What is a Rhytidectomy (Facelift) and How Does It Work?
The A face lift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure used to reduce facial wrinkles, eliminate telltale signs of aging, and improve the overall appearance of the face and jaw area.
When Is It Required?
If you have any or some of the underlying conditions, you may want to consider the option.
= A deep line, or fold, running from the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth
« Loss of a well-defined jaw line or jowls associated with youthfulness
= Sagging of the ‘highlight’ areas of the cheekbones as well as deep wrinkles in the
cheeks
= Loose skin, wrinkles, vertical ‘cords’ or excess fatty tissue in the neck
A facelift can be a solution to all of these problems. However, conditions like sagging eyebrows, excess skin and fatty deposits in the upper and lower eyelids or wrinkles around the mouth cannot be rectified by this surgery. Further information can be provided by your plastic surgeon if you have an interest in other procedures to treat these areas.
Who Requires a Face Lift?
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 forties 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 youatotally 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.
What will Happen at the Individual Consultation?
During the consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss the changes that you would like to make in your appearance. He/she will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. He/she will also explain the kind of anesthesia required, surgical facility, and costs.
What are the Alternatives to Face Lift Surgery?
(Please note that some alternative treatments may not be available or suitable to (everyone.) They include the contour thread lift, lasers and natural products that firm and tone the skin. A one-on-one consultation with your surgeon will also help determine whether one of these substitutes for face lift can help you achieve the look you desire, or if surgery is necessary.
How do Prepare for the Procedure?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least three weeks before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
lf your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal.
Blood thinning and Vitamin E containing medications must be avoided at least 7days prior to your surgery.
Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
Will it Hurt?
Facelift is usually performed under general anesthesia and you will sleep through the procedure feeling no pain. Some surgeons may perform under local anesthesia with sedation.
What Happens During the Procedure?
The incision for your facelift usually begins in the hair near the temple and continues in front of the ear, around the ear lobe, behind the ear and into the hair. The muscles and sagging tissue are tightened, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is repositioned to create a more youthful look. The surgeon will close the incision with stitches, or with metal clips on the scalp. If the neck needs lifting, a small incision may be made under the chin.
What Happens after the Procedure?
There isn’t 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.
lf 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.
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.
What Happens after the Procedure?
There isn’t 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.
lf 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.
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.
What are the Expectations From the Surgery?
Patients can expect a more rested and youthful appearance. Althougha face lift can last for many years, patients continue to age. Therefore, it is impossible to predict how long it might be before an individual would consider a second lift. Some believe that a facelift also helps prevent the skin from sagging again by holding it tighter to the face.
The results of a facelift are different for each person. Some people have one facelift in a lifetime, while others have a second surgery 7-15 years later.
What are the Benefits of this Procedure?
While a facelift cannot stop the aging process, it can often make a person appear many years younger than their actual age.
What are the General Risks of Having an Operation?
These have been mentioned in the “Anesthesia Consent Form.” Please discuss this with your Anesthetist before signing the Anesthesia Consent Form.
What are the Risks of This Procedure?
Bleeding, which can cause a collection of blood under the skin and if severe it may result in blood clot which may need to be surgically removed Note: The listed risks and complications are not all inclusive.
Bruising and swelling
Note: The listed risks and complications are not all inclusive.
– If it is severe it may cause a blood clot which may need to be surgically removed
– Bruising and swelling
Numbness around the cheeks and sometimes the ears which is usually temporary, six
to twelve months
– Infection-this is treated with intravenous antibiotics and further drainage procedures.
– Damage to the facial nerve. This results in weakness of the facial muscles. This is usually temporary, about six months, but can be permanent.
– Increased risk in smokers of wound and chest infections, heart and lung complications and thrombosis
– The scars may become thickened, red and itchy. Small hairless areas can sometimes be found adjacent to the scar but these can usually be hidden with the hair
Schedule Your Consultation with Amritsar’s Top Plastic Surgeon at EMC Hospital Today!
Considering a facelift to rejuvenate your appearance and boost your confidence? At EMC Hospital, we offer advanced plastic surgery procedures, tailored to meet your unique needs. Our team, led by the most experienced plastic surgeon in Amritsar, ensures that you receive the highest standard of care and the best possible results. Visit us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve a youthful, refreshed look.
Contact EMC Hospital, the best plastic surgery hospital in Amritsar, to schedule your personalized consultation and take the first step toward a new you!
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