Am I a good candidate for facelift surgery?
The
face usually portrays the first visible signs of aging. Both gravity
and diminished volume result in the facial features of aging. Most
patients requesting evaluation for facelift feel that their facial
features do not reflect their youthful spirit and energy level. They are
looking for ways to refresh and rejuvenate their appearance. There are
many different variations of the facelift procedure that smooth the skin
of the face and neck, tighten the underlying tissues and muscle, and
remove excess skin. Ultimately, the facelift will allow you to turn back
the hands of time to better reflect your youthful spirit
.
.
How will my plastic surgeon evaluate me for a facelift?
During the pre-operative consultation, your surgeon will perform a
history and physical examination. During your physical examination, your
facial bone structure, underlying skin structure, skin thickness,
texture, and elasticity as well as the extent of facial wrinkles and
folds will be assessed. This information will be used to formulate a
surgical plan and the goals of the procedure will be discussed.
Generally, a facelift is a very versatile procedure, and your surgeon
will explain the technique that he or she feels most comfortable with
and that offers the lowest risk. Your plastic surgeon will select the
surgical technique that he or she feels will obtain the best outcome for
you based on your discussions regarding the outcome you wish to
achieve.
How is a facelift performed?
The
facelift procedure continues to evolve. Over the years, the procedure
has changed from simple skin lifting to more complex deeper plane
lifting techniques. Today, many different techniques exist, with
outcomes that are consistently reliable and durable. The facelift
procedure usually involves incisions in front of and behind the ear. The
incisions may extend into the scalp. Once the incisions are made,
various degrees of undermining of the skin are performed, and the deeper
layers of the face are ‘lifted’. Muscle tightening as well as
liposuction of the neck and jowls may be performed, and excess skin is
either removed or repositioned. The results are a reversal of the
effects of gravity and tightening of soft tissues of the face to restore
a more youthful contour to the face.
Understanding Risks
Fortunately, significant complications from facelifts are infrequent.
Every year, thousands of people undergo successful facelift surgery and
are pleased with the results. However, anyone considering surgery should
be aware of both the benefits and risks. These are best discussed on a
personal basis with your surgeon or one of their qualified staff
members.
Some of the potential complications that may occur include hematoma (an
accumulation of blood under the skin), infection, and reactions to
anesthesia. While plastic surgeons are trained in techniques for safely
manipulating facial skin and tissues, injury to underlying structures is
possible, though usually temporary. Facelift incisions are usually
quite inconspicuous; however, this is not entirely predictable due to
individual variations in healing. You can help minimize certain risks by
following the advice and instructions given to you by your plastic
surgeon both before and after surgery.
Your Surgical Experience
The goal of your plastic surgery team is to make your surgical experience as easy and as comfortable as possible.
Pre-Operative
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance
of the surgery. Certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding
such as Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and some
vitamins/homeopathic regimens should be discontinued prior to surgery.
If your hair is short, you may want it to grow out enough to cover your
incisions while they heal. Any chemical processing of your hair should
be performed prior to surgery since you cannot have any of these
procedures for a month of more after surgery. If your facelift will be
performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to
drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night following
surgery.
Day of Surgery
Your facelift may be performed in an accredited hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility, or office-based surgical suite.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the procedure. You
and your plastic surgeon will have decided in advance what type of
anesthesia is to be used – either intravenous sedation (twilight) or
general anesthesia. For your safety during and after the operation,
various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and
the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area. A
bandage may be wrapped around your face. Sometimes small tubes will be
inserted beneath the skin to drain away fluid that might otherwise
accumulate. There is surprisingly very little discomfort experienced
after facelift surgery. However, any discomfort you may experience will
be controlled with pain medication as needed.
You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, although some
patients may stay overnight in a hospital or surgical facility.
Recovery
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes to recover
from Facelift surgery varies greatly between individuals. Elevation of
the head is extremely helpful in reducing the initial post-operative
swelling. Your surgeon may also advise you to use ice packs
intermittently.
You should avoid Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medications for the first few days after your surgery. Smoking and
exposure to second-hand smoke should be avoided to prevent delays in the
healing process.
Once the dressings and drains are removed, puffiness and discoloration
may be more pronounced in some portions of the face than others. Do not
be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry – this is normal.
Most swelling is usually noted in the first 24 to 48 hours, and most
bruising resolves within 2 weeks. Concealing makeup is usually permitted
after the first week. You may experience numbness to the face
post-operatively, which usually resolves within several months
Some patients find that mild swelling persists for many weeks. Most stitches are removed within a week of the surgery.
Straining, bending, and lifting should be avoided during the early
post-operative period as these activities may predispose you to
bleeding.
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions that may include
caring for the dressings and incisions, directions for your analgesics
and other medications, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow
up in the office to monitor your healing process. It may take several
months for the swelling to fully resolve, and up to 6 months for the
incision scars to fully fade. Avoidance of factors that could reduce the
benefits of the surgery, such as excessive unprotected sun exposure and
cigarette use, is vital.
Results of Your Facelift
The results of your facelift may be subtle or dramatic, depending on
your appearance prior to the 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 several weeks for an accurate
picture of your “new look”. Additional minor changes or settling may
occur over several months following your Facelift surgery.
How much will a facelift cost?
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for
facelifts vary widely, and are often dependent on the surgeon’s
experience and the geographical location.
The fees are often broken down into several components:
- Surgeon’s professional fee
- Facility fee
- Anesthesia fee
- Medications
- Surgical garments
- Medical tests
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 your relationship with your plastic surgeon does
not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or
concerns during your recovery from Facelift surgery, or need additional
information at a later time, you should contact your surgeon.
No comments:
Post a Comment