Facelift Procedure: Benefits, Risks, and Recovery Time

What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure used to reduce facial wrinkles and other signs of aging. Face lifting operation is designed to make the patient’s face appear younger. The typical facelift will tighten facial skin, remove excess facial skin, and change facial contours. There are a variety of different types of facelifts. These include the « traditional » facelift, the « limited incision » facelift, and the « neck lift ». The traditional kind of facelift, the most common, will usually target the larger areas of the face. With the limited incision facelift, small incisions are made in front of the ear; this facelift is usually best for younger patients who are just beginning to see signs of aging. Finally, the neck lift concentrates on the neck and jowls. Combining a neck lift with any other type of facelift is not uncommon. The major goal of a neck lift is to tighten up a patient’s neck and decrease the wrinkling many patients get as they age. Nowadays, patients have an amazing array of choice when it comes to selecting a particular kind of facelift; it is likely that one of the various different types will suit differing patient needs and will enable different people to minimize signs of aging in ways that are most suitable to their life.

Overview of What’s Involved in a Facelift Procedure

The  face lift procedure can differ according to the certain kind of method selected and also individual choices, however according to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the adhering to adjustments can be made during a facelift surgery: excess facial skin is removed, underlying cells is tightened up, as well as skin is re-draped on the patient’s neck and face. The cosmetic surgeon makes cuts that comply with the hairline down the side of the ear, before curving around the earlobe and returning upwards behind the ear. This causes any marks being well concealed within the hairline and also all-natural face contours. After making these cuts, the cosmetic surgeon will delicately raise the skin in the direction of the temples and also the neck to get access to the underlying tissue. Depending upon the individual instance, the cosmetic surgeon might make use of stitches to secure the layers of facial cells to help create a captivating as well as vibrant facial structure. Lastly, after excess skin is removed, the staying skin is lifted and also drew taut before being secured in place with stitches for a smooth and also vibrant appearance. Commonly, a detachable tube will certainly be left behind in the scalp location for a couple of days after the procedure in order to stop excess liquid accumulation. Nowadays, a lot of facelift treatments will require an overnight stay in medical facility, as well as patients will certainly be able to see the outcomes of the face tuck surgery as quickly as the preliminary swelling and wounding has healed; continuing to enhance as healing proceeds in the weeks afterwards. Relying on the client’s age and also preferred objective, some minimally-invasive strategies, such as the ‘weekend break’ or ‘string’ lift, could still supply a refresh to the face and neck with decreased healing time; however it is always best to speak to a fully-qualified surgeon to discuss what treatment is right for every specific instance.

Benefits of a Facelift

Next, understanding the rewards of a facelift may enable persuade you to opt for the medical practices. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, or ASAPS, a facelift is one of the most rewarding beauty strategies when both the price and the potential happiness with the end result are thought of. Many patients discover that they now not solely look but sense many years more youthful subsequently to the surgery- a real confidence booster. This enthusiasm can simply rub off on others, such as spouse and children and friends, which is a fantastic tick list that comes with any beauty treatment. Any soreness and overwhelming emotions of discontent through how you appear can now be put in the past, leaving a great deal of extra room for enjoyable and taking part in the higher things in life. Although, like all the advantages of facelifts, that feature can solely come if you have taken the first essential step – making the all necessary appointment with a skilled doctor and discussing all of the selections available. Allowing one’s self to acquire the most suitable care will help make sure that one can experience happier, greater and greater like themselves thereafter the surgery.

Reverses the Appearance of Aging

There are a lot of options in today’s world for treatments and surgical procedures to provide a more youthful look. When it comes to a facelift procedure, the main goal is to give the person a more youthful look by reversing the common appearances of aging. A good facelift will help minimize the effects of gravity, the consistent exposure to skin and muscle and the natural aging process. The cells in our face, and the muscles attached to those cells, begin to deteriorate as we age. Eventually, the skin on our face and neck begins to sag. A facelift is a well-known, but complex, surgery and should only be performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, who can discuss with you the best method for your desired result. This is because there are many variants in different types of facelifts, depending on a person’s individual signs of aging- such as the deepness of cheek and jowl creases, or the amount of loose skin present on the neck and jaw line. Today, the most modern facelift technique involves the repositioning of muscles, as well as the skin, in the mid-face and cheek area. The method is known by plastic surgeons as a SMAS facelift, which stands for Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System. By lifting the deeper soft facial tissues, this method can provide much more long-lasting and effective results compared to more traditional facelifts that only involve the tightening of the surface facial skin. By carefully repositioning the tissues in the cheeks, the muscles in the face and neck can be tightened and the skin can be stretched upwards. This in turn can not only reverse the effects of gravity and aging, but also improve the definition of the neck and the jaw line too. As with all surgical procedures, it is important to remember that there will be some scarring after a facelift. However, as surgeons are able to make smaller and smaller incisions due to advancing technology and modern techniques, scarring is becoming less and less of a concern. For example, in the modern SMAS facelift method, incisions are made in front of and behind the top of each ear, and are hidden within the natural creases of the face and the ears.

Repairs Sagging, Loose Skin

In the past few decades, there have been many improvements in how “facelifts” are done. In the old days, the skin was pulled very tight, resulting in a “windswept” look that screamed, “I’ve had a facelift.” Today, things are different. The skin isn’t pulled as tight – in fact, very little of the skin is actually tightened. Nowadays the layer under the skin, known as the “SMAS” layer, is what is tightened, lifted and sculpted. SMAS stands for Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System. Sounds pretty complicated, but it really isn’t. Think of the SMAS as the layer that lies just under the skin and on top of the muscles. By lifting and tightening the SMAS layer, the skin – which rests on the layer – is also lifted and the result is a more natural, refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. By operating on the SMAS layer, the need for “over tightening” or pulling the skin incredibly tight is eliminated. This makes sense since, over time, the skin is going to stretch out. If the skin is already very tight because of a facelift, when it eventually stretches out you’ll end up back in your doctor’s office wanting another facelift. By tightening the SMAS and getting a more natural lift of the skin, the results last longer and with a more natural appearance. Because the skin isn’t pulled incredibly tight, the “windswept” look isn’t seen much anymore. Rather, the look of a facelift is actually quite pleasing and natural. So not only does the operation last longer, but the appearance is quite improved over older techniques.

Improving Facial Contour

From the time we reach our late 20s, fat deposits in the face begin to deteriorate and slip from their original positions. As we grow older, the ligaments of the face and neck weaken and our skin becomes more and more relaxed. All this combined means that we develop excess fat in some areas and lines in others, creating a more hollow or gaunt appearance to our cheeks, while jowls and fat deposits form along the jawline. The platysma muscle of the neck also starts to split down the centre and fat deposits and sagging excess skin can accumulate in the neck. When trying to address fat deposits and sagging skin many people instantly think about a facelift. However while this is a very effective method to consider, a lot of patients are now considering non-surgical methods for facelift. In particular, treatments that can help improve facial contour through prolonging and restoring skin health and elasticity are becoming a popular alternative. Creating an improved facial contour without the need for a surgical facelift has many advantages. It’s often more appealing due to the reduced recovery time and less potential side effects from surgery, providing the treatment is carried out by a qualified practitioner. Also, the cost can be less over time if less invasive methods are chosen, as results can be maintained for longer. More importantly, working in harmony with enhancing and restoring the skin’s condition and its degree of laxity may mean that the signs of ageing can be minimised successfully without the need for a surgical procedure. This approach is known as ‘Biostimulation’ or ‘Collagen Induction Therapy’, also referred to as micro-needling, and is an evolving method in the use of minimally invasive measures to help improve facial contours as well as skin elasticity and tone. It’s usually broken down into: topography for the cheeks, jawline, jowls and neck, with a few other optional treatments such as dermal fillers or collagen injections to the skin. This method does not involve any injections, fillers or surgery and therefore there are no risks associated with what is called a ‘foreign body incompatibility’. Biostimulation works to cause repetitive damage to the skin through a combination of invasive tools such as micro-needling and non-invasive laser or radio frequency energy. This process initiates the body’s own natural repair and healing mechanisms which result in an increase and re-organisation of the body’s skin firming and tightening properties, all of which are stimulated by the application of this method.

Facelift Procedure Risks

Knowing the risks of this surgery is very important. Apart from internally caused wounds due to surgical procedures, there are also chances that an individual may suffer from external infections. This could be attributed to the fact that the wounds from the surgery are left open and in such a case, they are at a greater risk of contracting infections. An individual may also suffer from hematoma. Hematoma generally represents an internal bleeding condition due to certain blood vessels which may break causing blood to accumulate underneath the skin. While medical practitioners may put certain efforts to stop it from happening before the surgery, chances that it takes place still exist. Hematoma usually occurs a few hours after surgery has been carried out. Facelift procedures may also lead to an individual suffering from paralysis of his or her facial muscles. Although cases of facial muscle weakness are extremely rare, a study that was featured in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that it is possible for an individual to incur the condition known as temporary marginal motor weakness which mainly deals with the facial muscles. Such a condition normally occurs as a direct consequence of surgical trauma.

Facelift Recovery Time (Rhytidectomy recovery)

You will be discharged on the operation day, after taking some rest in the clinic or hospital. Subsequently, you may need to stay at the clinic or hospital for a couple of days in case of any complications. This is a major surgery and I have not yet come across anyone being discharged on the operation day. Most of our patients stay at the clinic or hospital for about 2 to 3 days. However, some people prefer staying for about a week for their own psychological comfort, knowing they are in a health facility in case of any eventuality. A drain is normally inserted underneath the skin behind the ear during the surgery. This is meant to drain any excess blood that may accumulate between the skin and the underlying muscles after the surgery. The drain needs to be removed within 1 to 3 days after the surgery. You will therefore need home care nurse to help remove these drains. Be sure to discuss this with your surgeon in good time, so that you have nurses in place before they are removed. A nurse will also be removing the sutures and the head bandage after about 7 days. Be sure to have a plan in place for these follow-ups. After leaving the clinic or hospital, you will need someone to stay with you for the first few days. You will also need to be checking in with your surgeon to see how you are recovering and if the wound is healing well.