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  • Sunday, July 15, 2007

    Face Lift or Rhytidectomy

    Rhytidectomy (also called Neck Liposuction or Face Lift) can't stop the aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock". The purpose of face lift surgery, also known as facialplasty, rhytidoplasty, or cervicofacial rhytidectomy, is to improve the appearance of the face by repositioning the skin and tightening some of the underlying muscle and tissue. The procedure is designed to counter sagging and looseness in skin and muscle tissue caused by gravity as the patient ages. Face lift surgery will not erase all facial wrinkles, as the term rhytidectomy (which literally means "surgical removal of wrinkles") might imply. Wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, for example, may benefit little from face lift surgery. Other procedures, such as blepharoplasty, chemical peel, or dermabrasion, also may be necessary.

    If you're considering a facelift, this article of mine will give you a basic understanding of the procedure when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.

    Face Lift Surgery Photos

    For more images Face Lift Photos

    The Best Candidates For a Facelift

    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 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.

    Risks and Complications

    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. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.

    You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon's advice both before and after surgery.

    Types of Anesthesia

    Most facelifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.)

    Some surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In that case, you'll sleep through the operation.

    The Surgery

    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.


    For a face lift, an incision is made around the ear at the base of the hairline (A). The skin is removed from underlying tissues in a procedure called undermining (B and C). The skin is pulled up to tighten it (D). The skin is stitched into place and excess is removed (E).

    Getting Back to Normal

    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.

    9 comments:

    1. This made me feel a little better. My mother just had a face lift and did not tell anyone she was doing it. It's been a few days and she looks so strange to me. I am very depressed. She does not look like my mother. I guess I will do the judging in 2 weeks after all the swelling has gone down.
      Thank you.

      ReplyDelete
    2. Dr. Jonathan Berman in Boca Raton Florida is awesome with the facelifts! Highly recommend him.

      ReplyDelete
    3. sir,
      i am suffering about my face
      i surgery my left eye in frontal bone
      but my both eyes are vision 6/6
      eyes are disorder so i could not go outside
      please give me some advise to recovery my face

      ReplyDelete
    4. Surgery is a so much big firm. In this surgery facial surgery is one of the part of that. Facial surgery is a surgery over the face. It can be the give you such a beautiful face after the treatment. It can be the cosmetic or surgical.

      ReplyDelete
    5. Facelift will not erase all facial wrinkles, such as rhytidectomy term may imply. Wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, for example, can benefit from a little facelift surgery.

      ReplyDelete
    6. The plastic surgery are very popular for its result. The information here on face lift is really very great and such very useful. Thanks posting such nice article

      ReplyDelete
    7. It is necessary for patients to have an overall view about plastic surgeries and their side-effects as well. Thanks for this post.

      ReplyDelete
    8. Before getting into a surgery it is crucial for a patient to educate themselves about the treatment..Thank you for posting this

      ReplyDelete
    9. I had my face lift last week tuesday Feb, the surgeon liposucked my upper neck which I did not know he was going to do. I also landed up with a hematoma on my right cheek, which I now have to wait 6 weeks to go down, as he can't drain it. the one side of my face is looking lovely, the other..I doubt he even lifted after he saw the bleeding which he said he cauterised. I did not tell anyone I was having a face lift as I knew they would be negative towards this face lift and talk me out of it, now I feel very depressed myself, I can't avoid family and friends forever and will probably have to tell them what a stupid thing I did. He will apprently have to re-cut and firm the skin on the side of the hematoma when it finally goes down, as he said it does cause the skin to stretch
      in the meantime I have to face people like this ;( for the next 6 weeks. one side looking younger and the other drooping. ;(( I don't advise it to anyone, I feel as if my entire life has stopped as instead of this being over now....so that I can move forward with my plans etc I have to be re-cut again in 6 weeks.Or walk with a droopy side. Think 2x before doing facial surgery!

      ReplyDelete

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