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Facelift

Facelift surgery, called rhytidectomy, is not intended to prevent the aging process. Instead, facelifts are carried out in order to improve the most visible signs of aging. Sun exposure, gravity, and stress all show in a person's face as they age. By removing excess facial fat, redraping the skin on the face and neck, and tightening underlying facial muscles, surgeons performing a facelift can slow the aging clock dramatically.

Facelifts can be performed on their own, or at the same time as other cosmetic procedures, including nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, hair loss treatments or forehead lift. Facelifts are preformed to address the most common facial signs of aging, such as slack jaw lines, deep facial creases, and neckline folds and creases.

Although people of all ages can undergo a facelift, the procedure is most commonly performed between the ages of 40 to 60. Although older individuals can benefit from the procedure, an ideal candidate for a facelift is a person whose skin continues to have some elasticity and whose facial bone structure remains well defined and strong.

The most important aspect to consider before undergoing facelift surgery is the expectations you have about the potential results. Facelifts can benefit people by enhancing self confidence and making them feel younger, however it doesn't result in a totally different appearance. It also will not make a person look young again. No one can actually turn back the clock on aging. Facelifts are intended simply to address the visible signs of aging that affect a person's facial appearance.

Unlike other cosmetic procedures, such as microdermabrasion, facelift surgery is a serious affair. The procedure can take several hours, and requires either local or general anesthetic, or even both. Most importantly, the outcome of facelift surgery can never be guaranteed. Results depend on a variety of factors, including a person's facial structure, healing abilities, and physical reactions to surgery itself.

When facelift surgery is performed by qualified plastic surgeons, complications are rare and usually minor. However, complications do exist. The most common complication include the development of hematomas, nerve injury, and drug reactions.

Facelift Surgery

Typical facelift surgery takes several hours. If more than one procedure is being carried out, or for more extensive facelift surgeries, additional hours or even two surgical sessions can be required. Facial incisions often start just above the hairline near the temples, and follow the natural curve beside the front of the ears, reaching behind the earlobe towards the lower scalp. If work on the neck is being completed at the same time, a second incision is typically made just beneath the chin.

After the incisions have been made, the surgeon will separate the skin from the muscle and fat below. Some suctioning or trimming of fat may then occur, after which the doctor tightens the facial muscles, pulls the skin back, and removes any excess skin remaining. The incisions are stitched up, and metal clips may also be used to close the scalp.

Exactly how the facelift is performed depends on the plastic surgeons techniques. Where the incisions are made will depend largely on the patient's facial structure. In addition, some surgeons will complete one side at a time, or jump from side to side, depending on their surgical technique.

When the surgery is complete, some surgeons place a small tube under the skin behind the ears as a temporary measure to drain excess blood from the wound. Wrapping the head in bandages can also serve to help prevent excess swelling and bruising. The tube, if used, is typically removed a day or two after surgery, whereas the bandages can be removed after several days.

A patient is usually up and active within a few days after surgery. Pain should be minimal, and can be minimized with pain medication. The face will appear puffy and bruised for a few weeks following surgery.

Facelift surgery is a fairly involved cosmetic surgery procedure. For this reason, patients are strongly urged to discuss this decision in great detail with their surgeon. This helps prospective patients not only understand the procedure itself and what is involved, but also ensures that their expectations about the results of a facelift are realistic.

Facelift surgery was once the domain of those living in New York, Los Angeles, and Florida. This is no longer true. Cosmetic face lift surgery is becoming increasingly popular with everyday men and women wanting to prevent their faces from aging further.