FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About Facelift & Neck Lift (rhytidectomy) Surgery

What Does Facelift Surgery Involve?

How Much Does A Facelift, Neck Lift, Or Mid-Facelift Normally Cost?

What Financing Options Are Available?

How Long Is The Recovery Period?

When Can I Return To School Or Work?

How Painful Is The Procedure?

What Are The Common Risks?

In simplest terms, rhytidectomy is an operation that is performed to surgically tighten the facial tissues. I perform what is called a modified deep-plane lift, meaning that an emphasis is placed on muscle tightening, not pulling the skin tight. This creates a natural look, and not a “wind-blown” appearance. I feel strongly about avoiding a surgical, pulled-too-tight look, and I find that conservative tightening is the best way to go. I hide my incisions around the ears and in the back part of the hair. This incision hides very well in both men (click for image) and women (click for image). For many of my patients, getting rid of that “turkey gobbler” look is one of their greatest rewards from this procedure.

For patients requiring a mid-facelift, very small incisions are hidden in the crow’s feet of the eyes and in the hairline. "Mid-lifts" are for patients whose natural cheek fullness has dropped and needs to be repositioned up over the cheek bone where it was in earlier years. Only after a complete physical exam can I determine if a facelift or "mid-lift" is most appropriate for you.

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To fully understand the costs of cosmetic surgery, you must understand the guiding principles of Dr. Mobley’s medical practice: Quality, Safety, and a Respect for Cost. Dr, Mobley has not designed the surgical experience to be lowest bid; rather, he wants you to have an exceptionally high-quality medical experience. If this interests you, please read on.

There are three main components that contribute to your final cosmetic surgery fee. The first component is the surgeon's fee. As this is a medical experience, your final surgeon's fee can only be determined after a full consultation with Dr. Mobley where he will perform a complete history and physical exam and together you will formulate a treatment plan that best fits your cosmetic goals. Computerized imaging is often used to help better planyour surgery.
As a reference point, a recent survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed the average fee of face lift surgery to be $7238. Dr. Mobley's professional fees will vary depending on the surgical technique utilized but tend to average around $6000. Remember that there are "full" facelifts, "neck-only" lifts, and "mini" facelifts. Dr. Mobley performs all of these techniques and after a consultation the correct procedure for will be determined.

The second cost component is the facility in which your operation is performed. Dr. Mobley exclusively operates in a state of the art surgical center - not in a in-office surgical room. This surgical center isJCAHO certified, which means it has passed the highest level of federal inspection. Cosmetic surgery is real surgery, and Dr. Mobley strongly believes that having it performed in a JCAHO certified center is in your best medical interest. Learn more about this surgical center here.

The final cost component is the anesthesia fee. The training background of the person ultimately responsible for your sedation should becarefully considered; but many patients do not much emphasis on this. Nurseanesthetists are members of the surgical team; however, in every cosmetic operation Dr. Mobley performs, a Board-Certified M.D. anesthesiologist who has completed medical school, residency, and board certification is responsible for your sedation. This is the level of care I would insist on for my own family members.

There can be some variability in surgical time based on the cosmetic goals you and Dr. Mobley determine from your consultation. The length of surgery will determine your facility and anesthesia fees and will tend to average between $3000 to $4400.
After your consultation you will leave the office with an easy to understand written quote in which we will list the cost of these three components for your individualized surgical plan. Keep in mind that the facility and anesthesia fees are time-based and so may be increased, or decreased, based on the actual final length of your cosmetic surgery.

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Dr. Mobley wants to make cosmetic surgery available to as many people as possible. For that reason we have hand picked lending services exclusively for Dr. Mobley's patients. When you come in for your consultation we will be more than happy to go over all your financial options with you. We have provided web links to our financial lenders so that you may research them on your own if you so desire. www.mlendfinance.com

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One week is usually ample time for the majority of the recovery. Stitches are removed one week after the operation. You will be given a supportive elastic strap to wear 24 hours a day for the first week following surgery. After the first week, I recommend that you wear the supportive dressing at home and at nights for the following two to three weeks.

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Rhytidectomy require one to two weeks for a complete recovery. Some of my patients are ready to work after just one week, but most require two weeks for a complete recovery. It is my experience that most people desire some privacy to their recovery, so waiting a full two weeks can be the best approach.

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For the first 1-2 days following surgery, the face is wrapped with a compressive bandage. This can cause some pressure discomfort, but most patients find this very tolerable, particularly in combination with the pain medications that all patients receive. Once the compressive headwrap is removed, most patients feel that the majority of their discomfort has been alleviated. It is normal to feel tightness in the neck muscles under the chin. This is simply a sign of a successful surgical tightening of the neckline. This lasts for about 7 days.

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Every type of surgery has risks. It’s my ethical responsibility to educate you on these risks so you can make the best possible decision for yourself while weighing these risks against the benefits of surgery. My training helps me to minimize these risks to the best of my ability, but I cannot eliminate them entirely.

Common risks include loss of hair follicles near incision sites, distortion of the earlobe, asymmetry, facial nerve weakness, numb earlobe, thick scars, residual fat or skin laxity, and blood collection under the skin.

The risks above are the most common ones that I think you should be aware of, but they are not a complete list of all possible risks. When I see you in consultation and we begin to formulate your surgical treatment plan, I’ll review with you not only these common risks but also the less likely complications that may occur.

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