Facelift operation is the cure for the loss of youthful contours, loosening of face and neck skin resulting the aging look. Age, loosing volume from fat and bony tissues, heredity, gravity, personal habits, stress, sun exposure and some more environmental factors contribute to the aging of the face. Fore head and crow's feet lines become deeper, eyebrows and upper eye lid drops down, sagging of the midface, cheeks and jawline, fat deposition and double chin look of the neck makes the face look tired and unhappy, With the elongation of life time and growing aging population, facelift rhytidectomy becomes one of the most desired operations. Facelift surgery does not stop the aging, but gives a refreshment and improvement.
Good candidates for face lift are the individual who have realistic expectations, physically healthy who don’t have medical conditions impairing healing.
Consultation for the facelift surgery is important to discuss the reason, expectations, desired outcome, medical conditions, drug allergies, previous medical treatments, current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, smoking, drug use, previous surgeries. You will be asked about your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors. Your surgeon will examine your face in detail, skin quality, and placement of your anatomical structures. Your photos will be taken. At the end your aesthetic surgeon will discuss your facelift options and other additional procedures which may help to improve the overall result like fat transfer, eyelid or brow lift surgeries, and risks or potential complications.
Facelift risks include: anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, poor wound healing and skin loss, facial nerve injury with weakness, temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions, fluid accumulation, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, persistent pain, unfavorable scarring, prolonged swelling, skin irregularities and discoloration, sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal, unsatisfactory results may include: asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location and unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions. (It may be necessary to perform an additional surgery to improve your results), deep vein thrombosis, life threatening cardiac and pulmonary complications. These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your cosmetic surgeon.
Getting prepared for the operation: blood tests must be done, medications for chronic problems you’re on should be estimated with your surgeon and your doctor dealing with, smoking must be stopped, aspirin, vitamin E, gingko and ginseng containing stuff and certain anti-inflammatory drugs that can increase bleeding should be avoided.
Facelift surgery is preferred to be performed under general anesthesia in a hospital. It may take 2-4 hours according to the possible additional procedures. Incision and techniques may change due to the patient’s facial appearance, patient's expectations and surgeon's judgment. Incisions will be around the ear due to the operative plan and may be partially inside or totally in front of the ear. Men may have the incision behind the sideburns. Skin will be gently lifted from underlying tissues, muscle covering fascia will be tightened and excess skin will be removed. If brow lift will be done, incisions may continue inside the hairline through the forehead. If neck lift will be done, there also be incisions under the chin to remove fat and tighten the muscles. Soft drains will be inserted and the wounds will be closed with absorbable stitches that don’t need to be removed. Eyelid surgery, fat transfer, chin or cheek implants can be added to the procedure if necessary. At the end, dressings and bandages will be used to prevent bleeding and decrease swelling.
Patients generally have a slight discomfort and soreness, not like pain. There will be some swelling and bruising, cold compression helps to decrease to a minimum. Medications will be prescribed and follow up checks for the dressings will be planned. Generally 6-7 days after patients may get rid of the dressings and have a whole body shower including the hair. Eyelid stitches needs to be removed. Bruises fade away in 7-15 days and swellings diminish in the following weeks.
