Face-Lift, 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.
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.