Facelift
(Rhytidectomy)
Your face is the first thing people notice
about you. It makes a lasting impression. And your face is also
the first place to show the most visible signs of aging. Sun
damage, the stresses of daily life and the aging process are
truly noticeable on the face. Deep creases appear between the
nose and the mouth, folds and fat deposits appear around the
neck; the jaw line becomes weaker and jowls sag.
Unfortunately, how
you perceive yourself can have a huge impact on your confidence.
Although plastic surgery can’t stop the aging process,
it may slow it down, improving the most visible signs by tightening
underlying muscles, removing excess fat and re-draping skin
of the face and neck.
A facelift can help
you to look and feel younger, enhancing your self-confidence
but it is not a solution to every facial condition. That’s why it’s
important to discuss your personal goals with your physician.
Make sure you think about your expectations. Learn what can
be achieved through various procedures and together you can
determine what is right for you.
Who is a candidate for a facelift?
- Men and women whose lower face (cheeks and jowls) and neck
skin have begun to sag making them look older and tired.
- Those patients who wish to soften the effect of wrinkles
in the face and neck and create a stronger, more well-defined
jaw line.
- Patients who undergo a facelift are typically 40 to 60 years
old, however, surgery is successfully performed on patients
in their seventies.
How will I look and feel after surgery?
It is important to
realize that recovery times vary greatly among patients. At
first, your face may look and feel strange and your features
may be distorted from the swelling. You may also be very stiff
in the face and self-conscious about your scars. Many patients
can experience “the blues” after
surgery when looking at their
face during the first two weeks. By the third week, things will
change and you should look and feel better much.
- You’ll be able to get up and
move around in a day or two but will have to take it easy the
first week.
- You may temporarily have a small
thin tube (drain) inserted behind your ear to help collect
any residual bleeding that may accumulate.
- Like any surgery, you can expect some discomfort, which can
be controlled with pain medication.
- You will experience swelling, bruising,
numbness, tenderness and tightness of the skin. This
will begin to subside within 10 days to 2 weeks. Generally,
the greatest amount of swelling occurs 24 to 48 hours after
surgery. However, it may be several weeks before all swelling
and numbness subsides.
- Any bandages and drains will be removed usually within 1
to 5 days after surgery
- It is important to also realize that swelling may be more
pronounced in some areas of your face than others. Because of
this, you may notice some temporary asymmetry or unevenness,
which is normal. Your surgeon will probably ask you to sleep
with your head elevated for a few days after surgery to keep
swelling down.
- Approximately one week following surgery, your stitches will
be removed
- You will not look yourself for a
few days. Some patients can experience “the blues” after
surgery due to amount of swelling and bruising apparent for
several days. This feeling will diminish as swelling is resolved
and patients can begin to see the difference their surgery
has made,
When can I get back to my everyday
routine?
- You’ll have to avoid any strenuous
activity for at least two weeks. You will be able to walk but
must avoid any activity that will elevate your heart rate as
this can increase blood flow in the face.
- You will be able to resume your everyday activities after
two weeks but will still continue to avoid straining, bending
and lifting.
- More strenuous exercise is allowed after four to six weeks.
- You’ll want to also avoid exposure
to direct sunlight initially. To help maintain your new youthful
look, we encourage you to apply sunscreen every day.
- Most importantly, get plenty of rest and focus on healing.
What kind of results can I expect?
Every facelift result will vary from patient
to patient. Some patients may look dramatically different after
surgery while others will have a more subtle result.
Healing is such a gradual process and most
people must be extremely patient while waiting for the final
outcome of their new look. Your face may continue to change even
several months after surgery.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
- There are risks associated with any surgical
procedure.
- The specific risks
and suitability of each procedure for a given individual can
only be determined at the time of consultation.
- Minor complications that do not affect
the outcome may occasionally occur.
- Major complications are rare.
- Your plastic surgeon will review any and
all risks and benefits with you during a private consultation.
