Face-lift
What is face-lift?Cervicofacial lift, popularly known as face rejuvenation surgery, is a job that is very much in demand in cosmetic surgery.Face-lift allows the face to look younger and the appearance of the whole face to be improved without changing its distinctive features. What blemishes can be eliminated by this kind of operation?Too much exposure to the sun, the everyday stress, the unhealthy eating, the effects of gravity and the ageing process cause inevitable marks on the face and on the neck, which appear as variously deep wrinkles around the eyes and between the nose and the mouth, with flabby cheeks and depot fat placed mainly around the chin and the neck.Face-lift allows these blemishes to be eliminated by removing the wrinkles and the excess fat, repositioning the facial muscles and stretching the skin of the face and of the neck. Are there age limits to undergo face-lift surgery?There are no age limits to undergo this kind of operation. Most patients who resort to this surgical procedure are aged between 40 and 60, but face-lift is also performed successfully on people aged between 70 and 80.Who is this kind of operation indicated for?The most likely individuals to go for this surgery are men and women whose face and neck show the first signs of weakness but whose skin has still good elasticity.What surgical interventions can be performed together with face-lift?Face-lift can be performed alone or in association with other surgical techniques such as brow-lift, eyelid surgery, la rhinoplasty or other jobs.What are the risks and the complications of this operation?Face-lift is a very complex surgical procedure. When this kind of operation is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery, experienced in face rejuvenation and within qualified facilities, the results are usually very good.However, it is a real surgical intervention whose complications (bleeding, infection) are rare but may occur and can be easily resolved only if the intervention is performed by a specialist in plastic surgery inside duly qualified facilities. In order to reduce the risks of complications, it is anyhow essential to follow the advice and the instructions given by the surgeon carefully before and after the operation. Smokers should reduce the use of cigarettes because smoking may increase the risk of complications and slow down the recovery. What does the preoperative examination consists in?Face-lift is a very customized kind of surgery that, as such, needs a meticulous specialist examination. During the first examination, the surgeon will assess the quality of the skin elasticity, of the muscles and the bone structure of your face and show you the target and the cosmetic results you can achieve.The surgeon will also assess your physical condition in order to exclude the presence of troubles (such as high blood pressure, clotting or healing disorders) which might affect the final result of the operation. Before the operation you will receive specific information about the preoperative and postoperative diet and the use of drugs, vitamins, alcohol and cigarettes. If you smoke, it is essential to give up completely at least 2 weeks before the operation, in that smoking prevents the blood from flowing towards the skin and may interfere with the healing of the wounds. At the end of the examination, the surgeon, in tune with you, will choose the surgical procedure most suitable for making your face look younger while respecting its distinctive features. What kind of anaesthetic is given?Face-lift is normally performed under general anaesthesia and one or two-day hospitalization. Sometimes, small face-lifts can be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation (which means that you will be awake but relaxed and insensitive to pain) and in outpatient care.Are the incisions visible?In face-lift surgery, the incisions are little visible because they are hidden by the hair, as well as by the ears.It may rarely be necessary to make an incision beneath the chin to improve the appearance of the neck. Sometimes, face-lift may be associated with liposuction surgery of the neck and the submental area in order to improve the profile and the appearance of the whole face.
How long is the operation?The face-lift operation lasts a few hours and is not painful. Sometimes, there may be local discomfort and altered skin sensibility, which will disappear in some weeks.The operation ends with a dressing that you will have to wear for a few hours in order to prevent possible oedemas and haematomas. What happens during the post-operative period?During 48 hours following the operation of face-lift, you will have to rest up, keeping your head slightly lifted and you should have a daily shampoo in order to clean the wounds.During the first two days, swelling and ecchymoses may appear in the treated area. Seldom may haematomas, infections, keloidal scars, temporary or permanent disorders of the facial nerve occur. Starting from the third day, you will be able to resume your normal life, avoiding, nevertheless, tiring activities, saunas, sweat-baths and sunbathing. After seven days, the surgeon will remove the stitches. At first, your face will look puffier than it will be in the end, but within 2-3 weeks of the operation the oedema and the puffiness will gradually disappear. Starting from the third week you will gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity. The result, already observable after the first three weeks, will be definitive about six months after the operation. What kind of result can be achieved?The result of a face-lift operation is usually highly satisfactory and long-lasting but not permanent, in that it will be always influenced by your lifestyle (weight gain, weight loss, smoking, etc.) and by the inevitable effects of gravity and ageing.If you wish to take this subject further, we advise you to visit the FAQ page about face-lift, where you will find the answers to the most frequent questions asked by the patients. |
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Chirurgia-plastica-estetica.it Prof. Mario Dini Chairman and Director of Plastic Surgery Dept. - University of Florence |
