As a natural result of aging, tissues in your skin lose their elasticity. The amount of muscles on your face is reduced, which leads to less production of collagen and elastin fiber on the skin. With the additional effects of sunrays and gravity, your face looks saggier and more wrinkled over time. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to recover this aged skin look thanks to the face lifting surgery performed at the aesthetic clinic. In this article, we will answer all your questions about face lifting surgery.
What is Face Lifting Surgery?
Face lifting surgery (rhytidectomy) is a surgical operation performed by estheticians. As the name suggests, it lifts and firms the loose facial tissues to get a youthful facial look. A facelift is usually performed on the face and sometimes the neck and decolletage, depending on the patient’s request. During a face lifting surgery, the saggy excess skin is removed, wrinkles and face folds are smoothed, and facial tissues are tightened. As a result, you feel younger as if you were turned back in time. There are three types of face-lifting surgery:
- Mini facelift: A minimal facelift surgery that targets saggy skin around the neck and jawline rather than the face.
- Mid-facelift: It is also known as the cheek lift and targets tightening the loose skin in the area between the upper lip and the eyes including cheeks and nose.
- Nonsurgical facelift: As the name suggests, this type of operation doesn’t require general anesthesia and large incisions. Some examples of nonsurgical facelifts include liquid facelifts, thread facelifts, and vampire facelifts.
What is Done in the Face Lifting Surgery?
The technique of facelift varies depending on the patient’s anatomy, personal desires, and the type of facelift. A facelift is typically performed under general anesthesia. After making the first incisions, the cosmetic surgeon separates the underlying tissue and muscles and repositions the deeper facial tissues. This procedure creates firmer skin by removing the jowls and excess skin on the face. Lastly, the remaining skin is gently laid back over newly repositioned facial tissues.
After the operation is done, you will have bandages wrapping your face to keep your skin tight during the recovery phase. The sutures used during the facelift operation are usually dissolvable. However, some surgeons may want you to return to the clinic for stitch removal.
Is Face Lifting Surgery Permanent?
A face-lift gives your face a more youthful and firmer appearance. However, this is not a permanent result. In normal conditions, it is expected to last for 10 years. As your aging continues after the face-lift, your skin tissues will be loose again. However, the longevity of your youthful appearance mostly depends on you. Your lifestyle and how well you take care of your body are crucial factors that can extend this time, if not make it permanent. Here are important factors that can affect the longevity of your facelift result:
- Sun Exposure: Spending time at the beach or walking outdoors are great pastime activities. Sunlight is indeed good for your body as long as you are not overexposed to it. Someone who has got a facelift should be extra careful about sunlight as it damages your skin. Make sure to apply sunscreen every time you go out. If your facelift is recent, you shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight for at least a month to recover faster.
- Unstable Weight: When your body gains weight, your face does too. If you want to make your facelift last for more years, you should keep your weight stable. Losing or gaining too much weight can affect your facial muscles.
- Smoking: Smoking is not only bad for your overall health but also for your facelift. It causes your skin to get thinner and less elastic over time which accelerates aging. Your esthetician may also ask you to stop smoking before the face-lifting surgery.
Who is Face Lifting Surgery Performed for?
Getting wrinkles on your face is a natural outcome of aging as a human, but everybody’s skin is different. Thus, someone may start seeing wrinkles in their 30s while someone has tight and clean skin in their 40s. It depends on your genetics, diet, lifestyle, and skincare routines. However, you may consider getting a facelift:
- If you feel uncomfortable with the signs of aging such as wrinkles.
- If you feel an urge to cover your neck not to show saggy skin there.
- If you feel much older than your age when you look in the mirror.
- If you think signs of aging will affect your career or relationships negatively.
Risks of Face Lift Surgery
Every cosmetic surgery comes with possible risks and facelifting is not an exception. Risks of facelift surgery may include:
- Bleeding.
- Pain.
- Infection.
- Slow wound healing.
- Sensitivity in skin.
- Damages in the facial nerve.
- Facial asymmetry.
- Skin texture issues.
- Level differences in the scalp.
- Fluid accumulation in the subcutaneous layer.
- Possibility of need for revision surgery.
- Cardiopulmonary problems.
The Problems That May Occur at the End of Face-Lift Surgery
After the face lifting surgery, some complications may occur. Some of them can be prevented with appropriate care and medication whereas others can be permanent and affect your appearance. These complications include:
Hemotama
The most common problem faced after face lifting surgery is hematoma. It is a collection of blood accruing under the skin. It causes swelling and pressure. Typically, it occurs within the first 24 hours of surgery but immediate treatment can prevent its damage to the skin.
Unwanted Scars
Incision scars from a face-lift are permanent, however, they are usually hidden by the hairline. They can rarely cause unwanted scars on the head. The appearance of the scar can be reduced with the appropriate medication and treatment.
Nerve Injury
Although it is rare, an unexpected injury can affect the nerves that control your muscles. This can be permanent or temporary. As a result, you may not be able to move a part of your facial muscles. It may last a few months or up to a year. It causes uneven facial appearance and a revision surgery may be needed.
How Should Someone Prepare for Face Lifting Surgery?
Preparing for a face-lift surgery is no different than preparing for any other surgery. As part of the pre-surgery procedure, your doctor will ask for a blood test and your medical history. Once your surgery date is decided, the doctor may ask you:
- To stop smoking
- To apply certain products to your face.
- Not to use aspirin or painkillers, and not to drink herbal teas as they increase bleeding during the surgery.
- Make sure you bring company when coming to the clinic for surgery. Since you will be under anesthesia you may experience dizziness and nausea in the first hours of post-surgery. You will need someone to take after you for a couple of days.
What Should Be Taken into Consideration Before and After Face Lifting Surgery?
Before the surgery:
- You go through a medical examination.
- If you use alcohol and smoke, you should stop at least 2 weeks before the surgery.
- You should stop taking blood thinners, vitamin E, and multivitamin supplements at least 10 days before the surgery.
- You can start taking Vitamin C supplements at a dose of 500-1000 mg 3 weeks before the surgery.
After the surgery, your doctor may recommend you:
- To take painkillers.
- To sleep your head up.
- Not to consume alcohol or smoke for at least 1 week after the surgery.
- To avoid heavy exercises, sexual activities, and lifting heavy objects for at least 2 weeks after the surgery.
- Not to drive and fly for 1 week.
- Not to have a dental examination for 6 weeks.
- To avoid sunlight for at least 2 months.
- To take a shower 2 days after the surgery.
