Face lift
Face lifting Also known as rhytidectomy
A facelift is the most comprehensive approach to treating facial wrinkles and sagging caused by aging. The surgery varies in range from minimally invasive ‘lunchtime lifts’ to more extensive, sophisticated surgery. A facelift removes excess skin, tightens underlying tissues and muscle and red grapes skin on the face and neck. It can correct midface sagging, marionette lines, jowls and a double chin, maintaining its reputation as the ‘gold standard’ for facial rejuvenation.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:
– Sagging in the middle of your face.
– Deep creases below the lower eyelids.
– Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth.
– Fat that has fallen or has disappeared.
– Loss of skin tone in the lower face that creates jowls.
– Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw.
Preparing for facelift surgery
– In preparing for a facelift, you may be asked to:
– Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
– Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
– Stop smoking
– Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs.
How is a facelift procedure performed?
The incisions are made, various degrees of ‘undermining’ of your skin is performed, and the deeper layers of your face are lifted. Undermining separates the overlying skin of the face and neck from the muscles and tissues deep to the skin. This frees or loosens facial and neck skin so it can be redraped at the end of the procedure, making sure skin is smooth.
Then, your surgeon will raise the skin from the temples, cheeks, and neck, and lift and reposition the underlying connective tissue, removing excess fat and skin. If this procedure is performed in conjunction with a neck lift, the surgeon will draw the neck muscles together, stitching them together at the midline to form a strong sling of muscles that supports the entire neck and jaw. Your surgeon may also include liposuction of the neck and jowls. Facial implants may be added to increase cheek or chin volume.
Finally, your surgeon redrapes the skin over the new underlying structure and closes the incisions with stitches and/or small metal clips. Where needed, drainage tubes may be inserted. A padded, supportive dressing is usually applied.
What to Expect After Surgery:
Your face will be bandaged after the surgery. The dressings are usually removed 1 to 2 days later. If a drainage tube has been placed (usually behind the ear), it will also be removed 1 to 2 days after the surgery. Your doctor will remove your stitches in 5 to 10 days.
Your doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve pain after the surgery. Expect to have swelling and bruising of the face.
Cold compresses can help relieve these side effects.
Your doctor may instruct you to keep your head elevated and still as much as possible.
It is important to avoid smoking and even second-hand smoke for 2 to 4 weeks before and after surgery.
Tobacco smoke increases the risk for skin and tissue death and will delay your face’s healing process and make scarring worse.
Most people can return to their normal activities 2 to 3 weeks after a face-lift.
At first your face will feel stiff and will probably look and feel strange to you. This is normal, but it is important to be prepared for it.
