The
Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure designed to smooth
the loose skin on your face and neck, and to reduce the most apparent
signs of aging in the facial area, giving you a more youthful
appearance. The procedure involves reducing the creases from the
nose and mouth, the slacking jaw line and sagging jowls and fat
deposits around the neck by removing excess fat and tightening
underlying muscles, then redraping the skin on the face and neck.
Although the procedure cannot stop the aging process, it can turn
back the clock on your facial appearance, giving you a younger,
fresher look, which can also have a positive effect on your self-confidence.
The best candidates for a facelift are those who:
• Have face and neck skin that has begun to sag, but still
possess good skin elasticity and whose bone structure is strong
and well defined.
• Experience the loss of a well-defined jaw line.
• Have deep wrinkles in the cheeks.
• Have loose skin, wrinkles or excess fatty tissue in the
neck.
A face-lift is performed by generally making an incision around
the natural contour of the ear, and around your earlobe along
your hairline. This helps keeps any scarring from being visible.
Any incision can be easily masked by make-up or hair. If a neck
lift is performed, you may have a small incision under your chin.
After your surgery you may have a drain tube to allow excess fluid
to drain from the incision. Your bandage will stay in place for
1 to 2 days. You may experience some increased swelling in the
first 24 to 48 hours after your surgery. Most bruising will subside
in about 2 weeks. Some numbness may occur, and your stitches will
remain till your 1-week visit.
Since each individual has his or her own unique facial features,
physical reactions and healing abilities, the results of a facelift
vary with each patient and they are never 100% predictable. During
a facelift, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Some
complications that may arise include hematoma (blood under the
skin that must be removed by your doctor), injury to the nerves
that control facial muscles (usually temporary) infection, and
reactions to the anesthesia. Smokers are more likely to experience
poor healing of the skin.