FAQ face-lift

Q. I’m 65 and I would like to have a face-lift. What kind of results can I achieve?
A. There are no age limits to undergo this kind of surgery. Indeed, face-lift is performed successfully even on people aged between 70 and 80, although the bests results are achieved with the patients whose skin has still good elasticity..

Q. What precautions are to be taken before having a face-lift??
A. If you smoke, it is essential to stop completely at least 4 weeks before the operation, because smoking may inhibit the blood rush towards the skin and may interfere with the healing of the wounds. Moreover, during the two weeks before the operation, it is important not no take NSAID drugs - such as aspirin, aulin, moment, ibuprofen, etc. - which might induce bleeding.

Q. What kind of anaesthetic is given during face-lift surgery ?
A. Face-lift is usually performed under general anaesthetic - that is, the patient is put to sleep - but it is also possible to perform the operation under local anaesthetic with sedation to be administered intravenously.

Q. In what kind of medical facility can face-lift be performed?
A. The operation can be performed in a private hospital or in an authorized Day Surgery facility; one or two-day hospitalization may be needed.

Q. How durable is the cosmetic result achieved by face-lift?
A. The duration of the result achieved by face-lift surgery depends on the patient’s constitution, as well as on his/her lifestyle. Obviously, the ageing process doesn’t stop after the operation. Some patients choose to repeat the operation after some time. In any case, the duration of face-lift is normally of 5-10 years.

Q. Are face-lift scars visible?
R: In face-lift surgery, the scars are not very visible because they are hidden by the hair, as well as before and behind the ears. Sometimes, an incision under the chin may be necessary to improve the appearance of the neck, but even this scar is usually not very visible.

Q. Does face-lift remove the wrinkles on the face?
A. As a general rule, face-lift does not act on wrinkles but only on loose tissues; however, by stretching the skin, some wrinkles will become more visible: this can happen with the wrinkles on the nasal groove and on the cheeks, but not with those on the lips. On the other hand, face-lift acts directly on crow’s feet wrinkles and on those on the eyelids, if the surgeon weakens the muscles whose contraction produces them.

Q. How long must one wait to appear in public after face-lift surgery?
A. The reaction varies with the single patients: some faces "deflate" quickly ever since the third or fourth day, but normally you have to wait about 15-20 days before being actually presentable.

Q. How long must one wait to sunbathe after face-lift surgery?
A. During the first days after the operation, exposure to the sun is not advisable, especially if haematomas have occurred. After 2-3 weeks, when oedema and puffiness gradually disappear, you will be able to sunbathe, provided that you don’t expose the scars.

Q. When is it possible to resume sports activity after face-lift?
A. Starting from the third week, you will be able to gradually resume all your normal activities, including the sports activity, provided that you avoid sudden and exaggerated movements with the neck. Swimming is not advisable for a few months, until the scars have perfectly healed.

Q. How many times can I have a face-lift and how long should I wait between two face-lifts?
A. About one year after the first face-lift, you can go for a retouch-job to correct any imperfection possibly left by the first operation. Besides, the cosmetic result achieved by face-lift is long-lasting but not permanent because it is influenced by your lifestyle (weight gain, weight loss, smoking, etc.) and by the inevitable effects of gravity and ageing: thus, face-lift can be repeated every 5 years, but it will become more and more difficult and delicate.

Q. I would like to have a cervicofacial lift to achieve the most natural rejuvenation possible and not an exaggerated change like those seen in some magazines. Is it possible to establish beforehand the rejuvenation degree that will be achieved by face-lift?
A. A plastic surgeon experienced in face contouring always tries to give the face a younger look preserving, at the same time, its naturalness and its original appearance. Unlike American surgeons who, when asked by the patients, perform very evident face-lifts to be shown off in public, European surgeons try to achieve the most natural and shapely result they can. Sometimes it happens that even your friends don’t realize that your face has undergone a real surgical operation, only observing your refreshed look. Obviously, the kind of face-lift and rejuvenation that the surgeon is going to perform will be decided in tune with you and in accordance with your features.