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A facelift restores smoother, more pleasing contours to your
face and neck. It can help you look as good as you feel, and
perhaps feel younger than you are.
Am I a good candidate for
a facelift?
| Any one or combination of the following
conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate
for a forehead lift: |
| • |
·a deep line, or fold, running from
the corner of your nose to the corner of your mouth. |
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jowls, or loss of a well-defined jawline
associated with youthfulness. |
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deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging
of the "highlight" areas of the cheekbones. |
| • |
loose skin, wrinkles, vertical "cords"
or excess fatty tissue in the neck. |
A facelift can improve all of these problems. It cannot, however,
correct conditions such as sagging eyebrows, excess skin and
fatty deposits in the upper and lower eyelids, or wrinkles around
the mouth. Your plastic surgeon can provide further information
if you have an interest in other procedures to treat these areas.
How will my plastic surgeon
evaluate me for a facelift surgery?
During the initial consultation, your plastic surgeon may ask
you to look in a mirror and point out exactly what you would
like to see improved. Sometimes, patients may focus their attention
on excess skin in the upper eyelids and not realize that sagging
of their eyebrows contributes to this skin redundancy. You should
be very frank in discussing anything about your appearance that
bothers you, as well as what you hope to achieve with surgery.
This will help your surgeon to understand your expectations
and determine whether they can realistically be achieved.
In evaluating you for facelift surgery, your plastic surgeon
will assess the thickness, texture and elasticity of your skin,
and the severity of wrinkles and folds. Your hairline will be
examined to determine where incisions can be discreetly placed.
All of these factors, as well as your bone structure and underlying
tissues, will be considered in developing an individual surgical
plan.
Your plastic surgeon may discuss with you additional procedures
that can be performed along with a facelift in order to address
all the concerns you have identified. For example, a facelift
is frequently combined with a forehead lift, eyelid surgery,
nose reshaping or skin treatments such as a chemical peel, dermabrasion
or laser resurfacing.
Where are the facelift incisions
placed?
Because of individual factors, not everyone will achieve the
same results from a facelift. Your plastic surgeon will select
the surgical technique that he or she feels will obtain the
best outcome for you.
Although there are many variations to the facelift procedure,
generally an incision is hidden in the natural contour of your
ear, then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline.
Following surgery, incisions can be easily concealed by your
hair or with makeup. There may also be a small incision hidden
underneath your chin.
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| Most facelift incisions are placed within
the hairline and within natural contours in front of and
behind (shown in lighter black) the ear. |
Sometimes the deeper tissues (grey shaded
area) may also need to be repositioned in order to restore
a more youthful contour to the face |
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Sometimes the deeper tissues (grey shaded
area) may also need to be repositioned in order to restore
a more youthful contour to the face. |
How is my plastic surgeon
able to restore a firmer, fresher look to my face?
Through the discreet facelift incisions, your plastic surgeon
is able to free the skin from the underlying tissues to the
extent necessary for the particular surgical technique selected.
After the skin has been pulled up and back, the excess is removed.
In some instances, the deeper tissues may also need to be repositioned
in order to restore a more youthful contour to your face. If
necessary, a small incision beneath the chin permits the removal
of fatty tissue in that area and smoothing of the cord-like
structures of the underlying muscle in the neck.
I understand that every surgical
procedure has risks, but how will I learn more so that I can
make an informed decision?
Fortunately, significant complications from facelifts are infrequent.
Every year, many thousands of people undergo successful facelift
surgery, experience no major problems and are pleased with the
results. Anyone considering surgery, however, should be aware
of both the benefits and risks.
The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery
is best discussed on a personal basis between you and your surgeon,
or with a staff member in your surgeon's office.
Some of the potential complications that may be discussed with
you include hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin
that may require removal), infection and reactions to anesthesia.
While plastic surgeons are trained in techniques for safely
manipulating facial skin and tissue, injury to underlying structures
is possible, though it is usually only temporary. Facelift incisions
are most often inconspicuous, but this is not entirely predicable
due to individual variations in healing.
You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice
and instructions of your plastic surgeon, both before and after
surgery.
How should I prepare for
surgery?
The goal of your plastic surgeon and the entire staff is to
make your surgical experience as easy and comfortable for you
as possible.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well
in advance of surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory
drugs can cause increased bleeding, so you should avoid taking
these medications for a period of time before surgery. your
surgeon will advise you and provide additional preoperative
instructions. If your hair if very short, you may want to let
it grow enough to cover your incisions while they heal. If you
are overweight and you have a realistic desire to lose more
than 15 pounds, you should discuss this with your surgeon.
If your facelift will be performed on an outpatient basis, be
sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and to stay with
you at least the first night following surgery.
What will the day of surgery
be like?
Your facelift may be performed in a hospital, free-standing
ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical
procedure. You and your plastic surgeon will have decided in
advance what type of anesthesia is to be used, either intravenous
sedation or general anesthesia. For your safety during the operation,
various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure,
pulse and the amount of oxygen circulation in your blood.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery
area where you will continue to be closely monitored. A bandage
may have been wrapped around your face to be closely monitored.
Sometimes small tubes will have been inserted beneath the skin
to drain away fluids that might otherwise accumulate, but you
will not feel these at all. It fact, there is surprisingly little
discomfort from the surgery.
You probably will be permitted to go home after a few hours,
although some patients may stay overnight in the hospital or
surgical facility.
How will I look and feel
initially?
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes
for recovery varies greatly among individuals.
After surgery, you will be asked to restrict your activities
and simply relax for a few days. Elevating your head when you
sleep will help to minimize swelling and bruising. Remember,
you must not take aspirin or certain anti-inflammatory medications,
and you should not smoke or be exposed to heavy secondary smoke
for a while.
Any bandages and drain tubes will usually be removed in one
or two days. At that time, you will notice puffiness and discoloration
which may be more pronounced in some portions of your face than
others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry
caused by this variance in swelling and bruising, which is perfectly
normal. Generally, the greatest amount of swelling occurs 24
to 48 hours after surgery, but it may take several weeks before
all puffiness is resolved. Most bruising will disappear within
two weeks. After a few days, you will be permitted to wear makeup
which will help conceal any discoloration. You will also experience
some numbness in the facial area, which may be present for several
weeks or longer. Your stitches will be removed from four to
seven days after surgery.
When can I resume my normal
activities?
Straining, bending and lifting should be avoided during the
early postoperative period. In many instances, you will be able
to resume most of your normal activities within two weeks and
begin to exercise three to four weeks after surgery. You will
be instructed to temporarily avoid exposure to direct sunlight
and, for the long-term, to be conscientious about the use of
a sunblock to protect your skin.
Results
of Your Facelift
The results of your facelift may be dramatic or subtle, depending
on how you look before surgery as well as the specific goals
that you and your plastic surgeon have established. Since the
healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least
several weeks for an accurate picture of your "new look."
Additional minor changes, or settling, may occur over several
months.
Maintaining a Relationship with Your
Plastic Surgeon
You will return to your plastic surgeon's office for follow-up
care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress will
be evaluated.
Please remember that the relationship with your plastic surgeon
does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have
questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional
information at a later time, you should contact your surgeon. |
Content provided by The
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
For advertising info, please contact Terry McGovern terry.mcgovern@latimes.com at (213) 473-2599
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