Cosmetic Surgery of the Face - Face-lift
A facelift is a surgical procedure performed to improve the most visible
signs of the aging process by eliminating excess fat, tightening the muscles
beneath the skin of the neck, and removing sagging skin. It does not stop
the aging process but in fact "sets the clock back".
No
one can say for sure. The clock is turned back, but keeps on running. Ten
years later, you will look better than if you never had surgery. Many patients
never have a second lift, while others may desire further surgery seven
to 15 years later. The scars from facelift surgery usually fade and are
barely perceptible. Especially in younger some younger patients, endoscopic
surgery can be used to lift the eyebrows, elevate the cheek and jowls, and
tighten the neck. This endoscopic surgery can be done with tiny scars. However,
if there is excessive skin, it must be removed for the best results through
standard facelift incisions.
After the procedure, most patients are able to return to work in two to
three weeks. You should allow four to eight weeks before major social engagements.As
people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses
of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the
nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly and fat deposits appear
around the neck. A facelift can't stop this aging process. What it can do
is "set back the clock," improving most visible signs of aging by removing
excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your
face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other
procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck
have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone
structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their fifties
to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies
or eighties as well. A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and
it may enhance your self-confidence in the process. But it can't give you
a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of
your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your
expectations and discuss them with your surgeon
When
a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are
infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy,
their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is
never completely predictable. Complications that can occur include hematoma
(a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon),
injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection,
and reactions to the anesthesia.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of
surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs can cause increased
bleeding, so you should avoid taking these medications for a period of time
before surgery. your surgeon will advise you and provide additional preoperative
instructions. If your hair if very short, you may want to let it grow enough
to cover your incisions while they heal. If you are overweight you have
a realistic desire to lose more that 15 pounds, you should discuss this
with your surgeon. If your facelift will be performed on an outpatient basis,
be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and to stay with you at
least the first night following surgery.
A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you're having
more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures, some surgeons may
schedule two separate sessions. Every surgeon approaches the procedure in
his or her own way. Some complete one side of the face at a time, and others
move back and forth between the sides. The exact placement of incisions
and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your surgeon's
technique. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend
in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the
front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If
the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin. In
general, the surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat
may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the
contour. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls
the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue
and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp. Following
surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind
your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The surgeon may also
wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
There
is not usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can
be lessened with the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. (Severe
or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported
to your surgeon immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal;
it will disappear in a few weeks or months. Your doctor may tell you to
keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after
surgery, to keep the swelling down. If you've had a drainage tube inserted,
it will be removed one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are
usually removed after one to five days. Don't be surprised at the pale,
bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you'll
be looking normal. Most of your stitches will be removed after about five
days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips
in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for
the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair,
since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally
at first. Your surgeon will give more specific guidelines for gradually
resuming your normal activities. They're likely to include these suggestions:
Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least
two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths,
and saunas for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your
body to spend its energy on healing. At the beginning, your face may look
and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling,
your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you'll probably be self-conscious
about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and
you may tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed
and depressed at first. By the third week, you'll look and feel much better.
Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after surgery.
If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.
The chances are excellent that you'll be happy with your facelift-especially
if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Your skin
may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave
in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard- growing skin
have been repositioned. You'll have some scars from your facelift, but they're
usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears.
In any case, they'll fade within time and should be scarcely visible. Having
a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time,
and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five
or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one
facelift are lasting; years later, you'll continue to look better than if
you'd never had a facelift at all.
