Facelifts
A facelift (or Rhytidectomy) is used to give a patient's face a more youthful, vibrant appearance. By removing or
tightening the skin, patients are able to see their wrinkles disappear.
The first facelift was performed in 1901 by a German surgeon. Since then it has risen to become the fifth most popular surgery, after Liposuction, Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation and Eyelid Surgery. Many aging Hollywood stars are now employing facelifts to prolong their careers.
Facelift Basics
In a standard facelift, an incision is made in the hairline, running down in front of the ear and then curving down behind it to rejoin the hairline. The surgeon then uses a scalpel to cut the skin away from the underlying tissue. At this point it is possible to tighten some of these deeper tissues for a more natural end result.
With the skin now loose on the face, the surgeon can gently pull it upwards and backwards. He will determine the amount of excess skin to be removed based on experience and feel. Once done, the surgeon will close the incisions with staples and sutures, locking the skin into its new tighter position.
Is a Facelift for you?
Facelifts work best on women with thin skin and good bone structure. They are particularly good at removing folds in the skin around the neck or chin, and deep wrinkles.
Patients with one particularly deep area of wrinkles will find that it produces the most natural appearance, rather than having the procedure done on wide areas of the face.
Facelift Recovery
Patients are generally ready to resume their lives after a couple of weeks. Scarring takes longer to heal but is mostly hidden in the hairline or around behind the ear. Male patients may find that their sideburns have moved slightly. All patients should avoid strenuous exercise or too much excitement while they allow their face to heal.
Facelift Dangers
The most frequent complication with facelifts is post-operative bleeding. This can require more surgery to correct, but can be avoided if patients are careful not to be too expressive or excited in the days after surgery.
More serious complications with facelifts can involve damage to the facial nerves, resulting in a loss of expression, drooping of the face, or worse. Some patients have also experienced necrosis of the skin flaps, requiring more surgery to correct.