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All About the Face Lift Cosmetic Procedure

By Dave Stringham

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Published: 09Jul2010
Word count: 519
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Over the years, the skin of the face and neck loosens. Gradually, we begin to see wrinkling around the eyelids, on the forehead and on the sides of the mouth. Pouches develop along the jawline and sometimes create a "double chin." In women especially, extra folds form over the front part of the neck. Some faces also become etched with numerous fine wrinkles.

These changes are the result of the aging process, heredity, and gravity. They are accelerated by skin abuse, overexposure to the sun, alcohol, smoking, and poor nutrition.

Fortunately, cosmetic facial surgery can minimize many of these problems.

SOME SOLUTIONS

The operation designed to diminish the changes of the aging face and neck is called a rhytidectomy and is commonly referred to as the facelift operation. The term "facelift" is really a misnomer becomes the operation combines lifting of the face, neck, and temple regions all in one procedure. In some patients, a submental lipectomy may be performed in conjunction with the facelift to remove excessive fat or folds under the chin. These procedures also can be combined with plastic surgery of the eyelids and forehead.

HOW A FACELIFT IS DONE

The incision for the facelift operation begins in the temple hair above and in front of the ear. It extends down just in front of the ear, around the ear lobe, up behind the ear, and then backward into the hair of the scalp. Through this incision, the skin is elevated out into the temples, cheeks and neck. The underlying platysma muscle and connective tissues are repositioned to lend some permanency to the realignment of the facial structures. Excess skin is then removed. Sometimes, fat is removed and, occasionally, a small incision is made under the chin to help with the correction. The skin edges are secured with appropriate suture material.

The facelift operation usually takes between two to three hours. When it is completed, a bulky dressing is applied and the patient is transferred to a recovery area.

THE RISKS

The risks are minimal. There are inherent risks in any surgical undertaking, however, and these should be discussed thoroughly with your facial plastic surgeon. Many thousands of facelift operations are performed successfully each year.

KEEPING THE PATIENT COMFORTABLE

Pre-operative medications to relieve tension and local anesthetics to numb the face during surgery commonly are administered. These should keep the patient comfortable and free of pain. If desired, general anesthesia can be administered.

THE IMMEDIATE AFTER-EFFECTS

After the operation, some swelling and bruising can be expected. The swelling usually subsides within the first few days, and the bruising subsides within several weeks. There may be mild discomfort for a short time after surgery, but this usually is controlled easily with medication. Significant pain is quite rare. Sutures are removed in a few days, and make-up can be applied shortly thereafter.

THE RESULTS TO EXPECT

The elimination of excessive sagging of the skin of the face and neck should give the patient a more rested and youthful appearance. Just how much improvement will be made depends on the individual's physical characteristics and the extent of the surgery.

David Stringman President of LookingYourBest.com writes about Cosmetic Facial Procedures offered by plastic surgeon in Dearborn Michigan, such as Face Lift in Dearborn, Forehead Lift, Rhinoplasty and more.

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