Author: Dr. Oreste Di Mattei Di Matteo
Date: 20/01/2020
What is a facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure that improves the visible signs of ageing on the face and neck, such as:
- Sagging skin on the face
- deep folds under the lower eyelids
- deep folds along the nose that extend towards the corner of the mouth
- a drastic reduction of fatty tissue resulting in loss of volume and the formation of sagging skin
- Loss of skin tone
- excess fatty deposits under the chin
- appearance of the double chin
Rejuvenation of the outline of the face, generally performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery to rejuvenate the eyes.
What a facelift will not do
A facelift does not change your original appearance and cannot stop the ageing process.
A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but can help to maintain the results obtained through a facelift and postpone the need for surgery if done in advance.
Candidates for a facelift
In general, candidates for a facelift are:
- Healthy individuals free from any diseases that hinder recovery
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive attitude and realistic expectations
After the facelift
During recovery from a facelift, the face may be bandaged to minimise swelling and bruising once the procedure is complete. Drainage tubes may be present (to drain excess blood or fluids that can collect under the skin).
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what can be expected during the recovery period, which is always unique to the individual.
The results of the facelift
It may take a few months before the swelling disappears completely and the scars have healed.
Sun protection and a healthy lifestyle help to prolong the results of a facelift. As the swelling and bruising disappear, the results of the facelift will be visible.
The end result should not only give a younger and more rested appearance, but also help you to feel more confident.
Although we expect to achieve the best results, there is no guarantee that this will happen.
Sticking to your doctor's instructions is essential to the success of the surgery.
It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to:
- excessive physical effort
- abrasions
- movements during the recovery period
- wearing clothes that passover your head.
Your doctor will provide specific instructions on how to take care of yourself.
The steps of facelift surgery
A facial rejuvenation procedure includes the following steps:
Anaesthesia. Choices include intravenous sedation and general anaesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice.
The incision. A traditional facelift incision is carried out from the hair line around the temples, and continues around the ear and ends at the lower scalp. Sutures or skin glue close the incisions.
In general, if these are done well, they are hidden inside the hairline and the natural contours of the face and ears.
See the results Improvements are visible once swelling and bruising disappear.
Risks The decision to undergo a facelift is extremely personal, and the benefits and risks that this procedure implies have to be assessed.
The risks of a facelift include:
- anaesthesia risks
- haemorrhage
- Infection
- Poor healing of the wounds
- loss of skin
- facial nerve damage
- temporary hair loss
- fluid retention
- Numbness or changes in skin sensitivity
- persistent pain
- scars
- swelling
- unevenness of the skin and discolouration
- Sutures can spontaneously move to the surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation thatrequires removal
These risks and others will be fully discussed before the procedure.
Facelift surgery requires awareness and a lot of honesty, first with yourself and then with the plastic surgeon, because only in this way will you be able to face any problems or difficulties after the operation.