Face Lift

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About Facelift Surgery
Are You a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?
About the Operation
What to Expect after the Surgery
Your Recovery
Possible Complications

 

About Facelift Surgery

As one grows older, the effects of gravity, sun exposure, and the general everyday stresses of life begin to affect the overall appearance of one’s face resulting in the accumulation of additional folds and fat deposits around the neck, and deep creases that form between the nose and mouth.

A face-lift is a surgical procedure performed to improve the most visible signs of aging. A successful facelift will eliminate excess fat, tighten the muscles beneath the skin of the face and neck, and remove any sagging skin. In many cases, this procedure is performed in conjunction with eyelid and/or forehead surgery. A facelift can make you look younger and healthier, and may enhance your self-confidence as well.

It is important to realize that facelift surgery cannot stop the process of aging. It can, however, slow it down and “set the clock back” for those desiring a more youthful appearance.

Are You a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin retains some elasticity. While the facelift procedure is probably the most sought after procedure for those over forty, it is becoming increasingly common for those under forty as well. Many patients prefer early or preventative corrections to maintain their youthful appearance. The vast majority of patients are people who take pride in their appearance and feel younger than they look.

It is important to remember however that facelift surgery cannot erase all permanent creases including the lines around the mouth, frown, and crow feet region.

At the time of your consultation Dr. Javaheri will ask you about your general medical history, specifically pertaining to any medical conditions that could cause problems during or after your surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or a tendency to form excessive scars.

If you are a smoker you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of surgery. Regular smoking constricts blood vessels resulting in decreased blood flow to a given area, which can prevent normal healing.

For optimum results, proper skin care is required pre and post operatively. In addition, Photo Rejuvenation, via laser treatments, may also be recommended for skin clarity and collagen stimulation. This can be bundled with your facelift package.

About the Operation

As a general rule, the incision used for both men and women is the same, although there is a slight difference due the presence of facial hair on most males. For most procedures, the incision starts high in the temple area (hidden by the hair) and then progresses down in front of the ear, around the earlobe, and then up behind the ear before curving gently back into the hairline of the neck. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to add an incision under the chin.

Using the above incisions, the skin is lifted forward onto the cheeks and down as far as the jaw line and into the neck. The underlying muscles are then lifted accordingly in order to ensure a longer lasting effect. After repositioning the deep tissues, leaking blood vessels are then sealed. Following this, the loose expanded skin is lifted upwards and any overlapping or excess skin is removed. Finally, the wound is closed with a combination of sutures and miniature staples. Afterwards, a bandage dressing is gently placed around your face in order to apply light pressure over the wound area.

A facelift can be performed either with local anesthesia or a general anesthetic. This will also depend on whether you will be having extra work done to the eyes or brow area. Dr Javaheri will discuss your options in more detail at the time of your consultation. Facelift surgery normally takes between two to three hours, although will take longer when combined with additional surgery.

What to Expect after the Surgery

Bandages and drains (if used) are removed the day following your surgery, and your hair will be carefully washed. Over the next few days your hair should be washed daily with a gentle shampoo and great care you should be exercised in the suture area. Stitches in the skin and metal clips used within the hairline are removed after eight days.

You will experience a tight feeling around your face as a result of the bandages. Most facelift patients report a surprisingly small amount of discomfort following their procedure. In addition, most patients experience a numbing sensation once the bandages are removed, and will improve with time.

You will also experience a feeling of tension in the neck and cheek areas as well as around the ear. This is a result of the small sensory nerve fibers in the skin being separated during the operation. Sensation usually returns to normal, but may take up to nine months.

Your Recovery

Following surgery you will experience varying degrees of swelling and bruising of the face, which can last up to three weeks. Occasionally, isolated bruised and hardened areas can take up to two months before disappearing. As a result of the swelling, you may experience some temporary lag in the normal motion of your facial muscles, but this usually subsides gradually without the risk of permanent change.

You should be up and about in a day or two, but should plan on resting for the first week following your surgery. You must be especially gentle with your face and hair since your skin may be tender and numb. You must also avoid strenuous physical labor and activity including sex for at least two weeks.

Initially, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, and your facial movements may be slightly stiff. You will also more than likely be self-conscious about your scars. By the third week following your surgery, you will start to look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work from about ten days to two weeks after surgery. If desired, camouflage makeup can mask most remaining bruising.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there will be some scarring. These scars can take many months or even years to heal. You should expect the scars to be red, raised, lumpy and even itchy to begin with they should fade and flatten with time as this is part of the healing process. Please keep in mind that this may take up to two years for this healing process to complete.

For those with certain skin types, sometimes their scars can stretch behind the ears, and, in rare circumstances, in front of them. Unfortunately, these skin types cannot be identified prior to surgery. In addition, a bald strip can develop adjacent to the scar that is situated in the temple area.

Possible Complications

Individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable. As with any surgical procedure, the risk of infection is always a possibility. This can be minimized by the preventative administration of antibiotics both at the time of your surgery and afterwards while in recovery. However, on occasion, mild infection can occur and is relatively common, although it usually subsides after two weeks.

As mentioned earlier, swelling should be expected after this procedure. On rare occasions, increased bleeding can lead to more significant swelling and the development of a hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin), and would require surgical drainage to remedy the swelling. Other complications include injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary and less than 1% chance), delayed wound healing and skin lumpiness or distortion all of which are usually temporary.

 

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