| Introduction | Our face gives us identity and provides glimpse of our age, mood & health. Effects of ageing compounded by exposure to Sun, dust, pollution, lifestyle & stress cause weakening of facial muscles creating wrinkles on face. The constant gravity results into drooping of cheeks, loosening of chin-line at times creating double chin & neck skin dangling down. Together, they make a person look older than he/she actually is.
Rhytidectomy (also called as Facelift) is a procedure that tightens the weak muscles, lose skin and tissues inside skin. With facelift, strain on the skin is decreased & wrinkles are reduced. A facelift is sometimes performed in conjunction with a browlift to provide a smoother overall look to the face.
|
| Operation | There are various techniques used for facelift & it is a highly individualized procedure. Your plastic surgeon will recommend the technique best suited to you. Usually, your surgeon will take incisions around earlobes to keep scars minimum. She will lift and pull back loose facial skin, neck skin along with face tissues. Your skin will be separated from tissues and excess fat, loose skin will be removed before pulling the skin back to get more youthful and symmetrical facial figure.
Facelift procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia & takes anywhere between 2 to 4 hours.
|
| Results | Face lift will help achieve following.
· More youthful & refreshed look, improved facial appearance. · Reduced wrinkle lines/creases & smoother face, skin.
It is important to note that facelift would help you look younger but it wouldn’t raise sagging eyebrows or drooping eyelids and forehead lift or a blepharoplasty may be needed to achieve that goal.
What about scars? Scars are an inevitable part of any invasive surgery. Your surgeon will minimize scarring by locating incisions along natural skin crease and around earlobe. Scars usually fade with time and become barely noticeable. Please discuss about scars with your surgeon.
|
| Risks/ Complications | Facelift surgery is generally safe but following potential complaints, risks and complications may occur; most of the which will subside in 2 weeks’ time. These are largely driven by one’s healing abilities.
· Bleeding · Infection · Bruising, swelling & pain · Nausea · Numbness · Itching around wound Scarring In rare case, as with all surgical procedures, a revision surgery may be necessary to correct minor irregularities.
|
| Care after treatment | Immediately following surgery, part of your head/face will be wrapped in bandages to support natural healing process, minimize bruising and swelling. Your surgeon might place drain tubes in place to allow passage for excess fluids, blood. Patients will stay overnight; recovery in hospital should be fast as your body will spend its energy on healing.
After you are discharged from hospital, you will see your surgeon in post-surgery follow up sessions. Any plastic or other surgery does not stop biological ageing process and your surgeon will recommend you ways to keep your skin hydrated to have effect of surgery lasted for long.
|
| Costs | Costs for individual procedures will vary widely based on the procedure & hospital chosen for surgery but usually involves following.
· Surgeon’s fee · Hospital facility charges · Anaesthesia fees · Medical tests & medicines · Any post-surgery garments |