Important details about surgery
It can also be done alone, or
in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead
lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping. Although a
face lift can't stop the ageing process, it can help
'turn back the clock'.
You may wish to consider a face
lift to improve the most visible signs of ageing such
as:
Deep creases between the nose
and mouth;
A slack and 'jowly' jaw line
Folds and fat deposits around the neck. How do I plan
my face lift?
The procedure for a face lift
is highly personalized. At your initial consultation
with your surgeon they will evaluate your face, including
the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals
for the surgery.
He will also check for medical
conditions that could cause problems during or after
surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood
clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive
scars. Be sure to let him know if you smoke or are taking
any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other
drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a face
lift, your surgeon will also provide explanations about
general anaesthesia, the hospital where the surgery
will be performed, and the office manager will go over
the costs involved. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor
any questions you may have, especially those regarding
your expectations and concerns about the results.
What should I consider before
having a face lift?
A face lift 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.
The best candidate for a face
lift 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 face lifts
can be done successfully on people in their seventies
or eighties as well. If you're physically healthy and
realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
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How is Face Lift
performed?
The Face Lift operation is most frequently performed
using General or Light Sleep Anesthesia. After your
arrival additional medications are given intravenously
which induce a profound state of relaxation. Patients
usually sleep during the operation. Much of the time
patients have very little memory of the operation itself.
After this state is achieved then medicines are given
to produce numbness of the surgical area. This type
of anesthesia is most frequently preferred by patients.
It causes almost no recovery necessary from the anesthetics
themselves unlike general anesthesia which may produce
nausea after the surgery. It also carries less risk
of complications. If general anesthesia is preferred,
this may also be used.
This procedure takes about 2 to 6 hours to perform.
It may take longer if you choose to have a neck lift
as well. For procedures 3 hours or longer, many surgeons
advise General anesthesia. Depending upon your facial
structure the incisions will be placed as inconspicuously
as possible above the hairline. Some doctors still cut
at the hairline so ask your doctor which incisions he
prefers. The incisions usually begin above the hairline,
at the temples, continuing in a natural line in front
of the ear. Some doctors can make the incisions with
the cartilage just in the front-inside part of the ear,
ending behind the earlobe and lower region of the scalp.
The skin is separated from the fat and muscle below
it. If the neck lift is being performed with the face
lift, a small incision is placed inconspicuously underneath
the chin and excess fat may removed by either trimming
it by hand or by facial liposuction. More than likely,
your surgeon will use the facial liposuction technique.
The underlying muscle and fascia are tightened and the
skin itself is pulled back, trimmed and sutured into
place. Sometimes surgical staples are used within the
scalp. The surgeon may place a small drain tube behind
your ears for excess fluid and blood drainage.
Facelift Recovery
Usually there is very little pain after a facelift. Patients
generally feel a sense of tightness and numbness that
gradually returns to normal within several weeks. The
facelift scars are usually pink for a short time before
fading into the normal facial creases. You will have some
bruising and swelling that will resolve within a few weeks
and you will be able to return to normal activities within
a couple of weeks. A strap will be worn around your head
for support for several days. Dr. Greenberg will see you
several times post-operatively within these weeks. It
is impossible to know how long a facelift will "last"
because patients continue to age at a variable rate after
surgery. It is safe to say that your face will look more
rejuvenated and youthful, making the patient look years
younger. Dr. Greenberg places most of his facelift patients
on a post-operative skin care regimen to help further
diminish the signs of aging.
In a two-layer face-lift (the most common procedure and
generally the most effective), incisions are usually made
in the contour of the ears, beginning in front of and
extending around the earlobe and back into the hairline.
After the incisions are made, the skin is separated from
the facial muscles and skin fat (the doctor may remove
excess fat) and the skin is pulled up and back to tighten
the muscles of the face and neck. The surgeon may tighten
the underlying tissue, the submuscular aponeurotic system
(SMAS), that tightens the neck and lifts the cheeks. The
skin is then pulled back and any excess trimmed off.
The incisions are then closed with stitches and metal
staples may be placed in the scalp. If you have elected
to smooth your chin and neck, there may also be a small
incision hidden underneath your chin. A small drain tube
may be placed under the skin to collect excess blood and
prevent swelling. The incision is then sutured closed.
The head is then bandaged to prevents fluid collection..
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