Overview

 A facelift is a surgical procedure to improve the various signs of aging such as sagging, wrinkles, creases, jowls on the neck and cheeks, loose skin etc. It cannot directly effect dark spots or patches , cannot change the basic appearance and does not stop the ageing process.

It may be combined with other procedures such as brow lift or eyelid surgery to create a bigger change. Fat transfer or fillers may also be used to give a more youthful appearance. A facelift is a surgical procedure and minimally invasive or dermatological rejuvenation cannot achieve the same results , these may be used to augment the results or delay the need for surgery

 Who is a good candidate for surgery?

• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing
• Nonsmokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

How to prepare for a surgery.

Your doctor shall discuss your past medical history in detail to determine your candidacy for the procedure. The procedure shall be explained to you in detail.

Doctor shall discuss the following:

• Facelift surgery options and procedure
• Course of treatment.
• Likely outcomes and the potential risks involved.
• Take pictures of the face from different angles to compare with post-operative results.

Before Surgery:

• Evaluation of general health status.
• Medical examination including tests.
• Physical examination:
• Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen that may interfere with the healing process.
• Stop smoking and alcohol at least 4 weeks before the surgery.

After Surgery:

• Arrange for help to be driven home from the hospital.
• Plan to stay home and limit activities for a few days after surgery.

How is the Surgery done?

Anesthesia:

• The procedure is may be done under local anesthesia and IV sedation or under General Anesthesia, Dr Aditya will discuss this in detail with you

Steps of the Procedure:

The facelift incision /cut depends upon the extent of change that is needed. It can be done through a traditional facelift incision, limited facelift incision or a neck lift

A traditional facelift incision begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear and ends in the lower scalp.  Skin is lifted off the underlying tissues, underlying tissue is repositioned/lifted and then skin is redraped and excess skin is trimmed. This incision/cut is closed by stitches.

 A mini lift or limited incision/cut uses a shorter incision at the temples, continuing around the ear. This is used in patients with less skin relaxation, as it cannot correct very loose skin.

After completion a bandage is placed around the face to decrease swelling and bruising. Results are visible within 7-10 days when the bruising and swelling subside

Time to Operate:

• This depends on the surgeon and individual candidate. However, the average time taken to operate is about 4-6 hours.

Possible Complications and Risks:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Fluid accumulation
• Infection
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation