a discussion of how you would like your face to look as well as your
concerns about the procedure. Approach your facial plastic surgeon with the following questions and evaluate
his/her bedside manner:
•Are you certified by the American Board Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery?
•Were you specifically trained in the field of facial plastic surgery? How many years of facial plastic surgery
training have you had?
•Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
•Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it
state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
•Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
•What will be expected of me to get the best results?
•Where and how will you perform my procedure?
•What surgical technique is recommended for me?
•How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
•What are the risks and complications associated with a facelift? How are complications handled?
•How can I expect my face to look over time?

5. INTRODUCTION
FACELIFT
Facelift surgery is an accepted treatment that can help both men
and women regain a more youthful appearance. The out-of-date
attitude of belittling cosmetic surgery has been replaced with the
knowledge that there is a way to help us improve some of the signs
of aging. At The Langsdon Clinic, we strive to reverse the signs of
aging while preserving the “natural appearance.”
A facelift (Rhytidectomy) procedure is designed to reduce sagging
caused by loose skin and muscles and drooping, fatty tissues of the
face and upper neck. The operation is done to treat the relatively
early signs of aging or to improve the advanced signs in older
patients. If the sagging is significant, the results of surgery may be
more dramatic. In younger patients, the results may be more
subtle; they may simply “look less tired.”

6. FACELIFTAREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
The following areas can be treated by a facelift procedure:
•Lower face
•Jowls
•Upper neck
Other procedures may be recommended to improve the eyelids, eyebrows,
forehead, or mid cheek. Wrinkles cannot be “pulled out” with a face-lift, and
areas of facial deflation (the groove between the eyes and upper cheek,
the folds along the sides of the mouth, cheek depressions) cannot be
eradicated with a facelift.
In patients with thick or fatty cheeks and neck, the tissues may not be as
mobile and the contouring obtained may be somewhat less than that
obtained in a patient with thin tissues.

7. THE ALTERNATIVE
MID-FACE LIFT
A mid-face lift treats the sagging of the upper cheeks
and the surrounding area. The traditional facelift may
fully improve the upper cheek and lower eyelid areas of
the face, which often sink in, or flatten, and sag with
age.
A mid-face lift elevates the upper cheek, improving
fullness to the area below the eyes and upper cheeks,
helping restore a refreshed fullness, more like that
found in younger people. A mid-face lift is quicker than
a traditional facelift. It can enhance the cheek bone
area and improve the smile lines.

8. THE ALTERNATIVE
DAYLIFT
The DayLift is an innovative technique designed to improve sagging
cheeks and jowls. It may remove years from one’s appearance during a
single, one-hour procedure. The DayLift is a true lift that supports the skin,
connective tissue, and muscles instead of only tightening the facial skin.
The DayLift provides natural-appearing results with less bruising and
swelling than more extensive procedures. General Anesthesia is not
needed and most patients return to light activities much sooner than with a
full-lower facelift.
Although the results can sometimes be dramatic, the DayLift cannot
produce the results of a more extensive facelift. It cannot remove
asymmetries, wrinkles, or stop the aging process. It cannot improve an
extensively sagging or fatty neck. Dr. Langsdon developed the
DayLift for the patient who needs only minimal improvement of the cheeks
and jowls or who might not want a full-lower facelift.

9. THE PREPARATION
FACELIFT
Preoperatively, medications are given to begin relaxation and help
minimize swelling and bruising. The procedure is usually performed
at the clinic’s outpatient surgical center. “Twilight” sedation is used
and is supplemented by local anesthesia. Most patients have no
discomfort during the procedure.
The face is divided into several areas of concern: the neck, the lower
cheek-jowl, the upper cheek, eyelids, and the forehead. The facelift
deals with the lower cheek-jowl and neck. It does not treat the
forehead, eyelids, or cheekbone areas.
Normally, we do not shave the hair in preparation for the procedure.
Not having to wait for hair to re-grow makes it easier to camouflage
postoperative healing.

10. FACELIFTTHE PROCEDURE
The incision for the lower cheek-jowl-neck operation begins in
the temple hair and extends down just in front of the ear,
around the ear lobe, up behind the ear, and then backward
along the hairline. Through this incision, the skin is elevated
out into the cheeks, and neck. The underlying muscle and
connective tissues are raised and repositioned with sutures to
help support these underlying facial structures of the cheek-
jowl and upper neck. Excess skin is then removed.
A small incision is usually placed in a crease under the chin.
Through this incision, fatty accumulation in the upper neck
may be improved and the muscles may be tightened. The skin
edges are secured with absorbable sutures in front of the ear
and under the chin; and small skin clips may be used for the
incisions along the hairline.

11. THE RECOVERY
FACELIFT
During your facelift recovery, a bandage might be placed
around your face to minimize swelling and bruising once your
procedure is completed.
Thin tubes may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid
that may collect under the skin.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to
care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or
take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for
infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in
your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic
surgeon.

12. POTENTIAL
RISKS
The decision to have a facelift is extremely personal, and the
following potential risks and complications should be taken into
consideration:
•Anesthesia risks
•Bleeding
•Infection
•Poor wound healing and skin loss
•Facial nerve injury with weakness
•Temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions
•Fluid accumulation
•Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
•Persistent pain
•Unfavorable scarring
•Prolonged swelling
•Skin irregularities and discoloration
•Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin
•Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications

13. BEFORE & AFTERPHOTO GALLERY
These are real images of our past patients, so you can see the satisfactory results of facelifts done by Dr.
Langsdon. Consider them a helpful tool that enables you to visualize the end product of the procedure. If you
are interested in viewing more and finding something similar to your desired face, please view our
Facelift Photo Gallery.

14. OTHER HELPFUL
RESOURCES
Your journey is only beginning. If you’re interested in doing more
research, please visit the websites listed below. These resources
will help you connect with the plastic surgery community, so you
can learn more and ask more questions about facelifts.
• American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
www.abfprs.org
• The Langsdon Clinic
www.drlangsdon.com
• American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery
www.aafprs.org