Your Complete Recovery Guide to a One-Stitch Facelift
Executive Summary: Beverly Hills Facelift Insitute’s very own Dr. Calabria created the one-stitch facelift to give patients an option that features impressive results with a significantly shorter recovery time than a traditional facelift requires. The one-stitch facelift is a minimally invasive procedure that emulates facelift results without the extensive scarring and recovery period. This blog discusses the origin of the one-stitch facelift, the benefits, why this is an excellent option for some people compared to similar treatments, what recovery is like, and when you can expect to see your results.
5 Min Read:
It can take months for patients to recover fully from facelift surgery, months that the average person may not have to set aside, especially those with daily obligations such as work and taking care of children. These usually cannot be put on hold for that long.
Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Calabria, considered this when he created the one-stitch facelift.
The one-stitch facelift is a minimally invasive procedure that emulates facelift results without the extensive scarring and recovery period.
Facelifts in Old School Hollywood
So, how did people survive without plastic surgery? Well, it was a tough road to achieve the look of a facelift without an actual facelift.
Marlene Dietrich, a German-American actress and singer, created her own facelift in the 1940s in a quest to keep up with the beauty standards at the time.
She would pull her hair back as far as possible so the skin would remain extremely tight over her face. She would then complete this look by covering the tape she used with a wig.
Dr. Calabria took this as an inspiration for his one-stitch facelift. It was about creating a technique that would leave permanent results with minimal scarring and little to no downtime.
A one-stitch facelift requires two small incisions near each sideburn where the skin anchors the lift and holds the tissue in place.
You will see dramatic improvements in the elevation of your cheeks as well as the minimization of your jowls, deep nasolabial folds, and skin laxity.
What Are the Benefits of a One-Stitch Facelift?
Traditional facelift techniques can leave patients with a ‘wind-swept’ appearance and hollow eyes.
New facelift techniques, such as the one-stitch facelift, can successfully rejuvenate your face by repositioning the deeper tissues, removing excess facial skin, and tightening the remaining skin for a smoother appearance.
Benefits of a one-stitch facelift include:
- Immediate, long-lasting results
- Little to no scarring
- Minimal bruising and swelling
- A shorter recovery period
Why Choose a One-Stitch Facelift Over a Traditional Facelift or Injectable Treatments?
When deciding whether a one-stitch facelift is right for you, comparing the recovery periods and longevity of results with other similar procedures and treatments is helpful.
Traditional Facelift
Compared to the traditional facelift, the one-stitch facelift has a remarkably low recovery period. A traditional facelift will usually take a patient at least one month to recover and be able to go out in public without it being evident that you’ve just had cosmetic work done. Immediately following facelift surgery, you’ll be moved out of the operating room into a recovery room with a dressing placed on your face. Depending on how your body heals, you may spend one to two days in the recovery room before you can return home. One week later, you’ll need to have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Calabria so he can remove some sutures and give you follow-up aftercare steps. The rest of the sutures will also be taken out by Dr. Calabria anywhere from ten days to two weeks after surgery. After around two weeks, your face will be presentable, but it will take about a month before your full results are completely visible.
This extensive recovery period for a traditional facelift has led many to consider the one-stitch facelift. Other facelift procedures with less intense recovery times are the male facelift and the non-surgical facelift.
Injectable Treatments
While injections may be appealing due to their minimal to no recovery times and non-surgical nature, it’s important to note that injections alone typically do not last as long. Results vary, but injection treatments usually need multiple sessions to achieve the patient’s ideal results, and they are not guaranteed to last forever.
One-Stitch Facelift Recovery: What Can I Expect?
Right after your procedure, you can expect to experience minor bruising and swelling. Dr. Calabria will prescribe pain medication if any pain or discomfort persists. Due to the minimally invasive nature of the one-stitch facelift, pain, bruising, and swelling are all very minor and easily manageable.
How Long is the One-Stitch Facelift Recovery Period?
The main portion of your recovery period typically lasts no more than a weekend, and patients can return to their daily routine within one week. For people with desk jobs or work that doesn’t require heavy lifting and strenuous activity, they can often return to work the day following their one-stitch facelift.
One Stitch Facelift Before and After
Here is a patient of Dr. Calabria’s who got a one-stitch facelift.
One-Stitch Facelift Results
Your full results will be noticeable once the swelling completely subsides. It typically takes a few weeks for the swelling to go away completely, and once it does, you’ll be able to enjoy the full effects of your one-stitch facelift.
Have More Questions About One-Stitch Facelift in Beverly Hills, CA?
If you would like to learn more about the one-stitch facelift technique, the recovery process, and other facelift procedures, call our Beverly Hills, California, office at (310) 777-0069 or fill out our online contact form.