Full Face Lift
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FACELIFT SURGERY
Face lift surgery is technically known as a “rhytidectomy”, can effectively redrape the skin of your face and neck to soften the effects of aging and give you a more youthful, ‘refreshed’ look. Careful manipulation of the deeper tissues in the face (SMAS) allow for a more natural repositioning of facial elements. For example repositioning of the cheek pad muscles back onto the cheekbones. This important feature of a complete facelift leaves the patient with a relaxed, healthy look.
You may wish to consider face lift surgery to improve the most visible signs of ageing such as:
- A slack and ‘jowly’ jaw line
- Folds and fat deposits around the neck.
- Deep creases between the nose and mouthCheekbones that have flattened with age.
The following frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) and answers should help give you a basic understanding of the face lift surgery procedure, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. These probably won’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances.
• What should I consider before having face lift surgery?
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 face lift surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
The best candidate for face lift surgery 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 as well. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.
• How do I plan my face lift surgery?
The procedure for a face lift surgery is highly personalised. At your consultation you and your surgeon will evaluate your face, including the skin, underlying muscle, fat and bone layers, and discuss your surgical options and personal goals for the surgery.The surgeon 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 drink excessively, are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting. Smoking has a major impact on skin circulation, and raises the chance of a complication occurring after surgery. Therefore we do not accept any patients who are smoking. You must quit smoking at least one month prior to surgery.
If you decide to have face lift surgery, your surgeon will also provide explanations about anesthesia, the hospital where the surgery will be performed. Don’t hesitate to bring your surgeon any questions you may have written down beforehand, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
• How do I prepare for my surgery?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your face lift. These may include guidelines on eating and drinking, stopping smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.It is also advisable to have someone help you around the house for a few days, to plan a soft diet for the first week and to get ready to sleep using a couple of pillows. If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before face lift surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal. Make sure you wash your hair thoroughly the day before surgery, and do not book any hairdressing appointments until 1 week after surgery.
• Where will my face lift be performed?
Your face lift will be performed at a private full facility hospital. You will usually be admitted the day before surgery. 2-3 overnight stays in the hospital is generally advised depending on your surgery procedure.
• What type of anesthetic will be used?
Face lifts are performed under a local anesthetic and IV sedation, so you’ll sleep through the entire operation. This procedure is much safer than using general anesthesia. We do not use general anesthesia.
• What takes place during the face lift surgery?
Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin. In general, the surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. If there is excess fat around the chin the doctor gently removes this by hand, which allows for more control in contouring. He does not use liposuction in this area. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Fine stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions. We do not use staples! Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed behind your ear, under the skin, to drain any blood that collects there. This tube is called a drain, and is usually removed the day after surgery. The surgeon will also wrap your head tightly in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
• How long will the surgery take?
A face lift usually takes 3 hours.
• What can I expect after the surgery?
Any discomfort experienced post operatively can be controlled with medication prescribed by your surgeon, but a face lift is usually a surprisingly painless operation. Your surgeon may ask you to keep your head elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down. Bandages are usually removed after two days. Don’t be surprised at the pale, bruised and puffy face you will see at this stage post operatively, just bear in mind that it will soon have subsided considerably. Your stitches will be removed after six days, and eight days after surgery you can fly home.
• How long will it take for life to return 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. This includes refraining from household chores. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first. Avoid lowering your head below heart.Avoid strenuous activity for at least three weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine) and avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for up to three months. Anything that elevates your blood pressure will make you swell, so the idea is to keep the blood pressure normal. 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. 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 temporarily.
• How will I feel about my new look?
The chances are high that you’ll be happy with your face lift, even though the results may not be immediately apparent. After the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and a little rough for several months. Daily moisturising and skin care is essential. Men may find they have to shave in new places where areas of beard-growing skin have been repositioned. You will have some scars from your face lift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade with time and should be inconspicuous with time. Having a face lift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may wish to repeat the procedure, perhaps ten years down the line. But the effects of even one face lift are lasting as, years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a face lift at all.
• Does a face lift carry any risk?
Complications after face lifts are infrequent and usually minor. Still, people vary greatly in their anatomy, physical reactions, and healing abilities so the outcome is never completely predictable. Complications that can occur include haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), delayed skin healing, minor infection, and reactions to the anesthetic. 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. Most patients are delighted with their results following a face lift, and in trained hands it remains a highly satisfying and rewarding cosmetic operation.
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