- About Facelift Procedure

- Good Candidates are

- During your consultations

- Prepare for the surgery

- Possible Risks and complications

- Surgery time required

- My Recovery


About Facelift:

Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your facelift choices include a traditional facelift, limited incision facelift or a neck lift.

Typical incisions begin within the hairline, above the temple and continue along or just inside the ear, ending behind the ear. This allows access to tighten underlying tissue, remove excess fat and reduce sagging skin.

A second incision under the chin is sometimes necessary. If skin tone is good and only mid-face aging or excess fat in the neck will be corrected, abbreviated techniques with shorter incisions may be used. Liposuction techniques may assist with removal of fat deposits.

An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear and possibly within the lower eyelids or under the upper lip.

Sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin may be corrected with a neck lift. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear ending in the lower scalp.

Good Candidates are :
Men and women who are physically healthy, over the age of 40 with good bone structure but with sagging skin or deep crease around the nose and mouth.

During your consultation
The success and safety of your facelift depends very much on your thorough discussion with your surgeon. Be prepared to ask and discuss about your expectations, desired outcome, health history and lifestyle.

.....Be prepared to discuss:

• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• Previous surgeries

.....Your surgeon may:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Discuss the options available to you for facelift and facial rejuvenation
• Examine and measure your face
• Take photographs for your medical record
• Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
• Discuss likely outcomes of a facelift and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used

Prepare for the surgery:

.....Prior to surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

.....Special instructions you receive will cover:

• What to do on the night before and morning of surgery
• The use of anesthesia during your face lift
• Post-operative care and follow-up

Possible Risks and Complications:
Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.

Risks and risk rates vary from patient to patient depending on a range of factors. The risks listed below are possible risks associated with this type of surgery and are mentioned regardless of how remote the possibility

.....Possible risks of facelift surgery include:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Anesthesia risks
• Correctable hair loss at the incisions
• Facial nerve injury with weakness
• Facial asymmetry
• Skin loss
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Fluid accumulation
• Pain, which may persist
• Skin contour irregularities
• Skin discoloration, sensitivity or swelling
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal
• Unsatisfactory results may include asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location, unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions (It may be necessary to perform additional surgery to improve your results)
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Possibility of revisional surgery

Surgery: time required 2 – 3 hours

My Recovery:
When your procedure is completed, a bandage could gently be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising. A thin tube may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect under the skin.

The results of facelift surgery will appear gradually as swelling and bruising subside.

.....Face Lift Recovery time:

...............Back to work: 10 to 14 days
...............Strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more
...............Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks
...............Avoid alcohol, steam baths and saunas for several months.
...............Must limit exposure to sun for several months as well.