Facelift
What
is a facelift?
Rhytidectomy
– more commonly called facelift
– is a cosmetic
surgery procedure that removes
fat, tightens muscles, and repositions
the skin of the face in order to diminish
signs of aging.
Who
is a candidate for facelift?
A facelift is a viable
solution for many people who have
suffered the effects of aging. However,
before seriously considering the operation,
there are several important considerations.
The candidate should understand all
aspects of the procedure and have
reasonable expectations of its results.
Patients with well-defined bone structures
and skin that has retained some elasticity
are generally most pleased with results.
In addition, smokers are encouraged
to discontinue smoking far prior to
the procedure because it hinders the
body’s ability to heal.
Indications
of aging that can be improved by a
facelift include:
- Lines from the outer edge of
the nose to the corner of the mouth
- Wrinkles in the cheeks
- Sagging of the jawline, commonly
referred to as “jowls”
- Loose skin or fat around the
neck
It is important
to see a qualified facelift
surgeon to determine if you are
a candidate for a facelift.
How
is the facelift performed?
Patients
must prepare for facelift
surgery a few weeks in advance.
The surgeon will instruct the patient
on what to eat and drink and probably
to discontinue smoking. Smoking can
be particularly detrimental to the
success of a facelift, as it reduces
the flow of blood to the skin.
The facelift procedure
is usually performed on an outpatient
basis. Some doctors prefer general
anesthesia, but most will have local
anesthesia administered in conjunction
with an intravenous sedative. In the
former case, the patient will sleep
through the operation; in the latter,
he or she will experience minimal,
if any, discomfort.
The facelift surgeon
begins by making incisions. The primary
incision begins over the ear (just
above the hairline), extends to the
front of the ear, goes under the earlobe
and, finally, around behind it, meeting
the hairline again. If the neck and
cheeks are sagging, the facelift surgeon
may need to make an additional incision
just below the chin along the jawline
to remove excess skin and fat there.
Next, the facelift
surgeon separates the skin from the
underlying fat and muscle tissue.
Fat may be removed from the face and
neck, either through trimming or suction.
The muscle and membrane are tightened,
and the skin is pulled up and back.
Excess skin is trimmed at the point
of incision above the hairline. The
incisions are then closed with stitches
and, if necessary, metal clips.
The head may be wrapped
loosely with bandages to minimize
bruising and swelling. In addition,
since blood tends to build up in the
area, the surgeon may insert a drainage
tube into the incision.
What
is recovery like?
Recovery from rhytidectomy
is generally fairly painless. There
is usually not much physical discomfort,
although the area can remain bruised
and swollen for a few weeks after
surgery. There may be some numbness,
but this will gradually subside.
The drainage tube
will almost always be removed within
48 hours after the operation. The
bandages may be removed after one
to five days and the stitches will
usually be removed within a week.
Scars may remain where
incisions were made. However, these
are in inconspicuous locations, and
usually become unnoticeable over time.
Complications
are rare in facelifts, and they are
typically fairly mild when they do
occur. Hematoma, or the buildup of
blood under the skin, is usually removed
through a secondary surgery. The muscle
tissue and nerves of the face can
be damaged, although this is rarely
permanent. Other side effects include
infections or reactions to the anesthesia.
To
Find a Facelift Surgeon, Click on
Any State:
Alabama
| Alaska
| Arizona
| Arkansas
| California
| Colorado
Connecticut
| Delaware
| District
of Columbia (D.C.) | Florida
Georgia
| Hawaii
| Idaho
| Illinois
| Indiana
| Iowa
|
Kansas
Kentucky
| Louisiana
| Maine
| Maryland
| Massachusetts
Michigan
| Minnesota
| Mississippi
| Missouri
| Montana
Nebraska
|
Nevada
| New
Hampshire | New
Jersey | New
Mexico New
York | North
Carolina | North
Dakota | Ohio
| Oklahoma
Oregon
|
Pennsylvania
| Rhode
Island | South
Carolina | South
Dakota |
Tennessee
| Texas
| Utah
|
Vermont
| Virginia
Washington
| West
Virginia | Wisconsin
| Wyoming
| Puerto
Rico
|
