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A facelift can improve the
deep check folds, jowls, and loose,
sagging skin around the neck that
come with age. |
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| After
surgery you’ll present a fresher,
more youthful face to the world. |
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Some
of the most visible signs of aging first appear
on the face. Although the changes appears
gradually, there may come a day when you look
in the mirror and decide that the face you
see doesn’t reflect the way you feel
about yourself. If you’d like to look
as good as you feel, a facelift can help.
Also known as rhytidectomy, a facelift smooths
the loose skin on your face and neck, tightens
underlying tissues and removes excess fat.
As a result, your face will appear firmer
and fresher.
You
‘ll find basic information about a facelift
in this brochure. However, the best way to get
complete answers to specific questions that
relate to your individual needs is to have a
personal consultation with a plastic surgeon
certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
 Is
a facelift right for me ?
Facelifts
are most commonly performed on patients in the
40-60 age range. However, the procedure can
produce good results for people in their 60s,
70s and 80s as well. You may be a good candidate
for a facelift if you have any of the following
types of conditions :
•
a deep line that runs from the corner of your
nose to the corner of your mouth
• loss of a well – defined jawline
• deep wrinkles in the cheeks and sagging
skin near the cheek bones
• loose skin, wrinkles or excess fatty
tissue in the neck.
Facelift
surgery needs to be approached with extra caution
if you have any of the following medical conditions
:
•
uncontrolled high blood pressure
• blood – clotting problems
• the tendency to form excessive scars.
Be
sure to alert your plastic surgeon if you are
affected by any of these conditions.
a)
A facelift can improve the deep check folds,
jowls, and loose, sagging skin around the neck
that come with age.
What
should I expect from the consultation ?
A
personal consultation is the first step for
every patient considering a facelift. During
this meeting, your surgeon will asses your physical
and emotional health and discuss your specific
cosmetic goals for surgery.
You
should arrive at the consultation prepared to
provide complete information about
•
Previous surgeries
• Past and present medical conditions
• Treatments you have received
• Medications that you are taking, including
nutritional supplements and herbal remedies.
If
you are over weight and have a realistic desire
to lose more than 15 pounds, your weight loss
could affect your result.
It’s important to discuss these plans
with your surgeon.
During
your physical evaluation, your plastic surgeon
will assess your bone structure and the underlying
tissues of the face. The thickness, texture
and elasticity of your skin and the severity
of the wrinkles and folds will also be considered.
your hairline will be examined to determine
where incisions can be discreetly placed. All
of these factors will be considered in developing
your surgical plan.
Your
plastic surgeon may explain additional procedures
that can be performed along with a facelift
to meet your appearance goals. For example,
a facelift is frequently combined with :
•
a forehead lift, to correct lines or furrows
in the brow
• eyelid surgery, to eliminate drooping
upper eyelids or bags beneath the eyes
• nose reshaping
• skin treatments, such as chemical peel
or laser resurfacing, to minimize fine wrinkles.
How
is a facelift performed ?
The
technique chosen for your surgery depends on
your features, your surgeon’s preferences
and your desired results.
There
are many variations to the facelift procedure.
However, the incision is typically hidden in
the natural contour of your ear, and then extends
around the earlobe and back into the hairline.
Following surgery, the incisions are easily
concealed by your hair or with makeup. There
also may be a small incisions hidden beneath
your chin.
Working
through these incisions, your plastic surgeons
frees the facial skin form its underlying tissues
and pulls it upward and back. The excess skin
is then removed. In some cases, the deeper tissues
may also be repositioned to restore a more youthful
contour to your face. If necessary, an incision
under the chin allows your surgeon to remove
fatty tissue in that area and smooth the cord
– like structures of the underlying muscle
in the neck.
How
will I learn about the safety of facelift surgery
?
Each
year, thousands of people have facelift and
experiences no major complications. However,
it is important for you to be informed to the
risks as well as the benefits.
One
of the most important parts of your consultant
is the discussion that you your surgeon will
have about the possible complications of facelift
surgery. In addition to listening carefully
to what your surgeon tells you, be sure to raise
any question you may have about the safety of
the procedure.
By
carefully following your surgeon’s advice
and instructions-both before and after surgery
– you can do your part to minimize some
of the risks.
b)
incisions usually begin above the hairline at
the temples follows the natural line in front
of the ear, curve behind the earlobe into the
crease behind the ear, and into or along the
lower scalp.
c)
facial, neck tissue and muscle may be separated;
fat may be trimmed or suctioned and underlying
muscle may be tightened.
d)
After deep tissues are tightened, the excess
skin is pulled up and back, trimmed and sutured
into place.
e)
Most of the scars will be hidden within your
hair and in the normal creases of your skin.
What
can I do to prepare for my surgery ?
When
the date for your procedure has been set, your
plastic surgeon will provide you with specific
instructions for the days immediately before
and after surgery. A number of points may be
covered, including :
• avoiding certain medications that may
complicate surgery or recovery
• stopping smoking for a period of time
before and after surgery
• arranging for help and special care
following surgery
• letting your hair grow long enough so
that it will cover your incisions while they
heal
How
will I be cared for on the day of my surgery
?
Your
facelift may be performed in a hospital, an
outpatient surgery center or an office based
surgical suite. If you are admitted to a hospital
or surgery center, your stay will be a short
one, perhaps just one or two nights.
Medications
are administered to keep you comfortable during
the surgical procedure. Your plastic surgeon
may use local anesthesia and intravenous sedation
for your facelift. However, for some patients,
general anesthesia may be the best choice. Your
surgeon will monitor your physical status throughout
the operation and during your recovery.
How
will I look and feel right after surgery ?
When
surgery is complete, you’ll be taken to
a recovery area. A bandage may have been wrapped
around your face to help control swelling. Sometimes,
small drainage tubes are placed beneath the
skin to drain away fluids that might otherwise
accumulate. Discomfort is usually minimal, but
any pain you feel can be controlled with medication
prescribed by your surgeon. Although everyone
heals at a different rate, you can expect that
your recovery will follow this general time
line :
The
first day
•
In this early stage of healing, you should rest
with your head elevated to help minimize bruising
and swelling.
Within
the first week
•
Swelling reaches its peak, and then begins to
subside.
• Bandages will be removed and you may
shower.
• Stitches will dissolve or be removed.
• You may return to light activity, but
continue to sleep with your head elevated.
• You can wear makeup to conceal any discoloration.
Within two weeks
•
Most of the brushing will disappear.
• You may resume many of your normal activities,
including non – strenuous work.
After several
weeks
•
You may resume exercise.
• Swelling and puffiness will continue
to subside.
• Numbness in the facial area will diminish
; however, some numbness may persist for several
months.
Throughout
the healing period, you should avoid exposure
to direct sunlight and, for the long term, be
conscientious about using sun block preparations
to protect your skin.
f)
After surgery you’ll present a fresher,
more youthful face to the world.
What
should I know about my results ?
If
you’re like most people who have the procedure,
you’ll be very pleased with your refreshed
and rejuvenated appearance. Although the healing
may take some time, you can expect the end result
to be worth the wait.
A
number of factors, including your heredity and
your lifestyle, play a role in how long the
result of your facelift will last. Even though
the aging process continues, patients are usually
happy with their appearance for many years following
a facelift. Some patients find that they want
to make additional improvements at a laser time.
How
long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon
?
After
the initial healing period, you will return
to your plastic surgeon’s office for a
postoperative follow-up visit so that your healing
and progress can be evaluated. In the following
months, your surgeon may ask you to return for
periodic checkups. It’s important to keep
these appointments so that your surgeon can
assess your long termresults and address any
questions or concerns you may have.
Choosing
a qualified surgeon
No
matter what type of plastic surgery you’re
considering, one of the most important factors
in its success is the surgeon you choose. Although
it may seen hard to believe, some of the physicians
who are performing cosmetic surgery today have
had no formal surgical training at all.
It’s
advisable to consider the following points before
scheduling a consultation ;
Find
out if he or she is certified by the American
Board of plastic surgery (ABPS) surgeons with
this certification
Have completed a minimum of five years of surgical
training following medical school including
a plastic surgery residency program. During
this intensive program, surgeons learn to perform
surgical procedure for the entire body and face.
At the same time, they develop their technical
skill and aesthetic judgment. After training
a surgeon must pass comprehensive oral and written
exams before being granted certification. The
two professional organization that have prepared
this brochure the American society of plastic
surgery , require their members to be certified
by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Ask
about the surgeon’s hospital privileges
Even if you are planning to have your surgery
in your doctor’s office or at a surgery
center, it is important to find out if your
surgeon has operating privileges in an accredited
hospital for the same procedure you would like
to have performed. Before granting privileges,
hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon’s
training and competency for specific procedures.
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