Are you a candidate for a face lift? Here are some things to think about regarding this procedure.
A face lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to tighten up the sagging facial skin of a person. Ideal candidates may be male or female,
be ages from forty to seventy years old, are in good physical and mental condition and have most of their sagging issues in the lower 75 percent of the face. Non-smokers are better candidates, because they will have better healing ability than their cigarette smoking counterparts.
The jowls, chin line and cheeks are especially improved with these procedures. For example, the neck may have accumulated loose and fatty excess folds. The jaw and chin line may have loosed up, as well, creating a jowly look. Sometimes the cheeks develop creases between the lips and lower portion of the nose. This operation may be done by itself or in combination with others such as an eyelift, neck lift, brow lift or resurfacing techniques such as chemical peels and dermabrasion. Injectables such as Botox and Restylane are also used in conjunction in order to smooth out wrinkles. Here are some things to think about:
What the Operation Will Entail
Facelifts are procedures that require at least one overnight stay in the hospital. The operation takes four or five hours to perform and is completed with use of either local or general anesthesia. During the surgery, a cosmetic surgeon makes incisions in areas that will hopefully hide scars as much as possible. The scalp, hairline and behind the ears are all optimum locations. The excess tissue is removed and the remainder is pulled into a tauter positioning. The muscles beneath the skin may be repositioned, as well, for the best result.
Post-op Results
During the initial few weeks, there will be bruising and swelling. The skin may also feel quite tight in the beginning. Patients should plan for up to a month off of work and even longer before starting to exercise again. Many teachers, for example, plan their facelifts for summer vacation. When they return to school in the fall, most people comment on how rested and wonderful they look. A patient can expect this improved appearance to be apparent for up to seven years, at which point it might be time for another nip and tuck.
Risks of Complications
As with any medical procedure, there will be risks of complications. Some of the possibilities include infection, an adverse reaction to the anesthetic, numbness or inability to move facial muscles, hair falling out near the scar, blood or fluid pooling under the skin, blood clots or discolored areas of the skin. In order to minimize any chance of these, a patient should quit smoking, stop using any tobacco products including chewing tobacco or being in the presence of someone else who smokes. During the initial consultation appointments, a person should discuss all medications that he or she takes with the surgeon including herbal remedies and supplements to make sure that none will interfere with a successful result.
If a person is interested in having a face lift, he or she should make an appointment with a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon. The MD will be able to examine the patient and answer any questions.
