Facelift
What is it?For who?
The surgery
The risks
The costs
The effects of sun or stress make peoples faces age. A facelift (technically rhytidectomy) can set back the clock. It can't stop the aging process but can improve the signs of aging. During a facelift excess fat can be removed, muscles can be tightened and the skin of the face and neck can be redraped. A facelift can be done in conjunction with a forehead lift, eyelid surgery or nose reshaping. A facelift makes you look younger and gives you a fresher appearance. This can inprove your self-confidence. But remember that it doens't give you a totally different look.
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Facelifts are most suitable for people in their forties to sixties whose face and neck have begun to sag. The skin must have some elasticity. Best results will be reached with those whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. The candidate should understand that a facelift does not stop the aging process or restores the health and vitality of their youth. Skin aging continues after this operation.
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Before the surgery the surgeon will check the patient's medical condition, such as blood pressure and blood clotting. Also the surgeon will make sure the patient does not tend to form excessive scars. The surgeon will need to know whether the patient is a smoker and if the patient is on any drugs or medication. Some medication, such as aspirin can affect blood clotting.
The surgeon will give the patient instructions and guidelines on eating, drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding vitamins or medications. Smoking patients should stop a week or two before and after the operation, because smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin and can interfere with the healing process. Patients with short hair might want to let it grow so that it can hide the scars during the healing process.
Facelifts are mostly performed under local anesthesia with a sedative to make the patient drowsy. The patient will be awake and relaxed. The patient will not feel any pain but may experience some occasional discomfort. Some surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In that case the patient will be asleep during the entire operation.
The operation will take several hours. For extensive procedures some surgeons will schedule two sessions. Every surgeon will perform this operation in his or her own way. The placement of the incisions depends on the surgeon's technique and the patient's facial structure.
The skin will be seperated from the muscle and fat below it. Fat may be removed from around the neck en chin to improve the contour. After that the underlying muscle and membrane will be tightened. Then the skin will be pulled back and the excess removed. The surgeon will use stitches and metal clips (on the scalp) to close the incisions. A drain (small thin tube) may be placed under the skin to drain any blood. Some surgeons will wrap the patient's head in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
After surgery the patient receives pain medication. The skin may be a little numb. This is normal and will disappear in a few weeks or a month. If the patient has had a drain inserted, it will be removes one or two days after the operation. The face may look pale, bruised and puffy, which is normal. In a few weeks the patient's face will look normal. The stitches will be removed about five days after surgery. The stithes or clips on the scalp could be left in a few days longer as the scalp doesn't heal fast.
The patient will be up in a day or two but must take it easy for about a week. The skin will be tender and must be handled with care. The patient should take plenty of rest. The body needs a lot of energy to heal. At the beginning the face may look and feel strange because of the swelling. Also the facial movement may be somewhat stiff. The patient should keep in mind that this is completely normal. Some patients are disappointed and depressed because of the look and feel of the face in the first week after surgery.
The patient should be feeling and looking better in about three weeks. The results of the facelift may not be immediately apparent. The skin may feel dry and rough for several months. The patient will have some scars from the facelift, but they're usually hidden by the hair or in natural creases of the face and ears. The scars will fade within time.
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Complications are infrequent and usually minor. But all surgery carries some uncertainty and risk. Complications that can occur are hematoma (collection of blood under the skin), injury to the nerves that control the facial muscles, infection and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing can occur; this mostly affects smokers. The risks of a facelift can be reduced by closely following the surgeon's instructions.
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Fees vary from one geographic location to another and from one surgeon from another, but a facelift will cost you around $4500.
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Botox Injections , Breast Augmentation , Breast Lift , Breast Reduction , Cheek Surgery , Chemical Peel , Chin Surgery , Dermabrasion , Ear Surgery , Eyelid Surgery , Facelift , Forehead Lift or Brow Lift , Hair Replacement , Injectable Fillers , Laser Hair Removal , Laser Skin Resurfacing , Lip Augmentation , Liposuction , Microdermabrasion , Nose Surgery , Penis Enlargement , Permanent Eyeliner , Spider Veins , Thigh Lift , Tummy Tuck , Upper Arm Lift ,back to top
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Alabama (AL) 