Face-Lift
Cosmetic Surgery, or a Rhytidectomy, is designed
to restore a more youthful appearance by removing
major wrinkles and sagging skin. It involves
tightening of the facial and neck muscles as
well as the removal of any excess skin.
The
skin begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of
age, sun exposure and genetics. Children and
young adults have smooth, round faces due to
evenly distributed fatty tissues in facial contours.
Over time, the skin sags and folds over the
chin, jawline and neck become prominent. Not
only does a facelift improve facial appearance
but also has a dramatic effect on the neck,
enhancing its contour and profile.
A
facelift can make a patient look 5 to 10 years
younger.
Dramatic
as the end results are, this is not a simple
procedure. It requires a week to 10 days of
recovery.
Before
Surgery
We
will evaluate your medical history in order
to determine your overall health.
We
will discuss with you how your face can look
and what you can expect from surgery. Our objective
is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing
to you. Before and After photographs will reveal
what the surgery has accomplished.
Preoperative
Instructions: Avoid drugs that contain aspirin
several weeks prior to surgery to minimize excess
bleeding. You may be required to take antibiotics
to prevent infection. You may be instructed
to shampoo your hair the night before surgery.
Shaving of head is not required.
The
Procedure
A
facelift is frequently performed in conjunction
with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), forehead
lift, chin augmentation, and/or liposuction,
to create an overall rejuvenation of the face.
The procedure can be repeated as gravity continues
its effects after the first surgery.
Facelifts
are performed in inpatient surgical centers.
General anesthesia is generally not required
but can be used if desired for long procedures
to help you relax and get a better result.
The
surgeon will make incisions inside the hairline
at the temple, in front of the ear, then around
the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the
scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging
muscles and connective tissues are tightened.
In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from
beneath the chin and neck. Incisions are closed
with small sutures.
The
procedure may take up to 5-7 hours depending
on whether any other procedures are performed
at the same time.
Recovery:
What to expect
Initially
you will have a large dressing wrapped around
your head. You may have surgical drains attached
to bulbs hanging at your neck. These will be
removed in approximately 24 hours. Stitches
around the ears will be loosened or removed
in a few days. The scalp sutures will be removed
in 7-10 days.
To
minimize scarring, the doctor may remove the
sutures in stages. Scarring fades quickly. Swelling
and discoloration decrease within two weeks.
Tightness in your face will be present for several
weeks.
We
recommend that you avoid the sun for several
weeks after surgery.
Complications
following facelift are rare. These include bleeding,
infection, facial nerve injury, discoloration
of the skin, numbness, asymmetry and scarring.
Infection is rare due to the large blood supply
to the face. As mentioned, the risk of bleeding
is greater if you take aspirin or blood thinners
within 2 weeks of the surgery. The risk of wound
complications increases in diabetics, persons
with a history of radiation, autoimmune and
collagen disease as well as in smokers.
By
following pre- and post-operative instructions,
you will minimize potential problems.
In
the weeks following surgery, the facial skin
and area around the ear may be numb. There may
also be some temporary discoloration as healing
begins, which may take a few months to disappear.
Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during
surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function
or sensation. However, actual permanent damage
to the facial nerve is rare. .
The
healing process is gradual, so you will not
notice final results for few months. A single
procedure often achieves the desired results.
Most patients who have had facelifts are pleased
with their new, more youthful appearance.
Is
there some minimal procedure for the same result?
Modified
face lift along with endoscopic surgery of the
brows and minimal surgery in the chin / neck
area can give a younger look which may not be
as powerful as a full face neck lift. The recovery
time for such a procedure is just a week and
is a day care procedure with people going back
home in the evening.
