We all want to look young and attractive as long as possible. But, unfortunately, with age, the effects of gravity, sun exposure and stress of everyday life invariably leave a mark on our face. Deep wrinkles between around the nose and mouth, creases on the forehead, flabby cheekbones - this is not what the woman wants to see in the mirror. And here the only chance for salvation seems plastic surgery - a face lift in particular. About it and talk.
In fact, the facelift can not stop the aging process. What she can do is to turn back the clock and remove the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat and tightening the skin. A facelift can be done alone or in combination with other operations, such as forehead lift, eye and eyelid surgery or nose surgery. If you are planning to do a facelift, this article will give you basic information for a better understanding of this procedure and an awareness of what kind of results you can expect.
Who needs a face lift?
The best candidate for plastic surgery - facelift is a person whose face and neck started to settle, but whose skin has not yet completely lost its elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well marked. Most patients have ages from forty to sixty years, but in principle this type of surgery is possible for people of seventy or even eighty years. This particularly affects people of public, whose appearance is directly related to work. Women mostly resort to plastic, although in recent years the number of men in this respect is rapidly increasing.
Facelift can make you visually younger and fresher, can improve your self-esteem, but it can not give you a completely different appearance or restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before deciding on an operation, think about what you expect, and discuss this with your surgeon.
Any operation is a kind of uncertainty and risk. When an operation is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are rare and they are not serious. This is another matter of the individuality of human anatomy, the change in physical effects, in which efficiency and result are not always completely predictable. Complications that can occur are often bleeding (the blood collected under the skin should be immediately removed by the surgeon), damage to the nerves that control the facial muscles (usually a temporary phenomenon), infection and reaction to anesthesia. You can reduce the risk by carefully following the advice of the surgeon, both before and after the operation.
Planning an operation
Facelift is a very individual process. At the first consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your face, including the skin and facial bones, and discuss what is the purpose of this operation for you. The surgeon should check you for diseases that can cause problems during and after surgery. These are problems such as high blood pressure, slow blood clotting, or a tendency to excessive scarring. If you smoke or take any medications or medications, especially aspirin and other drugs that affect blood clotting, you should tell the doctor
If you decide to do a facelift, the surgeon will advise you on surgical techniques, the recommended type of anesthesia, the clinic where you will undergo surgery, risks and costs. Do not hesitate to ask questions, especially those related to your expectations and everything related to the operation.
Preparation for work
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for the procedure, including guidelines for eating, drinking, smoking and consuming vitamins and medications. Following the instructions, you will help make a smoother transition from surgery to recovery. If you smoke, it is very important to suspend this at least two weeks before and after the surgery, as smoking interferes with the flow of blood in the skin, which can interfere with the normal operation. Smoking and plastic surgery are generally incompatible concepts.
If you have short hair, you may be asked to take them off a little before surgery to hide the scars while they are healing. You must have someone to take you home and help you around the house at least a couple of days after the operation.
Where and how will the operation be performed
Such an operation is usually performed in a surgical room or an outpatient surgical center. The usual option is a hospital and the use of general anesthesia, which, in fact, may require hospitalization of the patient. Serious diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be checked before and after surgery, and hospitalization may also be required.
Most often this type of procedure is performed under local anesthesia in combination with sedatives so that you feel more refreshed. You will not sleep, but your face will not feel pain. Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia, and in this case you will sleep throughout the operation. You may feel bad after you wake up - this is a typical discomfort with the consequences of plastic facelift.
The course of the operation
Facelift usually takes several hours or a little more if you have more than one procedure. For basic procedures, some surgeons can plan two separate operations. Each surgeon begins the procedure in his own way. Some make incisions and work with the whole face at once, others "jump" from one side to the other. The exact location of the incisions and their frequency depends on the structure of the face and the skill of your surgeon. The higher the qualification and skill of the doctor, the fewer cuts he can manage.
The incisions begin above the line of hair growth on the temples, spread in the natural line in front of the ear (or just in the cartilage in front of the ear) and go to the bottom of the head. If the neck needs a brach, a small incision can be made under the chin.
In general, the surgeon separates the skin from fat and muscles under it. Fat can be removed and around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Then the surgeon squeezes the main muscles and membranes, pulls the skin and removes its excess. Stitches are used to apply layers of skin and bring the edges of the cut together. Metal clamps can be used on the scalp.
After the operation, drainage tubes can be temporarily placed - under the skin behind the ear, which suck the blood collected there. The surgeon can also wrap the head with a loose bandage to reduce swelling and bruising.
After the operation
There is some minor discomfort after the operation. If this happens, it can be reduced with the help of pain relievers, established by the surgeon. If you have serious or persistent pain or sudden swelling of the face, you should tell your surgeon about it. Easy numbness of the skin is quite normal with plastic surgery - facelift. Do not be scared - it will disappear after a few weeks or months.
If you have a drainage tube installed, it will be removed a day or two after the operation, if the dressing is properly used. Do not be surprised at your pallor and bruises, as well as swelling in the area of incisions - this is normal and it will pass. Just keep in mind that a few weeks you will not look very good.
Most of the stitches will be removed after about five days. But healing of sutures on the scalp may take longer. Stitches or metal staples can be left for a few days.
Gradual recovery
You should have absolutely free for a few days, or better a whole week. The operation itself does not take much time, but you can not go out on people for a while after it - consider this. Be very attentive and gentle with your face and hair, hard and dried skin initially can not function normally.
The surgeon will give you more detailed instructions for the gradual recovery and resumption of normal activities after a facelift. It is likely he will give you the following suggestions: Avoidance of any activity for at least two weeks, exclusion of any physical activity (sex, weight lifting, housework, sports). Avoid drinking alcohol, a steam bath and a sauna for several months. And, finally, try to give yourself enough rest and allow your body to spend energy reserves for treatment.
In the beginning your face can look and feel pretty strange. Your abilities may be distorted by puffiness, your facial movements can be a bit stiff and, perhaps, you will feel terrible. But this is all temporary. Some can remain bruised for two or three weeks. Not surprisingly, some patients (especially patients) are disappointed and depressed at first glance.
By the end of the third week, you will look and feel much better. Most patients can return to work in about ten days (maximum two weeks after the operation). However, at first you may need special cosmetics to mask the bruises.
Your new look
Most likely, everything will be fine and you will be happy to see the result. Especially if you understand that the results can not be immediately apparent: the hair around the scars may be thinner, and the skin - dry and rough for several months. You will have some scars from the facelift, but they are usually usually hidden under your hair or in natural folds of the face and ears. They will be smoothed out over time and will be barely noticeable.
However, you should understand that carrying out a facelift does not stop the time. Your face will continue to age for many years and you may need to repeat the procedure one or more times - probably in five or ten years.